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In order that we may not appear to omit any of the Institutes of the
Coenobia I think that it should be briefly mentioned that in other
countries as well there is a daily service undertaken by the brethren. For
throughout the whole of Mesopotamia, Palestine, and Cappadocia and all the
East the brethren succeed one another in turn every week for the
performance of certain duties, so that the number serving is told off
according to the whole number of monks in the Coenobium. And they hasten to
fulfil these duties with a zeal and humility such as no slave bestows on
his service even to a most harsh and powerful master; so that not satisfied
only with these services which are rendered by canonical rule, they
actually rise by night in their zeal and relieve those whose special duty
this is; and secretly anticipating them try to finish those duties which
these others would have to do. But each one who undertakes these weeks is
on duty and has to serve until supper on Sunday, and when this is done, his
duty for the whole week is finished, so that, when all the brethren come
together to chant the Psalms (which according to custom they sing before
going to bed) those whose turn is over wash the feet of all in turn,
seeking faithfully from them the reward of this blessing for their work
during the whole week, that the prayers offered up by all the brethren
together may accompany them as they fulfil the command of Christ. the
prayer, to wit, that intercedes for their ignorances and for their sins
committed through human frailty, and may commend to God the complete
service of their devotion like some rich offering. And so on Monday after
the Martin hymns they hand over to others who take their place the vessels
and utensils with which they have ministered, which these receive and keep
with the utmost care and anxiety, that none of them may be injured or
destroyed, as they believe that even for the smallest vessels they must
give an account, as sacred things, not only to a present steward, but to
the Lord, if by chance any of them is injured through their carelessness.
And what limit there is to this discipline, and what fidelity and care
there is in keeping it up, you may see from one instance which I will give
as an example. For while we are anxious to satisfy that fervour of yours
through which you ask for a full account of everything, and want even what
you know perfectly well to be repeated to you in this treatise, we are also
afraid of exceeding the limits of brevity.
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