Letter 217: Theodore Studite, Letter 217; Greek heading: Κασσίᾳ κανδιδατίσσῃ.

The things you sent me for the Lord's sake I have received; and who am I, the lowly one, to be remembered by your reverence? Yet, since you are an offshoot of a good root, you know how to do good. I hear, too, that you do good also to our spiritual child Dorotheos, who is imprisoned for Christ's sake very near you. You know what you do; for in this you share in the contest of his struggle [athlesis, the contest of the martyr/confessor]. And consider that you are sustaining us ourselves, the sinners, in our son. What recompense, then, is there for you from us, except prayer and the word of exhortation? You have chosen a good way of life for God's sake, as I learn, from childhood. You have become a bride of Christ: seek no longer another, nor love another; for who is more beautiful than he? May his beauty flash out yet more in your heart, so as to quench in you every desire that is fleeting and corruptible. Fleeing, flee the sight of males, if it be permitted, even of chaste ones, lest somewhere you be struck or strike. The heavenly bridal chamber awaits you; there you shall see him to whom you have been betrothed, with whom you shall rejoice eternally. The word is short, but sufficient as a reminder to your honored self. May you be saved, maiden of Christ.