Fragments of the Instruction for Candidates

Nicetas, in the first book To the Candidates. It is necessary, then, to look for instructions needed by those running to the faith, which even rustic souls can notice and keep alike; not composed from one’s own wit, but gathered from the preaching of the divine Scriptures, by which those chosen for baptism are taught, so that they may know what they have left behind, understand better what they desire, and recognize more surely what they are about to receive or what they ought to observe; because what they desire is great, what they begin is mighty, whether God inspired it or a man admonished and persuaded them.

In the same place. The catechumen, as a guest and neighbour of the faithful, hears the mysteries from outside without understanding them; hears of grace without perceiving it; but from this point he begins to be called one of the faithful.

In the same place. For one does not come to the confession unless the devil has first been renounced. Just as a gold-gatherer does not put the gold into his bag unless he has first washed away all the earth and mud. Therefore one must first declare a divorce from the devil’s vanity and cast away his bitter pursuits by renouncing them. One must renounce not with bare speech nor with the lips alone, but with the strongest faith and undoubting knowledge; that is, that a man commit himself to Christ with all the strength of his mind, trusting that, having become Christ’s, he ceases to fear the devil. Then he renounces his evil works, that is, cults and idols, lots and auguries, processions and theatres, thefts and frauds, murders and acts of sexual immorality, pride and boasting, anger and avarice, revelling and drunkenness, dances and lies, and evils like these. What shall we say of those who wish to show off with superfluous adornment of the flesh and to be seen as wonderful? I say nothing of the needlessly refined subtleties of clothing. I ask you, what are hairs curled with a needle doing on men, locks covering the neck behind and wholly hiding the forehead in front, so that not even a free place is left on the forehead for the sign of Christ; and whence they think they have some glory or beauty, from there they contract disgrace and shame? Likewise women, binding the head like a shield, so that the forehead sinks like a valley between two hills; so that weights of little stones bound in gold hang from the ears, so that the arms are loaded with gold, or chains or stones press the neck, and little blood-red flames glitter on the feet in their shoes. What use is found in these, what benefit, except only empty pomp and a mind corrupted by childish desire?

Likewise in book 2. Certainly every sin is not done without the working of a demon; all of which we understand to be the works of the devil or his pomps. Freeing himself, then, from these evils, casting these chains behind his back as if into the face of the enemy, he now declares with a sincere voice: “I believe in God the Father almighty,” and the rest. For concerning the faith as it is contained in that same creed, everyone who desires to come to the faith and to baptism must be fully instructed and taught alike, so that he may keep the brief creed by heart in his heart, which he should say daily within himself before he sleeps and when he rises from sleep, and which he should have in mind at all hours; likewise also the Lord’s Prayer, and the sign of the cross, with which he may arm himself against the devil.

In the book To the Candidates. The creed is a reminder of the faith and a holy confession, which is held and learned in common by all.

In the first book. Why is he exorcized, unless he is being prepared to obtain grace? For through exorcisms they are purged as through fire; because the words of the Lord, of which the exorcisms are composed, are fiery.