Letter 183: Theodore Studite, Letter 183; Greek heading: Θαδδαίῳ τέκνῳ καὶ ὁμολογητῇ.

How beautiful is your letter, my beloved child Thaddaeus! Why so? Because it possesses both humility and sincere faith and warm love, and-most wonderful of all-because it possesses also a knowledge that does not lie; for truly, child, your mind has laid hold of the truth concerning the icon [image] of Christ. Hold fast to it as you have grasped it and as God has given light; for the icon of Christ is inseparable from Christ, wherever it may be stamped in matter, since it remains outside the matter in respect of the concept, and accordingly the honor and the veneration [proskynesis-the reverence offered to the image] are one and the same in both. So that by the denial of the icon one denies Christ, just as conversely by confessing it one confesses Him. And you are blessed because you have come to know the truth, which God hid from the wise-or rather from the fools of this present age-and revealed it to infants, that is, to the guileless, such as you. This is our true worship, the worship of the orthodox, and for this let us contend even unto blood, child, in no way terrified by our adversaries nor grown slack. I rejoice at your eagerness, and because, though you are in prison, you glory in cleaving to your work. But we have not been counted worthy to suffer anything for Christ's sake; yet pray, child, that together with you all we may bring to completion, in a manner worthy of God, the contest that lies before us. Your brothers greet you. The Lord be with your spirit.