Letter 65

To Heraclius, subdeacon and goldsmith. Just as a noble soldier fighting on behalf of the emperor, if, shot through with arrows by the enemy, he endures the pains and does not give way to faintheartedness, but, obtaining care and being healed, will keep the scars of his wounds as a boast of his bravery; so too those who have been wounded by the enemy, if they do not grow weary of the labors of repentance, will without doubt be saved and will boast on the day of judgment. For the brave man, even if he be among wounds, will assuredly conquer, fighting even while wounded.

Ὥσπερ στρατιώτης γενναῖος ὑπὲρ τοῦ βασιλέως μαχόμενος, ἐὰν βέλεσι κατατοξευθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν ἐναντίων ὑπομείνῃ τὰς ἀλγηδόνας, καὶ μὴ παραχωρήσῃ τῇ ὀλιγοψυχίᾳ, ἐπιμελείας τυχών, καὶ ἰατρευθεὶς, ἕξει τὰς οὐλὰς τῶν τραυμάτων εἰς καύχησιν ἀνδρείας· οὕτως καὶ οἱ τρωθέντες παρὰ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ ἐὰν μὴ ἀκηδιάσωσι τοὺς πόνους τῆς μετανοίας, ἀναμφιβόλως σωθέντες καυχήσονται ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως· ὁ γὰρ ἀνδρεῖος, κἂν ἐν τρώμασι γένηται, πάντως νικήσει καὶ τραυματίας μαχόμενος.