Letter 185: Theodore Studite, Letter 185; Greek heading: Σεργίῳ νοταρίῳ.

Hearing that Your Devotion to God [theophilia, an honorific for a pious correspondent] keeps yourself uncontaminated by communion with the heretics, and that you are zealous for the Lord, welcoming those who are orthodox in mind and manful even unto blood, but rejecting those who are unballasted and betrayers of the truth, I, the humble one, rejoice, giving thanks to God that the ancient and intimate friend reaches out for and cherishes the things that are dear and intimate to God. For you see how the persecution mounts up still more and more, already producing martyrs as well; of whom one is our own Thaddaeus, and a companion in the tent of the saints. And that you love us, who are cast away because of our sins, we know; for we too hold you dear, and it is not possible for one who loves not to be loved in return by the one who is loved. But we beseech you also to pray that we may complete the contest set before us, by the mercy of God.