IV. From an Epistle to Demetrius, Bishop of Alexandria. 1
And he 2 --i.e., Demetrius--has added to his letter that this is a matter that was never heard of before, and has never been done now,--namely, that laymen should take part in public speaking, 3 when there are bishops present. But in this assertion he has departed evidently far from the truth by some means. For, indeed, wherever there are found persons capable of profiting the brethren, such persons are exhorted by the holy bishops to address the people. Such was the case at Laranda, where Evelpis was thus exhorted by Neon; and at Iconium, Paulinus was thus exhorted by Celsus; and at Synada, Theodorus also by Atticus, our blessed brethren. And it is probable that this is done in other places also, although we know not the fact. 4
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In Euseb., Hist. Eccles., ch. xix. ↩
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Demetrius is, for honour's sake, addressed in the third person. Perhaps he se hagiotes or some such form preceded. ↩
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homilein. ↩
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[This precise and definite testimony is not to be controverted. It follows the traditions of the Synagogue (Acts xiii. 15), and agrees with the Pauline prescription as to the use of the charismata in 1 Cor. xiv. The chiefs of the Synagogue retained the power of giving this liberty, and this passed to the Christian authorities.] ↩
