Letter 208: Theodore Studite, Letter 208; Greek heading: Ἱλαρίωνι τέκνῳ.

Greetings, my child, Abba Hilarion. I inquire how you are faring, how you are passing through this season of persecution. Even if for the moment you are unconfined, yet in former times you were not only confined but also under blows for the sake of Christ; and even so, now too you are one who has been persecuted, and your blessedness is near at hand. Both before and now I have made the same petition: that you may pass the life that is in the Lord in a manner pleasing to Him. Let your fellowship be the fellowship of Christ; let your fishing be apostolic fishing, for indeed it is the very pursuit of the disciples of Christ. Glorify God, then, my children, in your work, for we are at the gates of death. As you fished, you yourself were caught by the Lord into the holy habit [the monastic schema]; so let your catch forever be in this, that you yourself are caught by God for what is good. As you behold the deep, marvel at God your Maker; as you catch the fish, glorify the Lord your Provider; selling for need in a monastic manner and not in a worldly one; while you plait your fishing-line, may you weave together good thoughts for me. You have a psalm, you have a song, you have melody. In eating, observe what gives no offense; in drinking, what is measured; in sleeping, what is sufficient. Let all things be done decently and according to order [cf. 1 Corinthians 14:40], that the Lord may be glorified by those who behold you. Watch out also for the trial, lest you too be seized; therefore one must not be carefree nor live indifferently, but with fear and watchfulness and hope in God, so as to bear all things for the sake of Christ. Yes, my child, I beseech you to walk in this way. Strengthen those who are with you; remind them to fear and tremble before God and to do nothing evil, as though we were always present before His eyes, which indeed is true. I received your fish, the products of your blessed hands. May the Lord bless your catch. Greet the brother Theophylact and any other faithful one; those who are with me salute you with longing.