Letter 434: Theodore Studite, Letter 434; Greek heading: Ἡγουμένῃ τῆς Νικαίασ.

Already before this the good reports about your honored self drew us to write to you, and now too, relying upon those same commendations, we both write and address your venerable dignity, receiving you with approval and counting you blessed, because for the Lord's sake you chose to endure afflictions and distresses, the expulsion from your monastery and the exile of being removed, and whatever else is full of hardship and gives proof of confession. These are the rewards of praise and confession; these are the prizes and contests of the bride of Christ. And what is still more worthy of admiration is the holiness shown toward the sisters under your hand: that they too chose to strip for the contest of confession alongside you, and played the man, and were scourged, and were confined, and glorified God in their body and in their spirit. Oh, the contests! Oh, the excellent training! As is the ruler, such also is the ruled; as is the teacher, of such stature are the pupils too. To you it may well be said: Behold, I and the children whom God has given me [an echo of Isaiah 8:18 / Hebrews 2:13], contestants, manly, lovers of Christ rather than lovers of the flesh, counting all things as refuse that they may gain Christ [Philippians 3:8], having offered up all their members to Christ, that they may serve the One who loves them. You have been enrolled with the confessors; you have been crowned with the martyrs, so far as concerns what has already taken place. But since, O mother, no one is crowned unless he contends lawfully [2 Timothy 2:5], and it is lawful to excel to the very end both in faith and in life, I urge and remind you that we should walk worthily of the calling with which we have been called [Ephesians 4:1], with all humility and meekness, with security for what lies ahead, neither being caught by the still-frenzied heresy that denies Christ [the iconoclast heresy; korybantiosa = raving like the priests of Cybele], nor being turned aside in any respect from the ascetic life that is regulated according to what is owed, but doing all things to the glory of God, shining forth in every way with the illumination of the commandments. This I believe you are working out, to the praise of the glory of Christ, to your eternal boast, and may it be permitted to say, ours too, who are sinners. For indeed, if we are of one father, we are all rendered brothers and sisters of one another, and not unreasonably do we all reckon the endeavors of all as our own grounds for boasting. Pray for us. Our greeting in the spirit. The Lord Jesus Christ be with your spirit. Amen. I have heard that you practice much abstinence, and I was glad; only, since moderation in all things is best, I remind you: moderate yourself in this too, so that the body may both be brought into subjection and not grow too weak to serve the commandments.