Letter 436: Theodore Studite, Letter 436; Greek heading: Εὐδοκῷ παρθενευούσῃ.

It is not good to forget friendship and benefaction; for if irrational animals, even though deprived of reason, know how to preserve their disposition toward their benefactors, how much more is it fitting for us, who have been made according to the image of God, to keep our remembrance toward our friends beyond reproach. For this reason we have made it our task to send to your Honor our beloved son Proterios, declaring this very thing: that we have not forgotten, but on the contrary we remember exceedingly, and carry upon our tongue, and recount to others, your compassion toward us sinners-how great and how immense it is. For in a time of trial, in a time of the persecution that is for Christ's sake, when we were imprisoned in those parts, both I and the brother Nicholas, when guards were stationed before the opening of the prison, not permitting anyone whatsoever to touch the stronghold according to the command of the impious-then (to leave aside the telling of earlier matters, though they were considerable enough), speaking out boldly with your confidence in God, you sent provisions, you suckled us as it were, you fed us, you gave us drink, you exhorted us, you anointed us, you gave yourself over recklessly to death-which all but came to pass, had not the hand of God, reaching you first, snatched you away, and you fell upon the deed. You know the accusations of the neighbors, the exactions of the rulers-that you had received gifts from the condemned man, that you obey words of his ordinance, this and that. But nevertheless-O the greatness of your faith!-not even when these things were thrown into such turmoil did you slacken at all, but, as though nothing strange had happened, you held again to your service [diakonia, the office and ministry of a deaconess], propitiating the guards with gifts and, as the saying is, ministering to God through us sinners; whence came both the rescue from dangers and salvation beyond hope. What is this but a second Priscilla and that Phoebe [women praised by Paul for their service to the church], or of those equal in standing with them, with respect to the consideration of their ministry, for which they are called blessed by the divine Apostle? In no way different, as it seems at least to me, except that it was toward the unworthy. But even this is the more praiseworthy: for there the nobility of the person might perhaps have moved even insensible stones to do good, whereas here, on the contrary, the loathsomeness of those who lay before you persuaded even sensible minds to go numb. But because you were seen to have done this in this way, even contrary to natural feeling, consider the praise that is due. We therefore receive, O lovely virgin, your mercy, and we praise you fittingly, accepting in addition and joining in praise also of your other dignities: your self-control, your unkempt hair, your neglected clothing, your almsgiving toward others as well, your love of purity-and in this you have in no way been found blameworthy by any of men. O your fair labor! O God-loving and aged head! You have blossomed in the midst of thorns like a rose; you have given forth fragrance in the midst of a crooked and perverse generation like an upright-growing lily. What remains? That you continue also for the future without stumbling, kept safe, carefully discerning every other commandment of the Lord, so as neither to swear by the name of the Lord at all nor to overlook anything else of the things commanded. And I say this not as though I were charging you with blame, but as having a longing that you be perfect in all things and thereby attain the good things held out in the promises. The brother Nicholas sends his greeting, and I too greet your lord and nephew. The Lord be with you.