Cony_keyoftruth

xxxviii THE KEY OF TRUTH
22. One unleavened loaf and wine are to be offered in the
eucharistic sacrifice.
See the Key, p. 123.
23. In baptism the catechumens pass naked into the middle of
the water on their knees ; but beside this immersion it was neces-
sary to pour three handfuls of water over the head.
See the Key, p. 97.
24. Exorcism of the catechumen is performed by the elect one
before baptism.
See the Key, pp. 92, 97.
25. The sponsors in the infant baptism of the heretics (i.e. the
orthodox) churches are at best mere false witnesses.
See the Key, p. 88.
26. There is but a single grade of ecclesiastical authority, and
this is that of the elect one. He bears the authority to bind and
loose given by the Father to Jesus in the descent of the Holy
Spirit in Jordan, handed on by Jesus to the apostles and by them
to their successors.
See p. 105 of the Key. The historian Kirakos relates (p. 114) that 'a bishop,
Khosrov by name, during the catholicate of Anania Mokatzi (c. 950), taught
that it is not right to submit to the archbishop, that is to the catholicos ; for
that he is in no wise superior (to other priests) except in his bare name and
title.' The Paulician tenet of a single grade of spiritual authority underlay
such teaching. Cp. Paul of Taron, p. 1 76.
27. But although all authority is one and the same, the elect
depositary of it may have various titles ; and according to the
particular function he is fulfilling he is called in the Key, priest,
elder, bishop, doctor or vardapet, president or hegwnenos, apostle,
and chief.
See the Key, p. 105. Arist. p. 138, testifies to the order of Vardapet among
the Taulicians ; Greg. Mag. pp. 143, 155, to their priesthood and hcgumenate.
Cp. especially p. 149 :
and false signs of priesthood.'
' They have appropriated to themselves the language
27. The word used to denote authority is ishkhan-uthiun.
Hence it is probable that the ishkhanq, or rulers who choose out
and present to the bishop a candidate for election, and in conjunc-
tion with the bishop lay hands on him in ordination, were them-
selves elect ones.
See the Key, chap. xxii.
27. The presbyters and arch-presbyter mentioned in the ordinal
or Service of Election seem to be identical with these ishkhanq, or