Christian Initiation and Eucharist

2nd – 3rd C CE

East / West Syria

Didache 7, 9 (50 – 150 CE)

• Who: baptizer / baptizee / community• Did (or refrained from doing) what:

– “Explain all these points” (ch. 1 – 6)– Fast (baptizer / baptizee / some of community)– Immerse/pour // running/still water // cold/hot water– Spoke “in the name of the Father and of the Son and of

the Holy Spirit” ?

• When: no set date/season• Where: no set place• What it meant: Entry into eucharistic fellowship

(cf. Didache 9:5) and thus community of salvation

Justin Martyr: First Apology 61, 65 (148 CE)

• Who: baptizer / baptizee / community• Did (or refrained from doing) what:

– Instruction– Pledge– Prayer and fasting (along with community)– Regenerated in water (called “illumination”)– Invocation / Profession of Father, Son, Holy Spirit– Move to assembly space– Common prayers– Kiss

– Presentation of bread and cup, with wine and water mixed

– Eucharistic Prayer (with community “Amen”)– Communion administered by deacons– Deacons bring communion to absentees

• When: no particular date / season• Where: “where there is water” / assembly space• What it meant:

– Consecrated to God– Regenerated through Christ– Change from “children of necessity and ignorance”– Obtain forgiveness of past sins– Become illuminated– Attain eternal salvation

Acts of Judas Thomas (c. 200 CE)

• Chapters 25-27 [Greek version]

• “And they sought after him that they also might henceforth receive the seal of the word, saying to him: ‘Seeing that our souls are at leisure and eager toward God, give us the seal; for we have heard you say that the God whom you preach knows his own sheep by his seal.’

• And the Apostle said unto them: ‘I also rejoice and entreat you to receive this seal, and to partake with me in this Eucharist and blessing of the Lord, and to be made perfect therein. For this is the Lord and God of all, even Jesus Christ, whom I preach, and he is the father of truth, in whom I have taught you to believe.’ And he commanded them to bring oil, that they might receive the seal by the oil. They brought the oil therefore, and lighted many lamps; for it was night.

• And the Apostle got up and sealed them. And the Lord was revealed unto them by a voice, saying: ‘Peace be to you, brothers.’ And they heard his voice only, but his likeness they did not see, for they had not yet received the added sealing of the seal. And the Apostle took the oil and poured it upon their heads and anointed them and chrismated them, and began to say:

• ‘ Come, holy Name of the Christ that is above every name.• Come, power of the Most High, and the compassion that is

perfect.• Come, gift of the Most High.• Come, compassionate mother.• Come, communion of the male.• Come, she who reveals the hidden mysteries.• Come, mother of the seven houses, that your rest may be in

the eighth house.• Come, elder of the five members: mind, thought, reflection,

consideration, reason; communicate with these young men.• Come, Holy Spirit, and cleanse their reins and their heart,

and give them the added seal, in the Name of the Father, and Son, and Holy Spirit.’

• And when they were sealed, a youth appeared to them holding a lighted torch, so that their lamps became dim at the approach of that light. And he went forth and was no more seen by them. And the Apostle said unto the Lord: ‘Your light, O Lord, is not to be contained by us, and we are not able to bear it, for it is too great for our sight.’

• And when dawn came and it was morning, he broke bread and made them partakers of the Eucharist of the Christ.”

• Chapters 132-133 [Greek version]

• “And Siphor said: ‘I and my wife and daughter will dwell henceforth in holiness, and in chastity, and in one affection. I beseech you that we may receive from you the seal, and become worshippers of the true God and numbered among his sheep and lambs.’

• And he [Judas] began to say concerning baptism:

• ‘This baptism is remission of sins.

• This brings forth again light that is shed about us.

• This brings to birth the new man.

• This mingles the spirit with the body, / raises up in threefoldwise a new man, / and makes him partaker of the remission of sins.

• Glory be to you, hidden one, who are communicated in baptism.

• Glory be to you, the unseen power that is in baptism.

• Glory be to you, renewal, whereby are renewed those who are baptized and with affection take hold upon you.’

• And having thus said, he poured oil over their heads, and said:

• ‘Glory be to you, the Love of Compassion.

• Glory to you, Name of Christ.

• Glory to you, Power established in Christ.’

• And he commanded a vessel to be brought, and baptized them in the Name of the Father and the Son and the Holy Spirit.

• And when they were baptized and clad, he set bread on the table, and blessed it.”

• Who: Apostle = baptizer / Gundaphorus + companions, [a possessed woman, Mygdonia] Sifur + family, [Vizan + female companions] = baptizees / [assistants = Narkia, Mygdonia]

• Did (or refrained from doing) what:– Instruction– Request for “the seal”– Stripping– Epicletic prayer over oil + anointing of heads– Baptism “in the name of the Father, Son, and Holy

Spirit”– Clothing– Eucharist

• When: no particular date / season

• Where: public bath house / river / private home

• What it meant: cf. the declarative and epicletic texts of the Apostle

Acts of Xanthippe and Polyxena (c. 250 CE)

• 13… “But she [Xanthippe] rising up from the ground said to him: ‘Master, why do you leave me desolate? Even now, hasten to seal me, that, though death overtake me, I may go to him that is merciful and kind.’

• 14. Straightway then Paul took her by the hand, led her into the house of Philotheus, and baptized her in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit. Then he took bread and gave thanks and gave it to her, saying: ‘Let this be to you for the remission of sins and the renewal of your soul.’…

• 21. “Probus rose early and went to Paul. He found him baptizing many people in the name of the life-originating Triad and said: ‘If I am worthy to receive baptism, my Lord Paul, lo, the hour is come.’ Paul replied: ‘See, my son, the water is ready for the cleansing of those who come to Christ.’ Straightway, then, eagerly stripping off his clothes, Paul holding his hand, he leaped into the water, crying: ‘Jesus Christ, Son of God and God eternal, may all my sin be done away in this water.’ And Paul said: ‘We baptize you in the Name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit.’ And them he made him partake of the Eucharist of Christ.”

• Who: Apostle = baptizer / Xanthippe, Probus = baptizee / “house of Philotheus”, “many” = community?

• Did (or refrained from doing) what:– Request for “seal” / “baptism”– [Stripping]– [Declaration in the water]– Water baptism “in the name of the Father and of the

Son and of the Holy Spirit”– Eucharist

• When: no particular date / season (but “early” in the day in Probus’ case)

• Where: “house of Philotheus” / baptismal pool• What it meant:

– Entrance into heaven at death

– Remission of sins and renewal of soul [Eucharist?]

– Cleansing of those who come to Christ

– Destruction of all sin

Italy

Epitaph of Abercius(c. 180 CE)

• The citizen of an eminent city, I made this [tomb]

• In my lifetime, that I may have here a resting-place for my body.

• Abercius by name, I am a disciple of the chaste shepherd

• Who feeds his flocks of sheep on mountains and plains,

• Who has great eyes that look on all sides.

• He taught me … faithful writings.

• He sent me to Rome, to behold a kingdom

• And to see a queen with golden robe and golden shoes.

• There I saw a people bearing the splendid seal.

• And I saw the plain of Syria and all the cities, even Nisibis,

• Having crossed the Euprhates. And everywhere I had associates

• Having Paul as a companion, everywhere faith led the way

• And set before me for food the fish from the spring

• Mighty and pure, whom a spotless Virgin caught,

• And gave this to friends to eat, always• Having sweet wine and giving the mixed

cup with bread.• These words, I, Abercius, standing by,

ordered to be inscribed.

• In truth, I was in the course of my seventy-second year.

• Let him who understands and believes this pray for Abercius.

• But no man shall place another tomb upon mine.

• If one does so, he shall pay to the treasury of the Romans two thousand pieces of gold,

• And to my beloved fatherland Hieropolis, one thousand pieces of gold.”

• Who: baptizer = ?; baptizee (“disciple”) = Abercius

• Did (or refrained from doing) what:– Catechesis = shepherd’s writings = Gospels;

Paul as companion = epistles– Seal– Fish-food = Eucharist of wine and mixed cup

[milk and honey?] with bread

• When: no particular season/feast

• Where: Hieropolis, Rome, Syria, Nisibis

• What it meant: entering into Christian life

The so-called Apostolic Tradition

• Who: catechumen, baptizand, sponsor, teacher, exorcist, bishop, presbyter, deacon

• Did (or refrained from doing) what:– Investigation of worthiness to begin instruction

– 3 year catechumenate: instruction / prayer / no kiss of peace / hand-laying / dismissal

– Investigation of worthiness to be baptized

– Daily hand-laying and exorcism

– Solemn Exorcism of baptizands by the bishop

– Candidates bathe on Thursday– Candidates fast on Friday and Saturday– Assembly of candidates on Saturday [evening?]:

kneeling prayer by candidates / hand-laying and exorcism by bishop / exsufflation by bishop / signing of forehead, ears and noses by bishop / standing vigil / scripture reading and instruction

– Cockcrow prayer over the water [by the bishop?]– Candidates take off their clothes– Bishop gives thanks over the oil of thanksgiving– Bishop exorcizes the oil of exorcism– Deacons stand with these oils at either side of

presbyter

– Presbyter bids baptizands renounce Satan and anoints them with the oil of exorcism

– Deacon accompanies baptizand into the water; triple interrogation with triple immersion

– Presbyter anoints neophyte with oil of thanksgiving

– Neophytes dress and enter assembly hall

– Hand-laying and prayer over neophyte by bishop

– Anointing of neophyte’s head and text by bishop

– Forehead signing and kiss of peace by bishop

– Common prayer by neophytes and assembly

– Kiss of peace between neophytes and assembly

– Eucharistic Prayer spoken by bishop

– Fraction Rite– Kiss of Peace– Bishop gives instruction on communion to the

neophytes and administers the bread with a text– Presbyters/Deacons administer 1) cup of water, 2) cup

of milk and honey, 3) cup of wine with texts– Good works as consequence

• When: 3 year catechumenate / Thursday bath / Friday-Saturday fast / Saturday Vigil with Sunday morning Eucharist

• Where: instruction hall [separate from assembly hall?] / private bath / assembly hall / baptismal hall

• What it meant: cf. content of texts