Statute 37

1Statute 37. Concerning the proper time to eat.

2It is not proper for catechumens to eat with believers. Before anyone tastes or drinks anything at all, they should take the cup, give thanks over it, and then drink and eat, for then they are pure. The catechumens shall be given the bread of blessing and the cup.

3The commandment concerning the impropriety of catechumens eating with believers and of catechumens sitting with believers at the table of the Lord.

4Whenever a person eats, it is right for him to remember the one who invited him and provided all the food. This is why he asked them to come into his house. Therefore, they should eat cautiously and moderately, taking what is sufficient and not becoming drunk.

5They shall eat and drink in an orderly manner and shall not drink until they are drunk, so that people may not mock them and the one who invited them may not be grieved because of their foolishness. Instead, they shall pray that the holy ones may enter the house, for he said, “You are the salt of the earth.”

6See, he gave you the last of them all with him so that you might receive your portions from him. But eat moderately and drink moderately so that something may remain. What remains after you have eaten may be sent by the one who invited you to whomever he chooses. He shall say, “This food and this drink are what the holy ones left.”

7They shall rejoice when you go to them, and they shall eat what you leave. He shall say, “This food is what the holy ones left.” They shall rejoice at your coming as they eat.

8Furthermore, those who are invited shall eat without conversing. When the bishop permits, they shall speak and ask what is appropriate, and answers shall be given. When someone has finished saying everything appropriate that he wished to ask, they shall again be modestly silent until the bishop questions them again during the supper.

9If believers are at supper without the bishop, they shall receive the Eulogia by hand from either the presbyter or the deacon. The catechumens shall likewise receive a piece of the mystic bread.

10If there are laypeople among them, they shall eat in silence. Laypeople are not permitted to make the Eulogia. After giving thanks, each person shall eat in the name of the Lord and drink moderately, having called upon the name of God.

11For this is what is due to God: that we should be zealous among the peoples, all of us equal, quiet, pure, and without fault. God the Father rejoices in his work, and we are indeed his work if we are pure.

12Concerning the gift to the sick.

13In a time of adversity, the deacon shall diligently give the sealing to the sick. If there is no presbyter to give what was distributed, in the amount that ought to be received, the deacon shall give thanks and keep count of those who carry it away, so that they may minister carefully and distribute the Eulogia. If anyone carries it away, they shall take it to widows and the sick.

14Concerning the bringing in of lamps at the congregational supper.

15When evening has come and the bishop is present, the deacon shall bring in a lamp. The bishop, standing among all the faithful and preparing to give thanks, shall first offer the greeting, saying, “The Lord be with you all.” The people shall answer, “And with your spirit.”

16The bishop shall say, “Let us give thanks to the Lord.” The people shall answer, “It is right and just; greatness and exaltation with glory are due to him.” They shall not say, “Lift up your hearts,” because that shall be said at the time of the offering.

17He shall pray as follows: “We give you thanks, God, through your Son Jesus Christ our Lord, because you have enlightened us by revealing the incorruptible light. We have completed the course of the day and come to the beginning of the night. We have been filled with the light of day, which you created for our satisfaction, and now, since by your grace we have not lacked the light of evening, we sanctify and glorify you through your only Son, our Lord Jesus Christ. Through him, glory, might, and honor be to you with him and with the Holy Spirit, now, and so forth.” They shall all say, “Amen.”

18After rising from supper, when the children and virgins have prayed, they shall recite the psalms. Afterward the deacon, holding the mixed cup of the [Presfora], shall recite a psalm from those in which “Hallelujah” is written, after the presbyter has commanded, “And likewise from those psalms.”

19Afterward the bishop, having offered the cup in the manner proper for the cup, shall recite a Hallelujah psalm. As he recites the psalm, all shall say, “Hallelujah,” which means, “We praise him who is God Most High. Glorified and praised is he who founded the whole world with one word.”

20When the psalm has been completed, he shall give thanks over the cup and distribute the fragments to all the faithful. As they eat their supper, the believers shall take a little bread from the bishop’s hand before partaking of their own bread, for it is Eulogia and not the Eucharist of our Lord.