diabolical craft, who has no riches and no sons ; and if he have sons1, it is
also fitting that they should cultivate the beauty of piety and that they be
pure, that they may be of those who adorn the Church and the canon of
service. Let the Church be careful about them so that some of them
may abide permanently in the law and in the care of the service ; should
he not then fulfil in the church the things that are suitable? Let
then the service be like this : first, those things that are commanded by
the Bishop, so that they only may be done at the ministration, and of all
the clergy he may be the Counsellor and secret of the Church. He who
f. 9 a ministers to the sick, he who ministers to the strangers, who helps the widows,
and goes round all the houses of those who are in want; lest there should
be any one in distress or sickness or in misery he goes round to the houses.
Abotit Catechumens. How he is to confirm those that are in doubt,
and instruct those that are ignorant. Men who are dead he is to clothe,
having adorned them, burying strangers, leading them from their
dwellings, wayfarers or exiles. For the help of those who are in want
let him have much care and let him inform the Church. How it is fitting
that the children of the Church should be. Let twelve Elders be known in
the Church, seven Deacons, and fourteen Subdeacons; and let those Widows
who sit first be thirteen. Let the Deacon who is considered among
them to be the one who is most diligent and most judicious ; let him be
chosen to be the receiver of strangers in the house which is the inn of
the Church ; let him be at all times clad in white garments, having only a
stole upon his shoulder. In everything he is as the eye of the Church.
With reverence let him make known what is to be the type of the people
of piety.