Letter 209: Theodore Studite, Letter 209; Greek heading: Νείλῳ τέκνῳ.

I greet you, O my beloved child Neilos. I have received your blessing, the fish. What return shall I make to you, because once again you have remembered me out of the labor of your hands? Nothing else than my sinful prayer; and may the Lord grant the fear of him more abundantly in your heart, so that whether on land or on sea you may breathe him, and may serve him. For you know, child, that we are all mortal, a little later departing from this little flesh, about to render an account concerning our whole life, down to a single word and oversight, down to a thought; and what am I saying? It has been declared to the Lord that we will give an account even of involuntary deeds and of those done in ignorance. What sort of people, then, must we henceforth be? Fearful and trembling, well prepared to give our defense; for fearsome is the tribunal of judgment. On the one side, unquenchable fire; and on the other, the kingdom of the heavens, the former for sinners and for those who have transgressed the commandments of the Lord, the latter for those who keep the law. For this reason I exhort you to live in a holy manner, purely, in the presence of God; whether you are cleaning a net, or casting a hook, or hauling up a fish, let everything be for the glory of God, child. Let us not be like the worldly, who carry the cross of the world [literally "cross-worldly," i.e. those merely marked with the cross outwardly], who neither hunt nor sell, but [act] in apostolic fashion, men whose handiwork this very craft [of fishing] also was. I have reminded you out of pain, out of fear; for if I should not give this charge, woe is me. Yes, my beloved son, remember God your benefactor: where you once were and how, and now who you are and in what glory. Glorify God in your life, so that God too may glorify you unto the ages. These things from me are for you; but toward your company [synodia, your fellowship or band of companions] become yourself in my stead, supporting and admonishing them in the same things, and may the peace of the Lord award you the prize in concord. Pray you also concerning my lowliness; your brethren greet you.