[That It Does Not Become Us to Revile Our Neighbours, Because Cursing is Contrary to Christianity.]
XV. If, therefore, peace returns upon those that sent it, nay, upon those that before had actually given it, because it did not find persons fit to receive it, much rather will a curse return upon the head of him that unjustly sent it, because he to whom it was sent was not worthy to receive it: for all those who abuse others without a cause curse themselves, as Solomon says: “As birds and sparrows fly away, so the curse causeless shall not come upon any one.” 46 Prov. xxvi. 2. And again he says: “Those that bring reproaches are exceeding foolish.” 47 Prov. x. 18. But as the bee, a creature as to its strength feeble, if she stings any one, loses her sting, and becomes a drone; in the same manner you also, whatsoever injustice you do to others, will bring it upon yourselves. “He hath graven and digged a pit, and he shall fall into the same ditch that he has made.” 48 Ps. vii. 15. And again: “He that diggeth a pit for his neighbour, shall fall into it.” 49 Prov. xxvi. 27. Wherefore he that avoids a curse, let him not curse another; for “what thou hatest should be done to thee, do not thou to another.” 50 Tob. iv. 16. Wherefore admonish the widows that are feeble-minded, strengthen those of them that are weak, and praise such of them as walk in holiness. Let them rather bless, and not calumniate. Let them make peace, and not stir up contention.
[Sec. II.—On Deacons and Deaconesses, the Rest of the Clergy, and on Baptism.]
Let not therefore either a bishop, or a presbyter, or a deacon, or any one else of the sacerdotal catalogue, defile his tongue with calumny, lest he inherit a curse instead of a blessing; and let it also be the bishop’s business and care that no lay person utter any curse: for he ought to take care of all,—of the clergy, of the virgins, of the widows, of the laity. For which reason, O bishop, do thou ordain thy fellow-workers, the labourers for life and for righteousness, such deacons as are pleasing to God, such whom thou provest to be worthy among all the people, and such as shall be ready for the necessities of their ministration. Ordain also a deaconess who is faithful and holy, for the ministrations towards women. For sometimes he cannot send a deacon, who is a man, to the women, on account of unbelievers. Thou shalt therefore send a woman, a deaconess, on account of the imaginations of the bad. For we stand in need of a woman, a deaconess, for many necessities; and first in the baptism of women, the deacon shall anoint only their forehead with the holy oil, and after him the deaconess shall anoint them: 51 [Compare Jas. v. 14.] for there is no necessity that the women should be seen by the men; but only in the laying on of hands the bishop shall anoint her head, as the priests and kings were formerly anointed, not because those which are now baptized are ordained priests, but as being Christians, or anointed, from Christ the Anointed, “a royal priesthood, and an holy nation, the Church of God, the pillar and ground of the marriage-chamber,” 52 1 Pet. ii. 9; 1 Tim. iii. 15. who formerly were not a people, but now are beloved and chosen, upon whom is called His new name 53 The words from “upon whom” to the end of the chapter are omitted in one V. ms. as Isaiah the prophet witnesses, saying: “And they shall call the people by His new name, which the Lord shall name for them.” 54 Isa. lxii. 2
[15] Εἰ οὖν ἡ εἰρήνη ἐπὶ τοὺς πέμψαντας αὐτὴν ἐπ' ἐκείνους πάλιν ἐπιστρέφει ἐπὶ τοὺς προηκαμένους αὐτὴν διὰ τὸ μὴ εὑρεῖν ἀξίους αὐτῆς, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ἡ κατάρα ἐπιστρέψει εἰς κεφαλὴν τοῦ ἀδίκως αὐτὴν ἐκπέμψαντος, ὡς οὐκ ἀξίου ὄντος τοῦ λαβεῖν αὐτὴν ἐκείνου, πρὸς ὅνπερ ἐξαπεστάλη. Πᾶς γὰρ ὁ μάτην λοιδορῶν ἑαυτὸν ἀρᾶται, καθά φησιν ὁ Σολομών: «Ὥσπερ ὄρνεα πέτονται καὶ στρουθοί, οὕτως ἀρὰ ματαία οὐκ ἐπελεύσεται ἐπ' οὐδενί.» Καὶ πάλιν λέγει: «Οἱ δὲ ἐκφέροντες λοιδορίας ἀφρονέστατοί εἰσιν.» Ὥσπερ δὲ ἡ μέλισσα ἐν τῇ δυνάμει αὐτῆς ἀσθενὴς οὖσα, ἐπὰν πλήξῃ τινά, τὸ κέντρον ἀποβάλλει καὶ γίνεται στείρα, τὸν αὐτὸν τρόπον καὶ ὑμεῖς, ὃ ἐὰν ποιήσητε ἄδικον εἰς ἑτέρους, τοῦτο εἰς ἑαυτοὺς ἐνεργήσετε. «Λάκκον γὰρ ὤρυξεν καὶ ἀνέσκαψεν αὐτόν, καὶ ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς βόθρον, ὃν εἰργάσατο.» Καὶ πάλιν: «Ὁ ὀρύσσων βόθρον τῷ πλησίον αὐτοῦ ἐμπεσεῖται εἰς αὐτόν.» Οὐκοῦν ὁ φεύγων κατάραν ἕτερον μὴ καταράσθω. «Ὃ γὰρ μισεῖς σοὶ γενέσθαι, οὐδὲ ἄλλῳ ποιήσεις.» Διὸ νουθετεῖτε τὰς ἀπειθεῖς, ἐπιπλήσσετε ταῖς ἀναισχύντοις, παρακαλεῖτε τὰς ὀλιγοψυχούσας, ἰσχυροποιεῖτε τὰς ἀσθενούσας, ἐπαινεῖτε τὰς ἐν ὁσιότητι ὁδευούσας: εὐλογείτωσαν μᾶλλον καὶ μὴ λοιδορείτωσαν, εἰρηνοποιείτωσαν καὶ μὴ πόλεμον ἐμποιείτωσαν. Μήτε οὖν ἐπίσκοπος μήτε πρεσβύτερος μήτε διάκονος μήτε ἄλλος τις ἐκ τοῦ καταλόγου τοῦ ἱερατικοῦ λοιδορίᾳ τὴν γλῶσσαν μολυνέτω, ἵνα μὴ ἀντὶ εὐλογίας κατάραν κληρονομήσῃ. Ἔστω δὲ σπουδὴ καὶ ἐπιμέλεια τῷ ἐπισκόπῳ, ὅπως μηδὲ λαϊκὸς κατάραν ἐκφέρῃ: περὶ πάντων γὰρ μέλειν αὐτῷ ὀφείλει, περὶ κληρικῶν, περὶ παρθένων, περὶ χηρῶν, περὶ λαϊκῶν.