Letter 373: Theodore Studite, Letter 373; Greek heading: Παύλῳ τέκνῳ.

I have read your letter, my child, and finding that you are in good health both in body and in spirit, I gave thanks to the Lord; and you did well to write, especially in signifying that your mind too has been made firm in the faith. But may it be so in practice as well; therefore take heed to yourself, fleeing the sight of women, fleeing all undue boldness [parresia, freedom of speech or familiarity] as the ruin of the soul; abstain also from wicked thoughts as from a conflagration of the heart and a destruction; fear God and serve him in trembling, performing the appointed psalmodies and vigils; do not be idle but laborious, not given to jesting but to lamentation, not a speaker of idle words but one whose speech is useful. These things I say not to you alone, but also to Antipater and to the other brother; whom also I greet, and I pray, sinner that I am, that both of them may be saved.