Friday, January 28, 2011

Neocaesarea - Canon 13

Country presbyters may not make the oblation in the church of the city when the bishop or presbyters of the city are present; nor may they give the Bread or the Cup with prayer.  If, however, they be absent, and he [i.e., a country presbyter] alone be called to prayer, he may give them.

The eldership of outlying areas was considered lower than that of the main city.  The country elder was not allowed to administer the Lord's Supper a city elder was present, though it was permissible when such were absent.  The distinction is superficial unless a country elder was considered to be a journeyman type of position until he might reach full mastery as a city elder.

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