Letter 171: Theodore Studite, Letter 171; Greek heading: Παρθενίῳ τέκνῳ.

O noble Parthenius, soldier of God, my true-born child, are you too among the athletes of Christ? Are you too a champion of orthodoxy, small in stature but great in courage of soul? Come, tell me, my longed-for son, how did you choose to suffer for Christ? How did you endure to be scourged together with the men of many years [the elder, longtime monks], you the young man of Christ, you whose face still bears its first down [a downy-cheeked youth], you the rational lamb? Glory to the God who has strengthened you, praise to the Christ who has chosen you to be shown forth as one star of piety out of your brotherhood of ten. You were contending even before the affair [the trial/persecution itself], as I have heard, and you came to be called blessed by those who had heard of you and even by those who had not heard of you. I ranked you among the first, and you have become the very first of the first in virtue. My son, rejoice, praise the God who has magnified you; and He will magnify you still more greatly, if you bring your contest to completion. Therefore I ask and beseech you: stand fast, be strong in endurance, mindful of the contests you have well accomplished, for yet a very little while and He who is coming will come and will not delay. What joy you are about to gain at the time of the dissolution of the body, or even before the parting! Child, take heed to yourself, for within you also the tyrant devil is ever provoking you through the passions. Contend also according to conscience, not being tripped up by sin; be watchfully sober day by day, and always set before yourself the day that has just passed as if it were the last of your life, so that thus, in fear and trembling, you may be well-pleasing to God, working part of the time with your hands, part of the time chanting psalms, part praying, and whatever else there may be for getting through the day. Yes, my child, fulfill my joy, so that, hearing the things concerning you, I may rejoice and exult. And pray also for me, your humble father. Your brothers who are with me greet you.