Letter 173: Theodore Studite, Letter 173; Greek heading: Στεφάνῳ τέκνῳ.

Grace to you, brother Stephen, my beloved child, athlete of Christ. I visit you through this letter; I embrace you from the heart. Beautiful is your contest and your exile for Christ's sake. You chose to bear blows, that you might become conformed to the sufferings of Christ, crowned in keeping with your name [Stephen, from the Greek stephanos, "crown"] by the martyrdom of Christ. Rejoice and be glad, for great is your reward in the heavens. But since the struggle [agon, the athletic contest of the martyr] is still at its height, there is need of endurance, that thus you may receive to the end the promise of God. Prepare yourself perhaps to be scourged yet again, and indeed even to die as a martyr. And who is worthy to endure this? I know your struggles in the monastery, both the ascetic ones and those that love martyrdom, the eagerness and the fervor of your heart, out of which you were led on to enter the arena of the martyrdom of Christ. Excel still further, play the man still further through endurance, that you may dance in the chorus together with the confessors, together with the martyrs. Concerning the guarding of your soul it is superfluous for me to write to you, since I know your exactness, your refusal to seek favor, your sobriety, your watchfulness. Abide in these things, that your progress may be spoken of, remember the day of death, and you will be heedful at all times. Pray, and pray earnestly, for my lowliness, that I may be saved in all things. Your brothers who are with me greet you many times over. Grace be with you. Amen.