Letter 783

To Neilos the Monk. Just as contact with fire makes iron impossible to touch, so too does frequent and strenuous prayer, by rendering the monk's mind red-hot and keen, set it beyond the reach of the invisible enemies. Hence the utterly base demons strive by every device to instill sloth into those who contend, regarding their perseverance and steadfast continuance in prayer, since they know full well that prayer is a plotter against and a persecutor of every opposing power, but for the contender a champion-defender and a shield-bearing protector.

Ὃν τρόπον τὸν σίδηρον ἀηλάφητον ποιεῖ τοῦ πυρὸς ἡ συνάφεια, οὕτω καὶ ἡ πυκνὴ καὶ ἔμπονος προσευχή, πεπυρακτωμένον καὶ ἀκμαῖον τοῦ μοναχοῦ τὸν νοῦν ἀποτελοῦσα, ἀνέπαφον τοῦτον καθίστησι τοῖς ἀοράτοις ἐχθροῖς. Ὅθεν πᾶσα μηχανὴ ὄκνον τοῖς ἀγωνιζομένοις ἐμποιεῖν σπουδάζουσιν οἱ πάμφαυλοι δαίμονες εἰς τὴν παραμονὴν καὶ τὴν προσεκαρτέρησιν τῆς προσευχῆς, εὖ μάλα ταύτην ἐπιστάμενοι ἐπίβουλον μὲν καὶ διώκτριαν πάσης ἀντικειμένης δυνάμεως, τοῦ δὲ ἀγωνιστοῦ ὑπεραγωνίστριαν καὶ ὑπερασπίστριαν.