mourning

If” any woman whatsoever suffer violence from a man, let the deacon accurately investigate if she be faithful’ and have truly suffered violence; if he who treated her with violence was not her lover. And if she be accurately thus, and if she that suffered mourn about the violence that happened to her, let him take it up to the hearing of the bishop, that she may be shewn to be in all things in com- munion with’ the Church. If he who treated her with violence be faithful, let not the deacon bring him into the church for partaking,” even if he repent. But if he be a catechumen and repent, let him be baptized and partake. Let the deacon catechise those who repent and bring them to the presbyters or to the bishop that they may be catechised and taught knowledge. But if [his] power suffice ” to accom- plish perfectly the office of the diaconate, let him abide only in prayer; and let him consider supplication and meditation, love, the way, mourning, and [to have] fear before his eyes, as a work; and he shall be called a son of the light.

OF MALE AND FEMALE VIRGINS A male or female virgin is not instituted" or appointed 2 by man,” but is voluntarily separated and named [a virgin]. But a hand is not laid on him, as for virginity. For this division is of [their] own free will. But it is right for virgins that they be fixed and bound in the suffering of a sound body, that they be constant in fasts and in prayers, in weeping and in mourning daily; but that they alway expect a departure from the flesh, and strive as at the departure. Let them not serve raging or debauchery or drunkenness or vain talking, or [be engaged] in worldly work or in distrac- tion,’ but they are as one who is on’ the cross; let their hearts be [lifted] up, with all meekness of thought and comeli- ness, with meditation on the Holy Scriptures, with faithful thoughts’ with kind consolations, so that when they pray they may be answered concerning those things which they ask for the faithful who wish to provide for them. Let them not despise 1 [these things ()], so that through them also a portion of life may be divided to those Let them be confirmed in love and kindness and in true and perfect grace. Let them be constant in consolation, consoling their neighbours, catechising ' and teaching those who have lately been made faithful, in understanding and in knowledge and in kindness, inciting those who are very young, being ex- amples of holiness among them in all good things. Similarly also let the females do. But in order and in grace and in knowledge let them speak and work,” that they may truly be the salt of the earth as it is called. But” let females 8 who are virgins have their heads covered in the church, and let them hide only their hair; but let them be counted worthy of honour from every one, in order that the rest [of the women] who desire, may emulate them.

[HOURS OF PRAYER] Let the people alway take care about the early dawn, that arising and washing their hands they immediately pray. And so let each one go to the work which he willeth. Let all take care to pray at the third hour with mourning and labour, either in the church, or in the house because they cannot go (to the church). For this is the hour of the fixing of the Only-begotten on the cross. But at the sixth hour similarly let there be prayer with sorrow. For then the daylight was divided by the darkness. Let there be then that voice which is like to the prophets, and to creation mourning. At the ninth hour also let prayer be protracted, as with a hymn of praise that is like to the souls of those who give praise to God that lieth not, as one who hath remembered His saints, and hath sent His Word and Wisdom to enlighten them. For in that hour life was opened to the faithful, and blood and water were shed from the side of our Lord. But at evening, when it is the beginning of another day, shewing an image of the resurrection, He hath caused us to give praise. But at midnight let them arise praising and lauding because of the resurrection. But at dawn [let them arise] praising with psalms, because after He rose He glorified the Father while they ‘ were singing psalms. But if any have a consort or wife [not] faithful, let the husband who is faithful go and pray at these times without fail. Let those who are chaste not lessen [them]. For the adornments of heaven give praise, the lights, the sun, the moon, the stars, the lightnings, the thunders, the clouds, the angels, the archangels, the glories, the dominions, the whole [heavenly] army, the depths, the sea, the rivers, the wells, fire, dew, and all nature that produceth rain. All the saints also give praise and all the souls of the righteous. These, then, who pray are numbered together in the remembrance of God.

[HOURS OF PRAYER] Let the people alway take care about the early dawn, that arising and washing their hands they immediately pray. And so let each one go to the work which he willeth. Let all take care to pray at the third hour with mourning and labour, either in the church, or in the house because they cannot go (to the church). For this is the hour of the fixing of the Only-begotten on the cross. But at the sixth hour similarly let there be prayer with sorrow. For then the daylight was divided by the darkness. Let there be then that voice which is like to the prophets, and to creation mourning. At the ninth hour also let prayer be protracted, as with a hymn of praise that is like to the souls of those who give praise to God that lieth not, as one who hath remembered His saints, and hath sent His Word and Wisdom to enlighten them. For in that hour life was opened to the faithful, and blood and water were shed from the side of our Lord. But at evening, when it is the beginning of another day, shewing an image of the resurrection, He hath caused us to give praise. But at midnight let them arise praising and lauding because of the resurrection. But at dawn [let them arise] praising with psalms, because after He rose He glorified the Father while they ‘ were singing psalms. But if any have a consort or wife [not] faithful, let the husband who is faithful go and pray at these times without fail. Let those who are chaste not lessen [them]. For the adornments of heaven give praise, the lights, the sun, the moon, the stars, the lightnings, the thunders, the clouds, the angels, the archangels, the glories, the dominions, the whole [heavenly] army, the depths, the sea, the rivers, the wells, fire, dew, and all nature that produceth rain. All the saints also give praise and all the souls of the righteous. These, then, who pray are numbered together in the remembrance of God.