Letter 215: Theodore Studite, Letter 215; Greek heading: Πρεσβυτέρῳ ὑπογράψαντι.

What your Honor has suffered in the shipwreck of the signature [the priest's subscription to the iconoclast confession], and how greatly you have bewept the fall (for it is in truth a fall, the stretching out against the holy icon of Christ even of the hand alone), I have learned through your note, O man of God; and I have suffered with you, and have lamented with you, and have grieved with you, uttering words of distress and such as are fitting for one who is affectionately disposed as a brother. For we are members of one another, and whether one member suffers, all the members ought to suffer with it (it is an apostolic saying), or whether one member is glorified, the joy is upon all. But oh, the outrage! We were despoiled, we were terrified, we were made afraid in matters wherein one ought neither to fear nor again to be terrified, if indeed we read the words, "Fear not them that kill the body, but are not able to lay hold of the soul." Why then, O friend, did you refer the matter to me, the useless one? Who am I for healing, I who am sick in sins and not one of those entrusted to heal such fractures? Since God is not a God of disorder, he assigned the affairs of the presbyters, that is to say the priests, to bishops to set right and to heal. How could you seek from me the things that are above me? It is not permissible. But this I set before you by way of counsel and out of love, and I say it so that I may not leave you altogether without an answer. God is good, not willing the death of the sinner but rather that he should turn and live. If, then, your repentance is in truth, abstain from priestly ministration [hierourgia, the celebration of the liturgy] altogether. I do not know whether, except under the present necessity, you should impart any of the holy gifts to certain persons; for it is permitted, out of necessity and want, even of one's own accord, that anyone who happens to be present should partake, on account of the need to flee the heresy [hairesis]. For all that you have done, whether of your own accord or also being authorized by another, is good and praiseworthy for the inclining of God to mercy, but it is in no way at all capable of releasing one from priestly ministration, even though it should seem to come from a high priest of whatever rank; and this holds until the peace of the Church of God, in which, at that time, by a synodal judgment, every such matter whatsoever shall be regulated as is fitting and shall have a judgment ordained by God. But if you say, "While signing I cried out that I venerate [proskynein, to venerate] the holy icons," forgive me, brother, but Pilate too, while acquitting himself with his mouth of the slaughter of Christ, ratified the death with his pen. These things come to you from me, the lowly one, as in the presence of God. But, I beg you, make remembrance for my salvation in the repentance of your affliction, and be entreated to greet those whom you said you behold as my holy fathers among the bishops, as from me, the wretched one.