Letter 150: Theodore Studite, Letter 150; Greek heading: Ναυκρατίῳ τέκνῳ.

Know, my child, that the good man who sent us into exile has arrived again, with a threat from the emperor concerning the things that had been disclosed to him by us, although the imperial officer did not say everything: namely, to flog me with a hundred lashes, and to take away the two brothers, Loukianos and Hypatios, and all the books, even down to the tropologion [a liturgical book of hymn-tropes], and, what is more, also an icon [eikon, the holy image] that was found within a reliquary-pendant, along with the gold, and to leave me ten coins. At these things I gave thanks to my good God, who knows what is profitable and who thus altogether dispenses [oikonomon, orders by divine dispensation] the matters concerning us; I answered him that I am ready not only to be flogged but even to die for the name of God. This, then, he carried out as he had wished; but with regard to the brothers, I was choosing that Nikolaos too should be taken away together with them, yet he did not consent to it. He took the books, the Klimax [the 'Ladder' of John Klimakos] and the tropologion. Concerning the gold I said to him that, if I had been trusting in it, why then would I be enduring these things? Having therefore been separated from them, I am with Nikolaos, having a guard always sitting together with us. Pray then, and pray earnestly, that we may live on patiently and thankfully, well arrayed in battle order against all afflictions, even unto death, and indeed that we may be unharmed in one another's company, having God in our midst; for where He is, there all things are bearable. Therefore play the man, you also; for the trial will surely come to you as well, on account of which, I think, I have also been transferred into exile here. But you have the Lord helping you, for whose sake also is the suffering. Do not be terrified, my children, by threats, as is customary, nor again by blows, looking to Christ, who for our sake was wounded; nor indeed by death, for it is the provision for the journey to eternal life. I, weak and full of suffering, yet having your prayers together with those of our blessed father and of all the brothers, rejoice at whatever else I may suffer. Only be watchful in prayer, being empowered in the spirit so as to meet all things in a manner pleasing to God. Saluting this very one mystically, give greeting to the number four and the number thirty [a coded designation of persons, written with the Greek numeral letters], to Ignatios, and to any other who is faithful. May God, through the prayers of my father, be your defender and protector in all things.