Testament of Our Lord

tr. Cooper and Maclean, 1902

42. Book I, Chapter 42

After she is [appointed] thus, let her not be anxious about anything, but let her remain solitary and having leisure for supplications of piety. For the foundation of holiness and life for a widow such as this is solitude. For she hath loved none other but the God of gods, the Father which is in heaven. But at fixed¹ times let her give praise by herself, in the night [and] at dawn. If she be menstruous let her abide in the temple and not approach the altar,² not that she is as it were polluted, but that the altar² may have honour. Afterwards, when she fasteth and batheth, let her be assiduous [at the altar]. In the days of Pentecost, let her not fast. In the feast of Pascha, let her give of those things which she hath to the poor, and let her bathe, and so let her pray. But when she giveth thanks or praise, if she have friends³ like-minded,⁴ virgins, it is well that they pray with her for the sake of the Amen. But if not, [let her pray] alone by herself, both in the church and in the house, especially at midnight. The times in which she should give praise are: Saturday,⁵ the first day of the week, either Pascha or Epiphany or Pentecost.⁶ At other time[s] let her give thanks meekly with psalms, with hymns of praise, with meditations; and thus let her labour. For the Most High will sanctify them⁷ and will forgive all [their] sins, those which were before written⁸ against⁹ them, and their error; My Father, the Heavenly One, shall strengthen them and enlighten their faces¹⁰ as the faces¹⁰ of My sanctuaries;¹¹ they shall shine¹² in My glory in the day of recompense.

Notes

Or: the appointed.
I.e. the sanctuary, as I. 19.
Female.
So pp. 68, 106, above.
Lit.: Sabbath.
See Note to I. 28, p. 184.
Fem.
Fem. verb, “sins” being masculine, probably by forgetfulness of translator (as another form of the word “sin” is fem.).
Lit.: to.
πρόσωπον transliterated, not the usual Syriac word.
Or: holy things.
Or: appear.