Letter 166: Theodore Studite, Letter 166; Greek heading: Θεοφίλῳ τέκνῳ.

Brother Theophilus, may you be in good health. What is this that I have heard concerning you, my beloved son, my faithful child, who beyond most of the brethren was the more reverent, who from the beginning was set before all the builders [of the spiritual life] as a fair example, who was more fervent than the others in pious defense and burning zeal for God (and why should I say much?), who ought to be, in keeping with his very name, a light to those in the world and salt to those who have grown foolish? You have chosen to dwell together with a woman of the world as your sister? You are turning back to a worldly estate? You are kicking aside [casting off] the evangelical habit [the monastic garb] to its reproach? You are transgressing against the divine laws? You are conducting yourself shamefully against our praised brotherhood? While others of your brethren are some of them imprisoned in solitary confinement, some flogged and sent into exile, some lodging here and there in deserts and on mountains and in hidden places, and in whatever way the good God has simply opened a door for each one, you alone sit down in opposition to the God who saved you and called you? Oh, the shuddering horror of my humble soul! Oh, the contempt shown for the tribunal of God! I cannot bear it, my Lord, Lord; I cannot endure what is within me. I am on fire, my inward parts are aflame. Instead of light my son has become darkness, instead of glory dishonor, instead of good repute blasphemy, instead of benefit a stumbling block [scandal]. Listen, brother, to the Lord who says concerning you: it were better for him that a donkey's millstone were hung about his neck and he were cast into the sea than that he should cause one of his brethren to stumble. But you, causing all to stumble, make a public spectacle of yourself. Alas for me, wretched one, how do you not perceive it, brother? Have pity on me, my child: when you receive this letter from your brethren, leap away, withdraw from the curse of the Lord, from the eternal "Woe." Join yourself again to your brother, that Christ may be reconciled upon you, so that you may put an end to my grief, the grief of a sinner, that you may dissolve the stumbling block of Satan, with whom you have made yourself a friend. Do not disobey God, for our God is a consuming fire. Since this is the word for you which the Great Basil [Basil of Caesarea, c. 330-379] spoke to a certain man who, like you, was dwelling with a woman: you shall be anathema to all the people, and those who receive you shall be excommunicated. May this be far from you, my child Theophilus, both to speak and to think of.