Letter 406: Theodore Studite, Letter 406; Greek heading: Κατήχησισ.

Lately I was being read to you from the Anatolic regions [the Anatolic theme, a military-administrative district of the Roman empire in Asia Minor]; now I make my appearance from the Thracesian regions [the Thracesian theme, another such district]; for at Smyrna the rulers of this age have transferred us, and into a custody both more secure and more severe than the former imprisonment. But the word of God is not bound, nor does longing rest, nor does the commandment fall silent; and for this reason I, the lowly one, speak out again. Rejoice in the Lord, fathers and brethren, rejoice, you who are persecuted for the sake of righteousness; rejoice, you who dwell in mountains and caves, but indeed also you who are hidden away in cities and in more solitary places. For if we have been enjoined by the Apostle that we ought to rejoice always, how much more now, when the sufferings are on behalf of Christ, of him who is inscribed upon the panel, who is made manifest in his own icon [eikon, the holy image], who is honored through it? For surely these words are not mine, wretched as I am? They are the words of Dionysius the all-wise [Dionysius the Areopagite] and of Basil the Great. And it is not yet the time to bring in, within this letter, the testimonies of the other God-bearing fathers. Hear, O heaven, and give ear, O earth: Moab has broken faith [an allusion to Isaiah and to Moab's rebellion]; that is to say, plainly, Byzantis [the city of Constantinople] has shaken off the evangelical yoke; like a heifer stung to frenzy she has thrown off the reins. "Your ways I do not wish to know," she has declared, both in deed and in word. She raves in corybantic frenzy, she is mad, she drinks blood like a lioness; like an asp she stops up her ears, and when reproved she shakes it off. There came to her a voice of admonition as from heaven, from the most exalted seat, from the Roman throne, crying out, "What have you done? You have denied Christ, in setting aside the icon of Christ, of the Mother of God, of all the saints. Open an attentive ear, give ear to words evangelical, apostolic, prophetic, and of the fathers." And she did not accept it, she did not receive it, but tearing herself away from the five-peaked body of the Church (since the holy Nikephoros [Patriarch Nikephoros of Constantinople, deposed by the iconoclasts] is also still alive) she stiffens her neck against God almighty, outraging Christ, trampling upon the holy things. Such are the things that come from her, O thrice-beloved; and with us is God, east, west, north, sea. In these things is our joy; but if there is also lamentation on account of those who are perishing, come now, take your stand with me, you noble and thankful ones, snatching up the sufferings on behalf of Christ as treasures. Alas, what a good season this is for those who are contending, sweet-breathing, perfuming the prizes of the contest above all spices. The blood of martyrs flows over the Church, watering her, so that she is given drink beyond Eden from the four-streamed fountain. The choirs of the martyrs from of old are added to her; the things long ago accounted blessed in the confessors are now seen with our own eyes. Does not, then, the one who hears press on toward the contest, chafing at the mountain or the desert or whatever hidden refuge he is in? But nevertheless remain in the state in which you are; you too have a blessedness, and how great a one. Pray, and praise those who are more blessed; strike down for me the invisible dragon; turn back for me the inward war of the flesh. Let the spirit conquer, let it enslave the body, so that the soul may be made free, the lady and mistress, having peace with God. If it be so, there is martyrdom every day, crowns woven by God. Concerning us sinners do not be grieved, even if you have heard that once again we have been scourged. We bore it, through your prayers, with thanksgiving and great gladness, even though the sting was for a little while. Only do not slacken in stretching out your holy hands; for we believe that, weak though we are, by this means Amalek will be put to flight [as Moses' upraised hands defeated Amalek in Exodus]. Nikolaos, your brother, sends many greetings. Greet one another with a holy kiss, the communities greeting the communities, the small greeting the great, and indeed the fathers who are nearby. And when this letter has been read among you, do not refuse that it also be read among those others, provided only it be worthy, since all are of one soul and one body, even though they are different members. The Lord Jesus Christ be with you and with us sinners. Amen.