First Letter to the Corinthians 44

Our sin will not be small if we eject from from the episcopate [bishop or group of presiding bishops] those who blameslessly and holily have offered its sacrifices.

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First Letter to the Corinthians 40-41

The High Priest, for example, has his own proper services assigned to him... There are particular ministries laid down for the Levites, and the layman is bound by regulations affecting the laity. In the same way, my brothers, when we offer our own Eucharist to God, each one should keep to his own degree.

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Saint Clement was a dsiciple of Peter and the third bishop of Rome [Peter, Anacletus, Clement]. Written circa 96 A.D.

From: Crossing the Tiber by Stephen K. Ray, 1997.