Didache

The Didache is a collection of:
– moral precepts
– prayers
– liturgical regulations
– organizational regulations of the first Christian communities

The name Didache (from Greek – learning, teaching) is the first word of the title of the work, which reads in full: Didache tu Kyriu dia ton dodeka apostolon tois ethnesis – The teaching of the Lord to the Gentiles transmitted by the twelve apostles.
The date of creation of this small work is the subject of numerous discussions.
The lack of stylistic uniformity of the Didache indicates that it is a compilation of several earlier writings.

The Didache became the prototype:
– Apostolic Constitutions
– Apostolic canons
– Apostolic Didascales
In ancient times, it enjoyed such great authority that many writers included it among inspired books (Clement of Alexandria).
In the 4th century it began to be placed among the apocrypha (Athanasius the Great, Rufinus of Aquileia).

Nowadays, it is an invaluable source for:
– history of the liturgy
– Church history
– Church legislation