Letter 224: Theodore Studite, Letter 224; Greek heading: Τῷ αὐτῷ.

What sort of life and reputation is mine, that you fuss over me so, my child, and take such pains over me, when over so great a distance and amid so great a trial you reckon as nothing every labor and danger in visiting my lowliness, and this without ceasing, and this with so great a bringing of gifts? You have made what was far off near, what was hard to accomplish easy to accomplish, what was desolate easy to traverse; you have astonished those who behold it, you have opened mouths to the praises of the Lord among those who consider the achievements of your faith and love. For where have any others been so far advanced as to display toward their own fathers the marks of sincere friendship? Blessed be God, who has so distinguished you according to your own virtue, but beyond the deserts of my wretchedness. For I confess that I am a sinner, the least of all men, even though you yourself, carried away by love, should think fit to crown me with so many encomia. I receive, then, O beloved, the tokens of your confidence in me; I receive the tokens of your care for me as in old age [literally, your tending of an old man]: as a child you have borne me, as a brother you have served me, and I would add, as a father you have laid up treasure for me; and if also as a fellow worker you have toiled together with me, and if as a disciple you have filled up what was lacking, may the Lord, the God of my father, do you good and add spirit upon spirit to you, power upon power, understanding upon understanding, even to the end. So be it. For the rest, pray concerning my lowliness, that I may walk in a manner well-pleasing to the Lord even for the remainder of my life. I was greatly relieved concerning brother Adrian, if indeed it should be granted me to be with him. Hold off from sending here until September, for many reasons, unless, I do not know, something necessary should arise. When I learned the affairs of certain of the abbots, I groaned, wretch that I am; may the rest of the fathers be made steadfast, who by their own example make steadfast us who are remiss. Greet the customary ones [the familiar brethren]. Those who are with me greet you warmly. Farewell in the Lord; but indeed take careful care also of your body, for when I learned of the affliction of your bowels I was grieved beyond measure.