Letter 134: Theodore Studite, Letter 134; Greek heading: Τῷ αὐτῷ.

As much as the report of your sickness disheartened us, so much did the announcement of your recovery cheer us, beloved child; provided indeed that it lasts for you, and that the importunity of the brethren does not bring you to a relapse. For from that quarter I supposed that you also fell ill, since you had made use of much water-drinking and of the change of place. But it was well that you were bled; for given the affliction of your inward parts, how else could you have been relieved, seeing that even after the bleeding, unless you make use of a sustained regimen of ointment, you would not be in good health for long? Therefore take care in all things, that you may serve God and minister to me the sinner. As for myself, I am being purged of the disease more and more, and may it be of the soul as well; for concerning this the whole account is, for every man, since the body is nothing, as the Lord said. Provision the [..600..; the text marks a numeral, here "six hundred"] and send him off to those in the city, securing him by wisdom and prudence to do the things appointed for him. In the midst of two passions I, the wretched one, lie in the no-man's-land between them: of fitting fear, and of fearlessness on account of the commandment, as I often tell you. For the confinement does not suffice for me as a defense, since I am able to speak; for if the enemies of the Lord, having Caesar [the emperor] as their helper, openly profess their impiety, leading the people of God astray, and set fire to every church, what shall we suffer, we who have the King of all, if we do not speak even in secret to those of like zeal with us? For this reason the Theologian [Gregory Nazianzen, called "the Theologian"] says, "The mouths of the pious are silent," setting this down in place of a great accusation; yet again we have been commanded to flee temptation. One must therefore proceed by the middle way, as has been said, and after this even to fall into [trial] is blessed. Let no one, then, perceive the things I write, not even the archbishop himself, and let it be as the Lord prospers it. As for the metropolitan, even if they shun the first and the second [matters], yet you, child, unite yourself to him secretly in friendship, making known also my disposition toward him; for he struggled greatly on behalf of God among the bishops. We have needs in full measure; do not be idly chattering. May God save you. The brethren greet you most warmly, and from among us Callistus does so.