Letter 164: Theodore Studite, Letter 164; Greek heading: Ἀνατολίῳ τέκνῳ.

I rejoice as often as I receive a letter from you, my beloved and longed-for children; for I hear your voice and am gladdened, I behold your features in my mind and am filled with delight. For when could I ever be able to forget you, who are my own inward parts, my own limbs? And I rejoice still more to hear and learn that you remain together undivided, just as you were joined in the Lord before my face. This is, first, the work of your grace, my beloved child Anatolius, you who are the illumination of my eyes in the spirit; and then of yours as well, my good child Sabbatius, you who for the Lord's sake love to let your brother take the first place [be preeminent] - which is apostolic. For indeed, when the Lord sent forth the disciples two by two to the preaching, of the two he set one in subjection. Since the spirits of prophets are subject to prophets, as the Apostle says. And this is the best law, and this is the best life. Cherish one another, then, in this way, beloved, drawing on day by day with endurance and long-suffering (for in this the saints received the promises; for he who endures to the end, it says, this one shall be saved), keeping watch that nothing be done contrary to the commandment, nothing in the way of destructive boldness, nothing in the way of spiritual drowsiness. For you know, my brothers, that the war waged within us by the enemy is one without truce, since with every kind of device he ever strives to cast us down, to destroy us, to swallow us up. But may the Lord not give him power against us, provided we keep watch, provided we are sober, provided his holy fear nails fast our flesh and drags it down whenever it is provoked and stirred up; for these things belong to the war. For the flesh desires against the spirit, says the Apostle, and the spirit against the flesh, so that we may not do those things that we would, but rather what the spirit wills. May Christ be our helper, in whom we have been commanded to conquer Satan, both according to the word of action [deeds] and according to the word of faith - in which faith above all the contest is now at its height. See, little children, that you not be terrified by those who kill the body. It is the season of martyrdom; let us endure all things, I beseech you, for Christ's sake, that we may be crowned. Pray concerning me the sinner, that I may be saved in all things. Greet those who are with you, especially the brother Simon, if he is with you; your brothers who are with me send you very many greetings. The Lord be with you. Amen.