Letter 283: Theodore Studite, Letter 283; Greek heading: Ναυκρατίῳ τέκνῳ.

In a few words I repay you, beloved child, for the many words of praise which I hear, being greatly afraid that I am not such a man, but rather like one cast out at a crossroads through the deadness of his sins, a man who has never yet, in word or in deed, been pleasing to my God. But it would be the work of your prayer that I should begin from this point to live in godliness, by my acquiring a new heart, one that hates and abhors sin, which is in truth abominable, and that loves the only desirable and most lovely virtue, which is God. But you, O excellent child, be sober in all things, doing the work of an evangelist through your most admirable service [diakonia]; for I know that you exert yourself here and there and take thought for many people, as a steward [oikonomos] of God. Even if the ruler roars out his threat, do not be terrified; for God has not given us a spirit of cowardice, but of power and love and self-discipline [sophronismos]. Even if our adversaries do not yield to the signs, do not be amazed, but be long-suffering; for neither do those men yield otherwise than so as to fill up the measure of their sins, nor do the men of God yield otherwise than so as to receive their recompense. For it is through hope and faith and endurance that all the saints have received the promises; so do not seek out times and appointed terms for the ending of these evils. They will abate at that time, whenever it is profitable for us. Therefore let us run the contest set before us, looking to the author and perfecter of the faith, Christ; who, I am confident, will bring our course to its completion, being rendered merciful by fatherly supplications together with those of all the saints. Greet all the brethren, and especially the 4th, the 9th, the 30th. Those who are with me send you very many greetings.

Βραχέσι συλλαβαῖς ἀμείβομαί σου, τέκνον ἠγαπημένον, τοὺς πλείστους λόγους τῶν ἐγκωμίων, οὓς ἐπαΐω, δεδιὼς σφόδρα μὴ ὢν τοιοῦτος, ἀλλ' οἷος ὁ ἐρριμμένος ἐν τριοδίᾳ διὰ νεκρότητα ἁμαρτημάτων, οὔτε λόγῳ οὔτε ἔργῳ εὐηρεστηκὼς πώποτε τῷ θεῷ μου. εἴη δ' ἂν τῆς ὑμετέρας εὐχῆς ἔργον ἄρξασθαί με ἀπὸ τοῦ δεῦρο θεοσεβεῖν ἐν τῷ κτήσασθαί με καινὴν καρδίαν, μισοῦσαν καὶ βδελυττομένην τὴν ὡς ἀληθῶς μυσαρὰν ἁμαρτίαν καὶ ἀγαπῶσαν τὴν μόνην ἐφετὴν καὶ ἐρασμιωτάτην ἀρετήν, ἥτις ἐστὶν ὁ θεός. Σὺ δέ, ὦ παῖ καλέ, νῆφε ἐν πᾶσιν, ἔργον ποιῶν εὐαγγελιστοῦ διὰ τῆς καλλίστης σου διακονίας· οἶδα γάρ σε διατεινόμενον ὧδε κἀκεῖ καὶ φροντίζοντα πολλῶν ὡς οἰκονόμον θεοῦ. εἰ καὶ βρέμει ἀπειλῆς ὁ κρατῶν, μὴ πτοοῦ· οὐ γὰρ ἔδωκεν ἡμῖν ὁ θεὸς πνεῦμα δειλίας, ἀλλὰ δυνάμεως καὶ ἀγάπης καὶ σωφρονισμοῦ. εἰ καὶ τοῖς σημείοις οὐκ εἴκουσιν οἱ ὑπεναντίοι, μὴ θαυμάσῃς, ἀλλὰ μακροθύμει· οὔτε γὰρ ἐκεῖνοι ἄλλως εἰς τὸ ἀναπληρῶσαι αὐτῶν τὰς ἁμαρτίας εἴκουσιν οὔτε οἱ τοῦ θεοῦ εἰς τὸ κομίσασθαι τὴν μισθαποδοσίαν· δι' ἐλπίδος γὰρ καὶ πίστεως καὶ ὑπομονῆς πάντες οἱ ἅγιοι εἰλήφασι τὰς ἐπαγγελίας· ὥστε μὴ ζήτει καιροὺς καὶ προθεσμίας λήξεως τῶν κακῶν· τότε λωφήσουσιν, ὁπόταν συμφέρον ἡμῖν. διὸ τὸν προκείμενον ἡμῖν ἀγῶνα τρέχωμεν, ἀφορῶντες εἰς τὸν τῆς πίστεως ἀρχηγὸν καὶ τελειωτὴν Χριστόν· ὅς, πέποιθα, τελειώσειεν ἡμῶν τὸν δρόμον, ἱλεούμενος ἱκεσίαις πατρικαῖς σὺν πάσαις ἁγίων. Προσειπὲ τοὺς ἀδελφοὺς πάντας, ἐξαιρέτως τὸ ˉδ, τὸ ˉθ, τὸ ˉλ. οἱ σὺν ἐμοὶ πλεῖστά σε προσαγορεύουσιν.