Letter 103: Theodore Studite, Letter 103; Greek heading: Ναυκρατίῳ τέκνῳ.

Since the good God has been pleased that we should see our brother Adrian, we judged it timely, my beloved child, to greet you and through you the rest of your brothers and our children. And how do matters stand with us? By your prayers we have been restored; the dwelling is good, the quiet is delightful, and God is near, but our enemy the devil is near too, who is present to everyone in order to tempt them. I beg you all, do not forget to remember me in your prayers, that I may be preserved together with the brothers I am with, who also send their greetings. But indeed I also urge you all to abide in the faith and the hope, and by no means to lose heart in the present afflictions; for the Lord is near to those who endure him. And you yourself, O my child, as my soul and strength, lend yourself to those brothers of ours who are found anywhere at all, in whatever you are able and for whatever the need may call; for it was for this very reason that it was wholly arranged by God that you should be unconfined [i.e. not imprisoned, free to move]. For know that it is fitting both for you to send people here, and also for you yourself to come at some time, only doing so prudently, so as not to come under detection by some of the more simple-minded brothers. And Adrian knows when he came in and how. We have need of nothing except books. And if the commentary on the Gospel according to John that belonged to my father according to the flesh is at hand, send it on to me along with the other things I mentioned. May God guard you, my child, as the apple of his eye.