Letter 371: Theodore Studite, Letter 371; Greek heading: Μακαρίῳ ἡγουμένῳ.

Longing greatly to learn where in the world your Holiness, removed into exile [literally, set beyond the borders], is being kept, since I received your letter and read it through, I, the lowly one, was filled with joy even before the reading; and when I had read it, how could I not rejoice that you, my beloved father, are living in the Lord, fighting the good fight, running the God-trodden course to its end, and apostolically keeping the faith? Blessed are you, fitly named, O Makarios [the name means "blessed"], and to be counted blessed is your contest, both long since known and now lately heard of, because you preferred nothing to the love of God, nor were you charmed by the promises of the things here below, held out to you by the one in power [the emperor Leo V the Armenian], nor indeed were you slackened by the threats sounded against you, but you remained the same: a soldier of Christ, a holy confessor, a living martyr, not shaming your former life but, on the contrary, making it shine the brighter by what has come to pass, as much as could be. But our own case is not as you say it is, out of love and excessive humility, O most excellent of fathers, but as we ourselves know it to be in our own selves. How so? Because we are unworthy even to be called of your number, on account of the multitude of our sins. Yet we groan over the things set before us: how the beloved ones have kicked back [apostatized], how even those who seemed to be something have taken their stand on the opposing side -- whom, even though I should not name them by name, your Sanctity knows. And I would add: a man's enemies are the men of his own household, and there is not one Absalom but many; and wicked men and impostors, advancing to the worse, deceiving and being deceived; and the caves hold those who are persecuted, and the great mystery of piety is mocked, and Christ, depicted with His Mother and His attendant servants, is made the subject of comedy. How are these things not grievous and worthy of tears? But, O most holy one, give an intercessory hand to the fallen Church, that, being roused like one who sleeps, the Lord may rebuke the spiritual whirlwind and may spread out a peace-bestowing calm. Pray for your child, and indeed for the brother who is with me, who also sends his greeting, that we may be kept safe in the Lord.