Letter 355: Theodore Studite, Letter 355; Greek heading: Ἰωσὴφ ἀδελφῷ καὶ ἀρχιεπισκόπῳ.

When I heard your voice, O thrice-longed-for one, my lowly spirit leaped, and I seemed to see you before my eyes, clinging wholly to your sacred countenance, whose images never cease to be present to me, nor ever would cease, even should those who have authority to cut us apart in the body carry you off beyond Gadeira [Gades, modern Cadiz, the ancient symbol of the western edge of the world]; for so does longing constrain me, as is natural. But you, most holy one, longing for us and praising us as a brother, would not admit the charge of an accusation (for nature bears this), yet by speaking well of us in any other way you would do injustice to the truth; for I am, as you know, a sinner, lacking light, not enlightening, nor bearing anything greater than your own sufferings, or those of any other of the men now standing fast for Christ. Would that it were equal! But how has the present time brought upon the affairs of our Church such things, how are all being tested as in a smelting-furnace; and yet few are those of golden quality, while almost all turn to lead. The word is the Lord's: that a man's own household are also his enemies. Take Leontius, for me, above the rest: he is like a savage wild beast, persecuting his fellow-disciples and ravaging the churches of God; may the Lord turn him back, and may He strengthen us for the contest set before us, which is to be reckoned as nothing other than a martyrdom for Christ, equal in weight to those of old. You were persecuted in advance for the truth, you were imprisoned, you were isolated, suffering greatly not once but even twice; now you are thrice over in your sufferings, bearing what you bear, and from the Holy Trinity a threefold crown is yours, most holy one. Let Thessalonica have, along with those who went before, your achievements too to adorn herself with forever; and let Theodore have, in such a brother, cause to rejoice and to boast, though he himself brings nothing praiseworthy from his own store. This is the nobility of the spirit: to live even after death; this is the deed sought after with God; this is the pledge [arrabon, earnest-money] of the kingdom without end, of which may I too, wretched as I am, be counted worthy together with you, following after in right doctrine and right living. He who is with me greets you, and that most servilely, as I too greet the holy Anthus.