Letter 172: Theodore Studite, Letter 172; Greek heading: Ἡγησίμῳ τέκνῳ.

Well done, my child Hegesimos; I count you a confessor of Christ [a confessor: one who has suffered for the faith without dying as a martyr], for you have rightly thought it good to enter the arena together with your brothers in salvation. You have been stripped together with Christ, you have been scourged together with him, you have been made conformable to the body of his glory. Do you not rejoice? Do you not leap for joy? How many in number are your brothers, and yet you have been counted worthy to carry off the prize of the contest together with the nine. Whence comes this to you, O child? Glorify, hymn, and praise the Lord who has magnified you with his gift. Yet do not collapse, but be still more strengthened in heart for the love of Christ, serving him eagerly and fervently through every commandment; for the martyrdom is still set before you, until death is at hand. Do not slumber in soul; work with your hands, sing psalms with the spirit, sing psalms also with the mind. Cleanse the mind from the evil thoughts that defile the heart. Rejoice in hope, endure in affliction, be mindful of your departure [from this life], remember the dread day of recompense. Be eager, if it must be, to be scourged again, perhaps even to die, for Christ's sake, that it may be yours to say in joy, "For your sake we are being put to death all the day long; we have been counted as sheep for the slaughter." Pray also for me the sinner, that I may be saved in all things; your brothers who are with me greet you. Grace be with you. Amen.