Fathers

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What the Fathers say

Acts 13:3

Eastern Fathers

John Chrysostom

"And when they had fasted and prayed, and laid their hands on them, they sent them away." Seest thou what a great thing fasting is? A great, yes a great good is fasting: it is circumscribed by no limits. When need was to ordain, then they fast: and to them while fasting, the Spirit spake.

Homily on Acts 27 ↗

Theophylact of Ohrid

They ordained not as they did deacons, but "having laid hands on them" after preliminary fasting and prayer, so that from this one may conclude that Barnabas and Paul through such ordination received a higher hierarchical rank than that of deacons.

Commentary on Acts ↗