Letter 259: Theodore Studite, Letter 259; Greek heading: Μύρωνι.

I have been late in writing to your Piety, fearful of the trials, and not having yet, as I think, come to a tried experience of you; but when I learned more exactly who and what manner of man my master is, that he is good and pious, I eagerly inscribed this letter, by which I render thanks, and very fittingly indeed, because you remembered my lowliness, even though you have no such clearly evident token of it, and that too at such a season, when, through human fear, even friends who seemed genuine stood aloof in flight, taking least thought of God and of His commandment, since some of them perished as regards bearing the fruit of love, while others, in the more grievous matter, suffered shipwreck concerning the faith, having been baptized down [submerged] even in their reasonings by the surge of the heresy. But well done, that you, my lord, being steered from both sides, preserve safe the merchant-vessel of your soul, being guided by the breezes of the Spirit into the harbor of salvation. I glorified, therefore, our good God, that He has even in those parts, hidden away, those who have not slipped aside, but who confess that He became man through boundless love of mankind [philanthropia]; for those who do not endure to behold an icon [eikon, image] of His very bodily form deny manifestly that He took the shape that is according to us, judaizing thereby, even if they pretend to confess that Christ came to be within our nature; for he who is not depicted in an image, this one is not even a man, but some miscarriage [a malformed, abortive thing]. For how shall one who has a face not be depicted in an image? If, then, Christ had a face, into which the God-slayers spat, it is clear that He is circumscribed, that is, depicted in an image; but if He had one, yet is not depicted in an image, as it seems to the impious, then clearly a phantasm. For indeed the iconomachs [icon-fighters, the iconoclasts], playing the Manichaean, have the impiety of Valentinus [the second-century Gnostic heretic]. From their error may you be wholly delivered, both you yourself and anyone who is like to you in virtue and piety. Receive small things as great, dear friend, in return for what you sent to my lowliness, which has nothing better with which to recompense you.