Testament of Our Lord

tr. Cooper and Maclean, 1902

45. Book I, Chapter 45

Of the Reader

A reader is instituted¹ [who is] pure, quiet, meek, wise, with much experience, learned and of much learning, with a good memory,² vigilant, so that he may deserve a higher degree.³ First let the book be given him in the sight of the people, on the first day of the week. But a hand is not laid on him. But he heareth from the bishop [the following]:

Thou, O N., whom Christ hath called to be a minister⁴ of His words, be careful, and strive that thou mayest appear approved⁵ both in this rule and in a higher degree,³ even by our Lord Jesus Christ; so that He in His everlasting habitations may pay thee a good reward for these things.

And let the priests say: So be it, so be it, so be it.

Notes

Cf. I. 41, p. 108, above.
Or: well remembered.
Or: office. Same word as in 1 Tim. iii. 13.
Same word as “deacon.”
2 Tim. ii. 15 (not as Pshitta).