The Canonical Answers of St Timothy of Alexandria

Direct English translation

If a catechumen child, about seven years old, or a grown person, happens to be present somewhere while the offering is being made and, in ignorance, partakes, what ought to be done concerning him? Answer: He ought to be enlightened, for he has been called by God.

Direct English translation

If a catechumen is demon-possessed and he himself or his relatives wish him to receive holy Baptism, ought he to receive it or not, especially if he is near death? Answer: If the demon-possessed person is not cleansed from the unclean spirit, he cannot receive holy Baptism; but when he is near his departure, he is baptized.

Direct English translation

If a believer is demon-possessed, ought he to partake of the Holy Mysteries or not? Answer: If he does not disclose the Mystery, nor blaspheme in any other way, let him partake; not, however, every day, for it is sufficient for him on the Lord's Day only.

Direct English translation

If a catechumen, being ill, becomes delirious and cannot himself confess the faith, and his relatives ask that he receive holy Baptism while he is still alive, ought he to receive it or not? Answer: He ought to receive it, provided that he is not being troubled by an unclean spirit.

Direct English translation

If a woman has intercourse with her husband during the night, or a man with his wife, and there is an assembly, ought they to partake or not? Answer: They ought not, for the Apostle cries: 'Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and then come together again, lest Satan tempt you because of your lack of self-control.'

Direct English translation

If a catechumen woman has given her name in order to be enlightened, and around the day of Baptism the customary condition of women occurs to her, ought she to be enlightened on that day or to postpone it, and for how long? Answer: She ought to postpone it until she is cleansed.

Direct English translation

If a woman experiences what is customary to women, ought she to approach the Mysteries on that day or not? Answer: She ought not, until she is cleansed.

Direct English translation

If a woman gives birth at Pascha, ought she to fast and not drink wine, or is she released from the fast and from abstaining from wine because she has given birth? Answer: Fasting was devised in order to humble the body. If therefore the body is already in humiliation and weakness, she ought to partake of food and drink as she wishes and is able to bear.

Direct English translation

Ought a cleric to pray when Arians or other heretics are present, or does it do him no harm when he himself performs the prayer, that is, the offering? Answer: In the divine Anaphora the deacon proclaims before the kiss: 'Those who are not in communion, depart.' They therefore ought not to be present, unless they promise to repent and to flee from the heresy.

Direct English translation

If someone is ill and greatly wasted by severe sickness, and holy Pascha arrives, ought he in every case to fast, or may the cleric release him to take what he is able, even oil and wine, because of his great weakness? Answer: The sick person ought to be released to partake of food and drink according to what he can bear; for it is just that one who has once been greatly wasted should partake of oil.

Direct English translation

If someone calls a cleric to join a marriage, but the cleric hears that the marriage is unlawful—whether an incestuous marriage or, for example, that the woman to be joined is the sister of a deceased wife—ought the cleric to attend or make an offering? Answer: You have said it once: if the cleric hears that the marriage is unlawful, then, since the marriage is unlawful, the cleric ought not to share in the sins of others.

Direct English translation

If a layman who has had a nocturnal emission asks a cleric whether he ought to be permitted to commune or not, what is the answer? Answer: If it is because he is subject to desire for a woman, he ought not; but if Satan is tempting him so that by this pretext he may be alienated from communion in the Divine Mysteries, he ought to commune, since the tempter will not cease at the very time when he ought to commune from laying this obstacle before him.

Direct English translation

For those joined in the communion of marriage, on which days of the week should they be instructed to abstain from intercourse with one another, and on which days do they have freedom? Answer: What I said before, I say now also. The Apostle says: 'Do not deprive one another, except perhaps by agreement for a time, that you may devote yourselves to prayer, and then be together again, lest Satan tempt you because of your lack of self-control.' Of necessity, however, they must abstain on the Sabbath and the Lord's Day because on those days the spiritual sacrifice is offered to the Lord.

Direct English translation

If someone, not being in possession of himself, lays hands upon himself or casts himself down to destruction, is an offering made for him or not? Answer: The cleric ought to discern concerning him whether he truly did this while out of his mind. For often those connected with the sufferer, wishing to obtain the offering and prayer on his behalf, speak falsely and say that he was not in possession of himself. Sometimes, however, he did it because of mistreatment by people or otherwise from faintheartedness, and an offering ought not to be made for him, for he is his own murderer. The cleric must therefore investigate with all exactness, lest he fall under judgment.

Direct English translation

If a man's wife is afflicted by a spirit so severely that she even wears chains, and the husband says, 'I cannot remain continent,' and wishes to take another woman, ought he to take another or not? Answer: Adultery enters into the matter, and concerning this I have nothing to answer nor can I devise anything; but according to a spiritual judgment, he ought not.

Direct English translation

If someone, fasting in order to commune, while washing his mouth or while in the bath unintentionally swallows water, ought he to commune? Answer: Yes; for if Satan finds an occasion to prevent him from Communion, he will make this happen more often.

Direct English translation

If we frequently hear the word of God and do not do it, are we under condemnation? Answer: Even if we do not do it, it is impossible for us not to blame ourselves for hearing and disobeying; and to blame ourselves is itself a part of salvation.

Direct English translation

From what age are sins judged by God? Answer: According to each person's knowledge and understanding: for some from ten years of age, and for others from an older age.