The Ancient Witnesses

38 • The Ancient Witnesses: A Journey to Discover Our Sacred Roots

“ Teaching of the Twelve Apostles ,” said Cesar and Joseph, translating in unison. “How about this one?” I asked, pulling another volume from the shelf. “ Apologia protei huper Christianon —it’s something like, First Apology to the Christians ,” said Joseph. “Can you read it to us?” I asked. Joseph shook his head. “They taught us to read the Greek New Testament, not the Church Fathers,” he said. “Are all these volumes by the fathers?” I asked. “I wouldn’t doubt it,” said Joseph, “there were hundreds of them and they wrote a lot.” Cesar suddenly looked miserable. He sat down at one of the tables and began to leaf through the Teaching of the Twelve Apostles page by page. “The world of the early Church is in my hands,” he said, “and I can’t read about it.” Dejected, he put his head down on the table as we continued exploring the library. A few moments later we heard him reciting, “There are two ways, one of life and one of death, and there is a great difference between these two ways.” Still face down on the table, there was an eerie glow like a halo around Cesar’s head. “Dang,” said Preacher. Joseph grabbed Cesar by shoulders and lifted his head off the table. “Is he alive?” asked Preacher. Cesar rubbed his eyes as if waking up from a nap. “Why did you stop me?” he asked.