Didascalia Apostolorum

The Didascalia Apostolorum is a significant work of early Christian ecclesiastical law, likely originating in Syria around 250 CE. It is considered the largest collection of such laws from early Christianity. The Didascalia is composed of eight books, with the first six being an adaptation of earlier regulations concerning Christian ethics, the duties of clergy, and church rituals.1

The Didascalia Apostolorum is closely related to the Didachē, also known as the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles. The Didachē, dating to the 2nd century, is the oldest surviving Christian church order and deals with morals, ethics, and church practices. It provides instruction on the "two ways" of life and death, baptism, fasting, prayer, the Eucharist, and the appointment of bishops and deacons. The Apostolic Constitutions, a later compilation from around 380 CE, incorporates material from both the Didascalia and the Didachē. While the Apostolic Constitutions were reputedly transmitted by St. Clement of Rome, they are now believed to be the work of a single compiler in Syria.213