Chapter 60

1At a supper or feast, let those who have gathered receive from the shepherd in this way, as a blessing. But let no catechumen receive.

2If anyone belongs to the household of, or is related to, someone who teaches heathenism, let him neither agree with him nor offer praise with him. Let him not eat with him because of kinship or harmony, lest he deliver ineffable things to a wolf and incur judgment.

3Let those who are invited with the bishop to the home of a believer eat with dignity and understanding, not with drunkenness or debauchery. Let them not behave so that anyone present may laugh or so that they annoy the household of the one who invited them. Instead, let them enter in such a way that the one who invited them may pray that the holy ones will enter his house. For you are the salt of the earth, as you have heard.

4When they eat, let them eat abundantly, but so that some remains both for them and for those to whom their host wishes to send it. Thus he may have food left by the holy ones and may rejoice in what remains.

5Let those invited to a feast not stretch out a hand before their elders. Let the last eat when the first have finished. Let those who eat not contend in speech, but let them eat in silence. If anyone wishes to speak, or if the bishop or presbyter asks a question, let him answer. When the bishop speaks, let everyone quietly choose silence while praising him, until he too is asked a question.