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Longer Rules

St Basil the Great, tr. Lowther Clarke, 1925

Rule 39: How We Ought to Manage the Sale of the Products of Our Work and the Necessary…

We must try to secure both that the products of our work are not disposed of at a distance, and that we do not court publicity for the sake of selling. For it is more fitting to remain in one place and more beneficial both for the edifying of one another and the accurate observance of our daily life; so that we prefer to abate somewhat from the price¹ rather than go beyond our borders for the sake of a trifling gain. But if experience has shown this to be impossible, then we must choose localities and cities inhabited by religious men, so that our journey may not be unfruitful, and a number of brethren, each bearing the products of his own work, must go together to the functions designated fairs.² Let them make their journey in common that they may accomplish the way with psalms and prayers and mutual edification. When they have come to the place let them choose the same lodgings both for the sake of keeping watch upon one another, and that we may miss no season of prayer, either by day or night, and that each may come through his meetings with grasping and extortionate men with less harm in company than if he were alone. For even the most violent men avoid having many witnesses of their injustice.

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