Is there any historical evidence for the practice of "foot washing" during the first centuries of Christianity? Is there any historical evidence for the practice of “foot washing” during the first centuries of Christianity?
My question to the practice of foot washing based on John 13:

John 13:12-17 (New International Version)
12 When he had finished washing their feet, he put on his clothes and returned to his place. “Do you understand what I have done for you?” he asked them. 13 “You call me ‘Teacher’ and ‘Lord,’ and rightly so, for that is what I am. 14 Now that I, your Lord and Teacher, have washed your feet, you also should wash one another’s feet. 15 I have set you an example that you should do as I have done for you. 16 Very truly I tell you, no servant is greater than his master, nor is a messenger greater than the one who sent him. 17 Now that you know these things, you will be blessed if you do them.
From the Anabaptist network comes the following:

Tertullian (145-220) of North Africa in his De Corona is the first Church Father to indicate that footwashing was practiced in his time, but he gives no clue as to by whom or how. Ambrose of Milan (340-97) states that it was not the practice of the Roman Church, but endorses it as a symbol of sanctification. Augustine mentions it as being rejected by some. Knight (p. 816) says flatly that footwashing always remained ‘a purely local peculiarity, introduced at an early date into some parts of the Catholic Church, but never universal’. Among the monks in particular, the hospitality custom of footwashing was widely practiced, and often in the name of Christ, but not as a universal ordinance of the church. For the monks the observance was often intended to express humility. St. Benedict’s Rule (529) for the Benedictine Order prescribed hospitality footwashing in addition to a communal footwashing for humility.

R.L. Vaughn's monograph on the history of the practice of footwashing among Baptists credits John Christopher Thomas's work Footwashing in John 13 and the Johannine Community for adding substantially to the body of knowledge regarding the practice of footwashing in the church. Vaughn says,

Thomas finds few very early references, though he makes a good argument on pp. 146-47 that the absence of such references is not proof that it was not practiced. He finds a possible allusion to feet washing in the Martyrdom of Polycarp , written in 156. He cites it according to the translation of C. C. Richardson in Early  Christian  Fathers  (p. 154 New York: MacMillan Press, 1970).

Thomas includes an excerpt from Richardson's translation of Martyrdom:

“And  when  the  funeral  pile  was  ready,  Polycarp,  laying  aside  all  his  garments,  and loosing his girdle, sought also to take off his sandals,--a thing he was not accustomed to do, inasmuch as every one of the faithful was always eager who should first touch his skin.” – 13:2 (Roberts-Donaldson Translation) http://www.earlychristianwritings.com/text/martyrdo
mpolycarp-roberts.html.

Thomas continues,

This  above  is  definitely  not  a  clear  reference.  Thomas  points  to  the  possibility  of  an allusion  to  feetwashing  based  on  the description  of laying  aside  of  garments,  the mention  of  not  removing  the  shoes  in  relation  to  touching  his  skin,  that apsetai
(translated  touch)  in  some  contexts  means  to  wash, and  tradition  of  Polycarp's connection with the Apostle John.

Thomas (passim) then quotes extensively from The  Mennonite  Encyclopedia,  Vol.  2,  Bender,  Gingerich,  Krahn, Smith, editors, Scottdale, PA: Mennonite Publishing
House, 1956, p. 348, and in short, cites the following church fathers and Post-Nicene writers who in their various writings at least mention the practice of footwashing in the Christian church:


Turtullian (155-230)

Origen (203-250)

Ambrose (340-397)

St. John Chyrsostom (347-407)

Augustine (354-430)

John Cassian (360-435)

Pachomias (writing in ca. 404)

Casesarius of Arles (ca. 470-542)



In conclusion, while footwashing is mentioned as being in existence from the time of the apostles, on, including Paul's reference to widows who washed the saints' feet (1 Timothy 5:10), the exact nature and practice of footwashing in both social and eccelsiastical settings is imprecise at best.
Nevertheless, footwashing in an ecclesiastical setting was practiced (and still is) by such Christian groups as the Anabaptists and later the Menonnites. Other Christian denominations to this very day may engage in footwashing from time to time, not as an ordinance but as a demonstration of humility and servant-leadership.
My own local congregation within the C &amp; M A denomination enacts the footwashing paradigm periodically, especially when new elders are installed as church leaders and under-shepherds. This meaningful ritual signifies that true elders have the privilege of serving their fellow parishioners humbly, much as the Lord himself who &quot;came not to be served, but to serve.&quot; The primary difference in their humility: only the Lord Jesus was worthy to give &quot;his life as a ransom for [the sins of] many.&quot;