NPNF2-08. Basil: Letters and Select Works - Holy Bible Institute

To the Chorepiscopi.ministers, but not one single man worthy of the service of the altars. Of this you yourselvessupply proof from your difficulty in finding suitable candidates for election. As, then, Iperceive that the evil is gradually reaching a point at which it would be incurable, and especiallyat this moment when a large number of persons are presenting themselves for theministry through fear of the conscription, I am constrained to have recourse to the restitutionof the canons of the Fathers. I thus order you in writing to send me the roll of the ministersin every village, stating by whom each has been introduced, and what is his mode of life.You have the roll in your own keeping, so that your version can be compared with thedocuments which are in mine, and no one can insert his own name when he likes. So if anyhave been introduced by presbyters after the first appointment, 2202 let them be rejected,and take their place among the laity. Their examination must then be begun by you overagain, and, if they prove worthy, let them be received by your decision. Drive out unworthymen from the Church, and so purge it. For the future, test by examination those who areworthy, and then receive them; but do not reckon them of the number before you have reportedto me. Otherwise, distinctly understand that he who is admitted to the ministrywithout my authority will remain a layman.1582202 μετὰ τὴν πρώτην ἐπινέμησιν. ᾽Επινέμησις is in later Greek the recognized equivalent for “indictio” inthe sense of a period of fifteen years (Cod. Theod. xi. 28. 3). I have had some hesitation as to whether it couldpossibly in this passage indicate a date. But ἐπινέμησις does not appear to have been used in its chronologicalsense before Evagrius, and his expression (iv. 29) τοὺς περιόδους τῶν κύκλων καλουμένων ἐπινεμήσεων looksas though the term were not yet common; ἐπινέμησις here I take to refer to the assignment of presbyters todifferent places on ordination. I am indebted to Mr. J. W. Parker for valuable information and suggestions onthis question.470