Letter 299: Theodore Studite, Letter 299; Greek heading: Νικολάῳ μάγκιπι.

That I remember you, good friend, behold, this letter is my witness; and how could I possibly forget you, who are so very well disposed toward us, or rather toward Christ? Why so? Because in the midst of the fire of the heretics you remain unburned, having Orthodoxy [right belief, here the cause of the holy icons] welling up like a spring within your own heart, in which may you also be preserved unto the end. This is the first and greatest thing; the second is that you find our brethren, who are entering the harbor of salvation there out of the surging sea of heresy, every one of them; and when they have been refreshed there, through your gracious reception of them in all things, they come back again to us. With how much gladness, then, does this fill us, and with how great a reward of no merely human service shall it be reckoned to you, if indeed He says, "He that receiveth you receiveth me" [cf. Matthew 10:40]. You therefore receive Christ, brother, through the brethren, and you give Him rest; and He in turn will receive you into the kingdom of the heavens, in return for the hospitality you here show Him through the brethren. Farewell in the Lord.