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Longer Rules

St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925

Rule 27: That Even the Superior Himself, Should He Stumble, Must Be Admonished by the…

Just as the Superior is responsible for guiding all the brotherhood, so also it is incumbent on the rest to admonish him, if any offence is suspected with reference to him. That good order be not impaired, such admonishment should be entrusted to those who are pre-eminent both as regards years and wisdom. If there be anything that needs reformation, we have both benefited our brother, and through him ourselves, for we have brought back to the right path one who is, so to speak, the rule of our life and should by his own rectitude correct our perversity; but if some have been disturbed on his account causelessly, they are convinced by manifestation of the truth that their suspicions were false and are freed from their doubts.

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