Letter 137: Theodore Studite, Letter 137; Greek heading: Τῷ αὐτῷ.

The first section of your letter, my child, I read with a smile; but when I came to the part beyond, I was downcast, perceiving the magnitude of the evil. Nevertheless, blessed be God, who dispenses all things toward what is profitable [oikonomon, from oikonomia, the divine dispensation or governance of all things]. Let us prepare ourselves as soldiers of Christ, even though we are sinners. Sweet are the nails of the Master, even if they are exceedingly painful. Since in any case we must die the common death, let us die the death of our own choosing for Christ's sake, lest, fleeing for an hour the suffering of human things on His account, we be punished eternally in the things that are immortal. And observe that even the innkeeper [xenodochos, the keeper of a hostel] of Loupadion foretold this long ago, just as I also have made known to you by word of mouth; and so what you have heard is true. Make haste, my child, to strengthen yourself and the brethren. May the Lord preserve you. Pray for me, the weak one.