Statute 59

1The bishop shall bless, and others shall not bless him. The bishop himself shall also bless the firstfruits. He shall ordain men, present the Offering, administer the Eulogia (awlogiya), and receive it from a bishop, never from a presbyter.

2The bishop shall depose any of the ordained clergy who ought to be deposed, except a bishop, for he cannot do that by himself.

3The presbyter shall bless and shall be blessed. He shall receive the Blessing (barakat) from the bishop and from another presbyter like himself, and he shall administer it to another presbyter like himself. He shall ordain, but he shall not depose. Moreover, he shall place those who sin under inhibition if they deserve such punishment.

4The deacon shall neither bless nor give the Blessing. He shall receive the Blessing from the bishop or the presbyter. He shall neither baptize nor present the Offering. But when the bishop has presented the Offering, or when the presbyter is alone, the deacon shall administer it to the people—not as one of the priests, but as a minister of the priests.