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Which early Christian writings describe customs in the Eastern churches?
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canon law
Council of Nicaea in 325, depicted in a Byzantine fresco in the basilica of St. Nicholas in Demre, Turkey.
Early Christian customs in the East, spanning from the 2nd to the 5th century, are primarily documented in the New Testament, the writings of the Apostolic Fathers, and various pseudo-Apostolic documents.1
Key writings that describe these early ecclesiastical customs include:
- Didachē: The oldest surviving church order, likely written in the 2nd century, which provides instructions on morals, baptism, fasting, prayer, the Eucharist, and the appointment of church officials.2
- Didascalia Apostolorum: A 3rd-century work that details Christian ethics, clergy duties, and liturgical practices.13
- Apostolic Tradition: Attributed to St. Hippolytus, this work was widely distributed in the East and offers significant descriptions of early rites, including the Eucharist and baptism.14
- Apostolic Constitutions: A comprehensive 4th-century collection that incorporates and expands upon earlier sources like the Didachē and the Didascalia Apostolorum to codify church law, liturgy, and rituals.13
These documents served as foundational sources for the development of canon law in the Eastern churches.1