[94]The word for “Father” here is πὰπας (pope), a colloquial form of πατήρ applied to any bishop (or even to one of the inferior clergy sometimes) in the first ages. For Heraclas see p. 11. It is to be noticed, however, that this canon of his dealt not with heretical baptism (such as Dionysius is dealing with), but with actual or reputed perverts, and stated the terms on which they were to be restored to the Church of their baptism. [95]_i. e._ the Church in Africa Proconsularis, of which Carthage was the metropolis and Cyprian the metropolitan. [96]Iconium was the chief city of Lycaonia (see Acts xiii. and xiv.), and Synnada was an important town in Phrygia Salutaris. These synods had been held some twenty-five years before (in A.D. 230). [97]Deut. xix. 14. [98]See above, p. 53. [99]A confession of faith has always been required before baptism: this Novatian virtually ignored by his action. [100]Here as elsewhere Dionysius shows his breadth of view about God in recognizing that the Holy Spirit might in some measure remain even with the lapsed. [101]It is strange that so old a believer should never have noticed the difference before, but baptism was almost entirely confined at that time to Easter and Whitsuntide, and he may have always been absent. [102]Cp. 1 Cor. xiv. 16. The Amen is either that after the Consecration of the Elements or at the Reception of them. [103]“Standing” was, and is still, the posture in the East: Scudamore, _Not. Euch._, p. 637. [104]A somewhat rare word for “Altar” without some descriptive epithet like “holy” or “mystic.” [105]The _Consistentes_ were the last order of penitents, who were allowed to remain after the dismissal of the catechumens and other penitents, but did not join in the oblation or communion itself: cf. Canons of Nicæa, No. xi. [106]The letter from which this is supposed to be an extract is said by Eusebius (_H. E._ vi. 46, 2) to have been on the subject of Repentance, and may possibly be “the instruction” which Dionysius says he had given on p. 42 above. [107]Viz. under the impression that they were going to die. [108]_i. e._ after thus pledging ourselves to them. [109]Cf. 1 Pet. ii. 3, where Ps. xxxiii. (xxxiv.) 9 is quoted. [110]Cf. 1 Tim. iii. 7, etc. [111]The reference is to Luke xv. 4 ff. and Ezek. xxxiv. 6, etc. [112]Dionysius is thinking perhaps of the story in Tobit v. 6, where Raphael becomes the companion of Tobit’s son Tobias on his journey. [113]On the principle that “charity thinketh no evil ... but hopeth all things” (1 Cor. xiii.): similar but not identical phrases (in words or sense) are found 1 Cor. xvi. 17, 2 Cor. ix. 12, xi. 9, Phil. ii. 30, and Col. i. 24. [114]The difficulties of soldiers becoming and remaining Christians were peculiarly great under the early Emperors.