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Bible Encyclopedias
Standers
Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature
or (Lat. consistentes, co-standers), an order of penitents iii the primitive Church, so called from their having liberty (after the other penitents, energumens, and catechumens were dismissed) to stand with the faithful at the altar and join in the common prayers and see the oblation offered; but yet they might neither make their own oblations nor partake of the eucharist with the others. This the Council of Nice (can. 11) calls communicating with the people in prayers only, without the oblation; which, for the crime of idolatry, was to last for two years, after they had been three years hearers and seven years prostrators before. The Council of Ancyra (Song of Solomon 4) often uses the same phrase of communicating in prayers only, and communicating without the oblation: and in one canon (25) expressly styles this order of penitents συνιστάμενοι, costanders; by which name they are also distinguished in the canons of Gregory Thaumaturgus (can. 11), and frequently in the canons of St. Basil. See Bingham, Christ. Antiq. bk. 18, ch. 1, § 5.
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McClintock, John. Strong, James. Entry for 'Standers'. Cyclopedia of Biblical, Theological and Ecclesiastical Literature. https://www.studylight.org/encyclopedias/eng/tce/s/standers.html. Harper & Brothers. New York. 1870.
