Letter 44: 1. I do not wish you joy, for there is no joy for the wicked. Even now I cannot believe it; my heart cannot conceive iniquity so great as the crime which you have committed; if, that is, the truth really is what is generally understood.

To a Lapsed Monk. 1. I won't wish you joy — what joy can there be in disaster? And I won't call you "brother" as I used to, because you've forfeited that by your conduct. This letter isn't written to flatter you but to wound you, in the hope that the wound may do its healing work. I mourn for you the way you mourn a friend who has died — except that you are worse off than the dead, because the dead have at least stopped sinning. 2. You made vows before God and in the presence of his angels. You pledged your body, your mind, your whole life to Christ's service. And now? The vow is broken, the pledge betrayed. Where is your tonsure? Where your rough garment? Where the vigils, the fasting, the sleeping on bare ground? All thrown aside like a disguise you no longer need — as though holiness were a costume you wore for a while and discarded when it became inconvenient. 3. What excuse will you offer? That the flesh was too strong? You were warned about that battle when you enlisted. That the temptation was too sudden? But watchfulness was your prescribed duty. That you were alone and unsupported? But you were the one who left the community that would have upheld you. Every excuse condemns you further, because every excuse names a duty you already knew and neglected. 4. And yet I don't write to drive you to despair. There is repentance, and there is a God who receives the penitent. But repentance means returning — actually returning, not merely feeling bad while continuing on the same road. Come back. The door is not yet shut. But don't delay. The patience of God is great, but don't presume on it.

ST. BASIL OF CAESAREA To a lapsed Monk. 1. I do not wish you joy, for there is no joy for the wicked. Even now I cannot believe it; my heart cannot conceive iniquity so great as the crime which you have committed; if, that is, the truth really is what is generally understood. I am at a loss to think how wisdom so deep can have been made to disappear; how such exact discipline can have been undone; whence blindness so profound can have been shed round you; how with utter inconsiderateness you have wrought such destruction of souls. If this be true, you have given over your own soul to the pit, and have slackened the earnestness of all who have heard of your impiety. You have set at nought the faith; you have missed the glorious fight. I grieve over you. What cleric does not lament as he hears? What ecclesiastic does not beat the breast? What layman is not downcast? What ascetic is not sad? Haply, even the sun has grown dark at your fall, and the powers of heaven have been shaken at your destruction. Even senseless stones have shed tears at your madness; even your enemies have wept at the greatness of your iniquity. Oh hardness of heart! Oh cruelty! You did not fear God; you did not reverence men; you cared nothing for your friends; you made shipwreck of all at once; at once you were stripped of all. Once more I grieve over you, unhappy man. You were proclaiming to all the power of the kingdom, and you fell from it. You were making all stand in fear of your teaching, and there was no fear of God before your eyes. You were preaching purity, and you are found polluted. You were priding yourself on your poverty, and you are convicted of covetousness; you were demonstrating and explaining the chastisement of God, and you yourself brought chastisement on your own head. How am I to lament you, how grieve for you? How is Lucifer that was rising in the morning fallen and dashed on the ground? Both the ears of every hearer will tingle. How is the Nazarite, brighter than gold, become dark above pitch? How has the glorious son of Sion become an unprofitable vessel! Of him, whose memory of the sacred Scriptures was in all men's mouths, the memory today has perished with the sound. The man of quick intelligence has quickly perished. The man of manifold wit has wrought manifold iniquity. All who profited by your teaching have been injured by your fall. All who came to listen to your conversation have stopped their ears at your fall. I, sorrowful and downcast, weakened in every way, eating ashes for bread and with sackcloth on my wound, am thus recounting your praises; or rather, with none to comfort and none to cure, am making an inscription for a tomb. For comfort is hid from my eyes. I have no salve, no oil, no bandage to put on. My wound is sore, how shall I be healed? 2. If you have any hope of salvation; if you have the least thought of God, or any desire for good things to come; if you have any fear of the chastisements reserved for the impenitent, awake without delay, lift up your eyes to heaven, come to your senses, cease from your wickedness, shake off the stupor that enwraps you, make a stand against the foe who has struck you down. Make an effort to rise from the ground. Remember the good Shepherd who will follow and rescue you. Though it be but two legs or a lobe of an ear, spring back from the beast that has wounded you. Remember the mercies of God and how He cures with oil and wine. Do not despair of salvation. Recall your recollection of how it is written in the Scriptures that he who is falling rises and he who turns away returns; the wounded is healed, the prey of beasts escapes; he who owns his sin is not rejected. The Lord wills not the death of a sinner but rather that he should turn and live. Do not despise, like the wicked in the pit of evil. There is a time of endurance, a time of long suffering, a time of healing, a time of correction. Have you stumbled? Arise. Have you sinned? Cease. Do not stand in the way of sinners, but spring away. When you are converted and groan you shall be saved. Out of labour comes health, out of sweat salvation. Beware lest, from your wish to keep certain obligations, you break the obligations to God which you professed before many witnesses. Pray do not hesitate to come to me for any earthly considerations. When I have recovered my dead I shall lament, I shall tend him, I will weep because of the spoiling of the daughter of my people. Isaiah 22:4 All are ready to welcome you, all will share your efforts. Do not sink back. Remember the days of old. There is salvation; there is amendment. Be of good cheer; do not despair. It is not a law condemning to death without pity, but mercy remitting punishment and awaiting improvement. The doors are not yet shut; the bridegroom hears; sin is not the master. Make another effort, do not hesitate, have pity on yourself and on all of us in Jesus Christ our Lord, to Whom be glory and might now and for ever and ever. Amen.

[Πρός: Πρὸς μοναχὸν ἐκπεσόντα] Χαίρειν οὐ λέγομεν, ὅτι οὐκ ἔστι χαίρειν τοῖς ἀσεβέσιν. ἔτι γὰρ ἀπιστία με περιέχει, καὶ οὐκ ἐπέρχεταί μου εἰς τὴν καρδίαν τὸ τηλικοῦτον ἀτόπημα καὶ τὸ ἐπιχείρημα τὸ μέγα ὃ ἔπραξας, εἴ γε κατὰ τὸ φαινόμενον ἤδη πᾶσιν οὕτως ἔχει. θαυμάζω γὰρ πῶς ἡ τοσαύτη σοφία κατεπόθη, πῶς ἡ τοσαύτη ἀκρίβεια διελύθη, πόθεν ἡ τοσαύτη τύφλωσις περιεχύθη, πῶς μηδὲν τὸ σύνολον ἐννοήσας τοιαύτην καὶ τοσαύτην ἀπώλειαν ψυχῶν εἰργάσω. εἰ γὰρ ἀληθὲς τοῦτο, παραδέδωκας καὶ τὴν σαυτοῦ ψυχὴν τῷ βυθῷ, καὶ πάντων τῶν ἀκουόντων τὴν ἀσέβειαν ταύτην τὸν τόνον παρέλυσας. τὴν πίστιν ἠθέτησας, τοῦ ἀγῶνος τοῦ καλοῦ ἠστόχησας. διὸ ἀλγῶ ἐπὶ σοί. ποῖος γὰρ ἱερεὺς ἀκούων οὐ θρηνήσει; ποῖος ἐκκλησιαστικὸς οὐ κόπτεται; ποῖος λαϊκὸς οὐ σκυθρωπάζει; ποῖος ἀσκητὴς οὐ πενθεῖ; τάχα καὶ ὁ ἥλιος ἐσκότασεν ἐπὶ τῷ σῷ πτώματι, καὶ αἱ δυνάμεις τῶν οὐρανῶν ἐσαλεύθησαν ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ ἀπωλείᾳ. ἐδάκρυσαν καὶ οἱ ἀναίσθητοι λίθοι ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ μανίᾳ, ἔκλαυσαν δὲ καὶ οἱ ἐχθροὶ διὰ τὴν ὑπερβολὴν τῆς ἀνομίας σου. Ὢ πολλῆς πωρώσεως, ὢ δεινῆς ὠμότητος. οὐ Θεὸν ἐφοβήθης, οὐκ ἀνθρώπους ᾐδέσθης, οὐ φίλους ἐνετράπης· ἀλλʼ ὁμοῦ πάντα ἐναυάγησας, ὁμοῦ πάντα ἐσυλήθης. διὸ πάλιν ἀλγῶ ἐπὶ σοί, ἄθλιε. ὁ τῆς βασιλείας πᾶσι τὸν τόνον ἀπαγγέλλων τῆς βασιλείας ἐξέπεσες. ὁ τῆς διδασκαλίας τὸν φόβον πᾶσιν ἐμποιῶν οὐκ ἔσχες φόβον Θεοῦ ἀπέναντι τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν σου. ὁ ἁγιωσύνην κηρύσσων ἐναγὴς εὑρίσκῃ. ὁ ἐπὶ ἀκτημοσύνῃ σεμνυνόμενος συλοχρηματῶν ἐφευρίσκῃ. ὁ τὴν τοῦ Θεοῦ κόλασιν ἐπιδεικνύμενος διὰ τῆς ὑφηγήσεως αὐτὸς κόλασιν σεαυτῷ προεξένησας. πῶς σε θρηνήσω; πῶς ἀλγήσω ἐπὶ σοί; πῶς ἐξέπεσεν ὁ ἑωσφόρος ὁ πρωῒ ἀνατέλλων καὶ συνετρίβη ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς; παντὸς ἀκούοντος ἠχήσει τὰ ἀμφότερα ὦτα. πῶς ὁ Ναζιραῖος ὁ ἐκλάμπων ὑπὲρ χρυσίον ἐσκότασεν ὑπὲρ ἀσβόλην; υἱὸς Σιὼν ὁ τίμιος πῶς ἐγένετο σκεῦος ἄχρηστον; οὗ ἡ μνήμη τῶν θείων Γραφῶν ὑπὸ πάντων ἐλαλεῖτο, σήμερον ἀπώλετο τὸ μνημόσυνον αὐτοῦ μετʼ ἤχου. ὁ ὀξύνους ὀξέως ἀπώλετο. ὁ πολύνους πολύπλοκον ἁμαρτίαν εἰργάσατο. οἱ γὰρ ὠφελημένοι ὑπὸ τῆς σῆς διδασκαλίας ἐβλάβησαν ὑπὸ τῆς σῆς ἀπωλείας. οἱ τὰς ἀκοὰς παρατιθέντες ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ ὁμιλίᾳ ἔφραξαν τὰ ὦτα ἐπὶ τῇ σῇ ἀπωλείᾳ. ἐγὼ δὲ θρηνῶν καὶ σκυθρωπάζων, καὶ παρειμένος πάντοθεν, καὶ σποδὸν ὡσεὶ ἄρτον ἐσθίων, καὶ σάκκον ἐπὶ τῇ πληγῇ μου ἐπιῤῥίψας, τοιαῦτά σοι ἐγκώμια διεξέρχομαι· μᾶλλον δὲ ἐπιταφίους λόγους συντάσσων, ἀπαράκλητος καὶ ἀθεράπευτος διατελῶ· ὅτι παράκλησις κέκρυπται ἀπὸ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν μου, καὶ οὐκ ἔστι μάλαγμα ἐπιθεῖναι, οὔτε ἔλαιον, οὔτε καταδέσμους· ἔστι γὰρ ἡ πληγή μου ὀδυνηρά. πόθεν ἰαθήσομαι; Εἴ τις οὖν ἔτι ἐλπὶς ὑπολείπεταί σοι σωτηρίας, εἴ τις βραχεῖα μνήμη περὶ τὸν Θεόν, εἴ τις πόθος τῶν μελλόντων ἀγαθῶν, εἴ τις φόβος τῶν τεθησαυρισμένων κολάσεων τοῖς ἀμετανοήτοις, ἀνάνηψον ταχέως, ἐπᾶρον τοὺς ὀφθαλμούς σου εἰς τὸν οὐρανόν, ἐλθὲ εἰς συναίσθησιν, παῦσαι ἀπὸ τῆς πονηρίας σου, ἀπόσεισαι τὴν περιχυθεῖσάν σοι μέθην, ἐπανάστα τῷ καταβαλόντι σε. ἴσχυσον ἐκ γῆς ἐπαναστῆναι. μνήσθητι τοῦ ἀγαθοῦ ποιμένος, ὅτι καταδιώκων ἐξελεῖταί σε. κἂν ᾖ δύο σκέλη, ἢ λοβὸς ὠτίου, ἀποπήδησον ἀπὸ τοῦ τραυματίσαντός σε. μνήσθητι τῶν οἰκτιρμῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ, ὅτι θεραπεύει ἐλαίῳ καὶ οἴνῳ. μὴ ἀπελπίσῃς τὴν σωτηρίαν. ἀνάλαβε τὴν μνήμην τῶν γεγραμμένων, ὅτι ὁ πίπτων ἀνίσταται, καὶ ὁ ἀποστρέφων ἐπιστρέφει· ὁ πεπληγὼς θεραπεύεται, ὁ θηριάλωτος περιγίνεται, ὁ ἐξομολογούμενος οὐκ ἀποβάλλεται. οὐ θέλει γὰρ ὁ Κύριος τὸν θάνατον τοῦ ἁμαρτωλοῦ, ὡς τὸ ἐπιστρέψαι καὶ ζῇν αὐτόν. μὴ ὡς εἰς βάθος κακῶν ἐμπεσὼν καταφρονήσῃς. Καιρὸς ἀνοχῆς ἐστί, καιρὸς μακροθυμίας, καιρὸς ἰάσεως, καιρὸς διορθώσεως. ὠλίσθησας; ἐξεγείρου. ἥμαρτες; ἡσύχασον. μὴ στῇς ἐν ὁδῷ ἁμαρτωλῶν, ἀλλὰ ἀποπήδησον. ὅταν γὰρ ἐπιστραφεὶς στενάξῃς, τότε σωθήσῃ. ἔστι γὰρ ἐκ πόνων ὑγεία, καὶ ἐξ ἱδρώτων σωτηρία. ὅρα οὖν μή ποτε, συνθήκας βουλόμενός τινων φυλάττειν, παραβῇς τὰς πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν συνθήκας, ἃς ὡμολόγησας ἐπὶ πολλῶν μαρτύρων. μὴ οὖν διά τινας λογισμοὺς ἀνθρωπίνους ὀκνήσῃς ἐλθεῖν πρός με. ἐγὼ γὰρ ἀναλαβὼν τὸν νεκρόν μου θρηνήσω, ἐγὼ θεραπεύσω, ἐγὼ πικρῶς κλαύσομαι ἐπὶ τὸ σύντριμμα τῆς θυγατρὸς τοῦ γένους μου. πάντες σε δέχονται, πάντες σοι συμπονήσουσι. μὴ ἀναπέσῃς· μνήσθητι ἡμερῶν ἀρχαίων. ἔστι σωτηρία, ἔστι διόρθωσις. θάρσει, μὴ ἀπελπίσῃς. οὐκ ἔστι νόμος καταδικάζων τὸν χωρὶς οἰκτιρμῶν θάνατον, ἀλλὰ χάρις ὑπερτιθεμένη τὴν κόλασιν, ἐκδεχομένη τὴν διόρθωσιν. οὔπω ἐκλείσθησαν αἱ θύραι· ἀκούει ὁ νυμφίος· οὐ κυριεύει ἁμαρτία. ἀναπάλαισον πάλιν· μὴ κατοκνήσῃς· καὶ σεαυτὸν οἰκτείρησον καὶ πάντας ἡμᾶς ἐν Χριστῷ Ἰησοῦ τῷ Κυρίῳ ἡμῶν, ᾧ ἡ δόξα καὶ τὸ κράτος νῦν καὶ ἀεὶ εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας τῶν αἰώνων. ἀμήν.