The Apostolic Tradition of Hippolytus / Translated into English with Introduction and Notes

by Antipope Hippolytus

PART III

GRE[122][25.][123] [¹Widows] and virgins shall fast frequently and shall pray for the church; presbyters, if they wish, and laymen may fast likewise. [²But] the bishop may fast only when all the people fast.

[26.] ¹For it constantly happens that some one wishes to make an offering—and such a one must not be denied—and then the bishop, after breaking the bread, must in every case taste
SAHand eat it with the other believers. ²[At such an offering] each shall take from the bishop’s hand a piece of [this] bread before breaking his own bread. [This service has a special ceremonial][124] for it is “a Blessing”, not “a Thanksgiving”, as is [the service of] the Body of the Lord.[125] ³But before drinking, each one,
LATas many of you as are present,
SAHmust take a cup and give thanks over it,
LATand so go to your meal.

⁴But to the catechumens is given exorcised bread, and each of them must offer the cup. [⁵No] catechumen shall sit at the Lord’s Supper.

⁶But at each act of offering, the offerer must remember his host, for he was invited to the latter’s home for that very purpose. ⁷But when you eat and drink, do so in an orderly manner and not so that anyone may mock, or your host be saddened by your unruliness, but behave so that he may pray to be made worthy that the saints may enter his dwelling: “for ye”, it is said, “are the salt of the earth”.

⁸If the offering should be one made to all the guests jointly,[126] take your portion from your host [and depart]. ⁹But if all are to eat then and there, do not eat to excess, so that your host may likewise send some of what the saints leave to whomsoever he will and [so] may rejoice in the faith.

¹⁰But while the guests are eating, let them eat silently, not arguing, [attending to][127] such things as the bishop may teach, but if he should ask any question, let an answer be given him; and when he says anything, everyone in modest praise shall keep silence until he asks again.

¹¹And even if the bishop should be absent when the faithful meet at a supper, if a presbyter or a deacon is present they shall eat in a similar orderly fashion, and each shall be careful[128] to take the blessed bread from the presbyter’s or deacon’s hand; and in the same way the catechumens shall take the same exorcised bread.

¹²But if [only] laymen meet, let them not act presumptuously, for a layman cannot bless the blessed bread.[129]

¹³Let each one eat in the name of the Lord; for this is pleasing to the Lord that we should be jealous [of our good name] even among the heathen, all sober alike.[130]

[27.] ¹If anyone wishes to give a meal to widows of mature years, let him dismiss them before evening. ²But if, on account of existing conditions,[131] he cannot [feed them in his house], let him send them away, and they may eat of his food at their homes in any way they please.

[28.] ¹As soon as first-fruits appear, all shall hasten to offer them to the bishop. ²And he shall offer them, shall give thanks and shall name him who offered them, saying:

³We give thee thanks, O God, and we offer thee the first-fruits; which thou hast given us to enjoy, nourishing them through thy word, commanding the earth to bring forth her fruits for the gladness and the food of men and all beasts. ⁴For all these things we praise thee, O God, and for all things wherewith thou hast blessed us, who for us adornest every creature with divers fruits. ⁵Through thy Servant Jesus Christ, our Lord, through whom be to thee glory, world without end. Amen.

⁶Only certain fruits may be blessed, namely grapes, the fig, the pomegranate, the olive, the pear, the apple, the mulberry, the peach, the cherry, the almond, the plum. ⁷Not the pumpkin, nor the melon, nor the cucumber, nor the onion nor garlic nor anything else having an odour.

⁸But sometimes flowers too are offered; here the rose and the lily may be offered, but no other.

⁹But for everything that is eaten shall they [who eat it] give thanks to the Holy God, eating unto His glory.

[29.] ¹[Let] no one at the paschal season[132] eat before the offering is made,[133] otherwise he shall not be credited with the fast. ²But if any woman is with child, or if anyone is sick and cannot fast for two days, let such a one, on account of his need, [at least] fast on Saturday, contenting himself with bread and water. ³But if anyone on a voyage or for any other necessary cause should not know the day, when he has learned the truth he shall postpone his fast until after Pentecost. ⁴For the ancient type has passed away, and so the [postponed] fast [of Numbers 9. 11] in the second month has ceased, and each one ought to fast in accord with his knowledge of the truth.[134]

[30.] ¹Each of the deacons, with the subdeacons, shall be alert on the bishop’s behalf, for the bishop must be informed if any are sick so that, if he pleases, he may visit them; for a sick man is greatly comforted when the high priest is mindful of him.

SAH[33.][135] ¹Let the deacons and the presbyters assemble daily at the place which the bishop may appoint; let the deacons [in particular] never fail to assemble unless prevented by sickness. ²When all have met they shall instruct those who are in the church, and then, after prayer, each shall go to his appointed duties.

[34.] ¹No exorbitant charge shall be made for burial in the cemetery, for it belongs to all the poor; only the hire of the grave-digger and the cost of the tile [for closing the niche in the catacombs] shall be asked. ²The wages of the caretakers are to be paid by the bishop, lest any of those who go to that place be burdened [with a charge].