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Apostolic Tradition

St Hippolytus of Rome, tr. Horner, 1904; from the Ethiopic

33. Statute 33: Concerning the Laying Hand Upon the Catechumen

And after the prayer, when the teacher has laid his hand upon the catechumen he shall pray, and dismiss them. And if it was one belonging to the church who teaches, or a layman, he shall do likewise. And if a catechumen was arrested for the name of our Lord Jesus Christ, he shall not be doubtful about the testimony (which he gives); because if they overpower and injure him and kill him before he receives baptism for the forgiveness of his sin, he shall be justified; because he was baptised in his own blood.