Sermo ob sacerdotum instructionem

Of Our Father among the Saints Basil, a Sermon on the Ordering of Priests. Attend to yourself, O priest, and behold the ministry which you have received, that you may fulfill it with fear of God. Behold, then: for you have not been entrusted with an earthly ministry but a heavenly one, not a human but an angelic one; strive to present yourself as an unashamed worker, cutting straight the word of truth. Attend, lest you stand at the assembly bearing enmity with anyone, that you may not put the Paraclete to flight. On the day of assembly do not judge, nor contend at all; but, hidden, pray, reading until that hour; and thus stand in compunction at the holy altar. Do not gaze about here and there; do not cut short the prayers in haste; but, entreating, do not show favor to anyone’s person, but look to the King who is set before you, and the powers standing round about; and do not play a part, nor give the divine body where it is not fitting. Make yourself worthy of the sacred canons, and concelebrate as the canons prescribe. See, then, how you stand at the holy table, and how you perform the sacred rite, and to whom you give, and how you restrain. See, then, that you do not forget the Lord’s commandments and the traditions of his holy disciples; for it is said: “Do not give the holy things to the dogs, nor cast my pearls before swine.

See then that you also are not led by human fear and deliver the Son of God into the hands of the unworthy; but do not be abashed before any of the great ones of the earth, nor be terrified even of those who wear the diadem at that hour when you perform the sacred rites. Observe those who wish to receive the gifts in their homes: you will see that they are bestowed even by women, and also by the unworthy. See then, as the divine canons and the synods of the holy Fathers have confirmed, so act, and do not give communion to the unworthy or to laymen, except to bring them back to the orthodox faith. Woe to those who give communion to them! See then that flies do not fall into the holy chalice, or that it is not moistened through your negligence, or that it does not become moldy, or that it is not covered with dust, or that it is not handled by heretics; but see how you put it away after the completion of the divine liturgy, not hastening lest a pearl fall out or remain in the chalice; or if the holy chalice contains liquid, that it not become dusty; but having put both away, go in peace. If you keep this tradition, O priest, you will save yourself and those whom you are about to teach, praying also for me, the wretched one, to the Lord, to whom glory is due for ever. Amen.