Letter 376

To Chariton the Monk. It is no sin to come briefly to the daily food at the appointed hour. But it is necessary, after one has stooped a little to the hand of the body, swiftly again to send the mind back up to heaven, unburdened, lifting up together with it none of the earthly cares.

Οὐκ ἔστιν ἁμαρτία τὸ πρὸς βραχὺ προσελθεῖν τῇ καθ’ ἡμέραν τροφῇ ἐν τῇ τεταγμένῃ ὥρᾳ. Χρὴ δὲ λοιπὸν μετὰ τὸ προσταπεινωθῆναι τῇ χειρί τοῦ σώματος, ὀξέως πάλιν εἰς τὸν οὐρανὸν κοῦφον ἀναπέμπειν τὸ φρόνημα, μηδὲν ἐν αὐτῷ συνανακουφίζων τῶν χοϊκῶν φροντισμάτων.