Our venerable father and confessor Theodore, presbyter and abbot of Studium, rules regarding certain questions and answers to them, collected by him

The authorship of the work “Our Venerable Father and Confessor Theodore, Presbyter and Abbot of Studium, rules regarding certain questions and answers to them, collected by him” is attributed to St. Theodore Studitus. The essay proposes a solution to 4 issues of liturgical and canonical content: fasting on Maundy Thursday, fasting and kneeling during Pentecost, the practice of confession. * Title of the work in Greek: Περί ερωτήσεως καί τών ταύτης διαλύσεων κανόνες. * Title of the essay in Latin: Responsiones ad interrogate quaedam. “Rules on questioning and its resolution” (Περὶ ἐρωτήσεως ϰαὶ τῶν ταύτης διαλύσεων ϰανόνες) published (with Latin translation) by the cardinal Angelo Mayem after the Vatic manuscript, gr. 840 (Nova patrum bibliotheca. T. 5. Pars 2. Roma, 1849. P. 146–148; reprint: PG. T. 99. Col. 1729–1734). – Ed. 1. Question. In the cathedral and divine canons 1 it is written about Maundy Thursday that during Lent, in the last week, disrespect should not be shown to [the entire] Lent; So, if this is in the divine canons, then how do we allow oil and wine on Maundy Thursday? [Col. 1732] Answer. For a long time, as a result of some private custom, people ate cheese and eggs on Maundy Thursday; the later fathers, having learned about such a strange custom, established a canon on this matter, but did not include [anything] in it about oil and wine, for this [serves as some] strengthening and consolation from severe suffering during Lent for those who partake of the Divine Mysteries. 2. Question. In the same way, it is written about Holy Pentecost that [one should not] kneel or fast at all 3. How come those who sit in their cells do not observe this, but also fast and kneel for a whole week, except, of course, Saturday and Sunday? Answer. The preaching of the Gospel has a universal significance for the whole universe, even if it was done in recent times, and must proclaim universal commands. And since the resurrection of Christ caused distrust among many, to prove it, a doctrine was established, as if preaching and teaching that just as through sin we became dead, fell down and cannot be resurrected without the appearance of the Risen One, so after the coming in the last times of Christ our God, Who was to appear (Gen. 49:10), and after His sinless suffering for the sake of our sins, we were resurrected. Therefore, to prove the sacrament, the indicated rule was established, which has prevailed and should prevail. Therefore, monks do not sin by secretly kneeling on these days, for, having recognized themselves as worthy of condemnation and, as it were, voluntarily imprisoned, they must always cry out to the Lord and humbly ask for mercy, because for a monk, as it is said, there is no holiday on earth. 3. Question. If someone committed a lot of carnal sins both in quantity and quality, then confessed them, took medicine according to these sins and fulfilled them, then how can he know that the said sins have been forgiven him, so that he can have confidence in his thoughts regarding [future] blessings? Answer. No one should ever begin repentance and confession unless he first has the firm hope that if he sincerely confesses and accepts penance, then there will be perfect forgiveness for him. And since we, people, usually look at the multitude of our sins and are, as it were, in some doubt regarding the great love of God for us, therefore we resort to our spiritual successors, asking for complete remission [of sins] through the laying on of their hands, since they are authorized to be mediators of the One who took away our sins. 4. Question. If anyone has sinned by idle speech or condemnation, by reproach or idle talk, [Col. 1733] jokes or generally the sin of the tongue and [then] reflected and condemned himself, then what should he do appropriately for sufficient repentance and to calm his mood? Answer. This does not concern the nomocanon 4, but there is a detail of the monastic, or better yet, communal state, requiring daily or even weekly penances, as the mysterious [works] of St. Basil and subsequent holy fathers speak about this. And I can say the following. Due to carelessness and drowsiness, someone voluntarily did not attend the morning service; Having confessed this to his father, he received penance - dry eating, that is, bread and water, and a certain number of bows on that day. This is how we must understand other ways of educating those who accept them. See Rule V-VI of the (Trullo) Council 29. – Ed. Wed. Rule of the Council of Carthage 50. – Ed. See Rule I of the Ecumenical Council 20; Rule V-VI (Trullo) Council 90. – Ed. This refers to the penance nomocanon for the laity. – Ed.