Didascalia Apostolorum

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1 8 DIDASCALIA. household of John, from the village of the fortress of the woman, which is beside the Convent of Kourkama, an (episcopal) see of Western Syria, between the city of Mardin and the above-mentioned Convent in the year 1896 in the month of July, and to Him be glory, may His mercies be over us for ever. From Paul the Apostle about the Times of Prayer. Institute prayer in the morning and at the third hour, and at the sixth hour, and at the ninth hour, and in the evening, and when ye go to sleep, that for protection, and at the cockcrow : in the morning thanking God who has given us light, having made the night to pass and brought the day ; at the third hour because at it our Lord suffered judgment from Pilate ; f. nb in that of the sixth hour because in it the Christ was crucified, all created things were shaken, trembling at the daring deed which the wicked Jews did ; He was pierced in His side by a lance, and shed forth blood and water ; in that of the ninth hour because when our Lord was crucified the sun was darkened at mid-day, and the dead arose from their graves ; created things could not bear to see the ignominy of our Lord ; also He gave up His Spirit into the hands of His Father ; in that of the evening thanking God, who gave us the night for rest from the labours of the day ; in that for protection while ye now slumber the sleep of rest from work ; but pray that in sleep and in rest ye leave not this world, and if that should happen, the prayer which ye have prayed will help you in the way that is everlasting; and at cockcrow, because that is the hour in which announce- ment is made to us of the coming of the day, and for the labour of the works of light Commandments from the writing of Addai the Apostle. (1) The Holy Apostles have therefore decreed, first, that people should pray towards the East, because, that as the lightning that flashes from the East, and is seen unto the West, thus shall be the coming of the Son of Man. By this let us know and understand when we pray, that He shall be seen from the East, and towards it we expect Him and we worship Him. (2) Again, the Apostles have decreed, that on Sunday there shall be service and reading of the Holy Scriptures, and the Eucharist, because that on Sunday the Christ rose from the dead, and on Sunday He ascended to Heaven ; on Sunday again He will appear at the end with His holy Angels. (3) Again, the Apostles have decreed that on Wednesday there shall be service, that is to say, the Eucharist, because that on it our Lord revealed to His Apostles about His judgment and passion, and crucifixion, and death, and resurrection ; and the disciples were in sorrow about this. (4) Again, the Apostles have decreed, that also on Friday at the