“And
on the day called Sunday,
all
who live in cities or in the country gather together to one place,
and
the memoirs of the apostles or the
writings
of the prophets are read, as long as time permits;
then,
when the reader has ceased, the president verbally instructs,
and
exhorts to the imitation of these good things.
Then
we all rise together and pray …
When
our prayer is ended, bread and wine and water are brought,
and
the president in like manner offers prayers and thanksgivings,
according
to his ability, and the people assent, saying Amen;
and
there is a distribution to each,
and
a participation of that over which thanks have been given,
and
to those who are absent a portion is sent by the deacons.
And
they who are well to do, and willing, give what each thinks fit;
and
what is collected is deposited with the president,
who
succours the orphans and widows and
those
who, through sickness or any other cause, are in want,
and
those who are in bonds and the strangers sojourning among us,
and
in a word takes care of all who are in need.”
Justin
Martyr, First Apology, on Christian worship,
c. 153 AD
