Canon XV.
No one shall find fault with us for observing the
fourth day of the week, and the preparation,2341
| 2341
The sixth day, the day before the Hebrew
Sabbath.—Tr. [The
Parasceve.] |
on which it is reasonably enjoined us to
fast according to the
tradition.
2342
| 2342
[Stationary days. See Vol. ii. p. 33, note 6.] |
On the fourth day, indeed,
because on it the
Jews took
counsel for the betrayal of the
Lord; and
on the sixth, because on it He himself
suffered for us. But the
Lord’s day we celebrate as a day of
joy, because on it He rose
again, on which day we have received it for a
custom not even to bow
the
knee.
Balsamon. Conformably to
the sixty-fourth Apostolical canon, which decrees that we are not to
fast on the Sabbath, with one exception, the great Sabbath; and to the
sixty-ninth canon, which severely punishes those who do not fast in the
Holy Lent, and on every fourth day of the week and day of
preparation. Thus also does the present canon decree.
Zonaras. Always, says he,
are the fourth and sixth days of every week to be kept as fasts; nor
will any one find fault with us for fasting on them; and the reasons he
subjoins. But on the Lord’s day we ought not to fast, for
it is a day of joy for the resurrection of the Lord, and on it, says
he, we have received that we ought not even to bow the knee. This
word, therefore, is to be
carefully observed, “we have received,” and “it is
enjoined upon us according to the tradition.” For from
hence it is evident that long-established custom was taken for
law.2343
| 2343
[Vol. v. pp. 382, 571, the notes.] |
Moreover, the great Basil annexes also the causes for which it was
forbidden to bend the knee on the Lord’s day, and from the
Passover to Pentecost. Read also the sixty-sixth and sixty-ninth
Apostolical canons.
2344
| 2344 [So
called. Vol. viii., this series. Elucidation II.] |
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