Statute 17

1Concerning widows.

2Kefa said: Three widows shall be ordained. Two of them shall devote themselves to prayer for all who are in affliction, and they shall be given sufficient daily sustenance.

3One of them, however, shall remain with the women who are suffering from illness, so that she may assist their recovery, keep watch over them, and send word to inform the presbyters. She shall not be a lover of gain or a drunkard, lest she neglect her work of watching and praying during the night.

4If one of them wishes to do a good work, let her do it according to the commandment, so that she may comfort the heart of the sorrowful, because the goodness of God was first made known to her.