Letter 453: Theodore Studite, Letter 453; Greek heading: Ἠλίᾳ τέκνῳ.

Who has compelled me to write to you, my man? God, plainly, who appointed me over you as shepherd and lawgiver, to whom I shall render an account, both on behalf of all your brethren and concerning you. You renounced [the world], then, of your own free will; you submitted obediently; then Satan sifted you [cf. Luke 22:31], tearing you away from the divine fellowship; again by the mercy of God you were rejoined, and again by the working of the demon you sprang away. Then, coming back once more, you made confession, promising security for the future; and, since the return from exile under Nikephoros [Nikephoros I, emperor 802-811], you did not come together with the rest, but remained by yourself, lured away by the serpent, and this down to the one now reigning, the fourth after Nikephoros. How long, you wretched man, will you wallow in the mires of sin? How long will you not cease behaving shamefully before God and men? Is there no death? Is there no judgment? Will you not pay an eternal penalty, the mere thought of which restrains the soul and turns it toward repentance? Come to your senses, my man; be called back, I beg you; cease building houses in a worldly way, you who have demolished the house of your own soul; leave off working as a carpenter like a layman, you who are being framed and worked upon by Satan. Do not make this excuse or that: no one will deliver you from the hand of the Lord. Do not say, having sinned, "I will not bear the penances." You will bear them, my child; for so I call you, I the humble one, in hope of your return. If [you are willing], as a father I will heal you sparingly, with compassion, with tender affection. Only be willing, only bestir yourself, break the bonds of death that hold you fast; the help of God is near at hand, and the angel who guards your life will go before you; there will be joy in heaven [cf. Luke 15:7], the devil will lament, I the wretched one will leap for joy, having found my lost sheep, and so too will your brotherhood. But if not, you will be prey for the devil, an heir of the woe; from which may you be delivered, by obeying and coming together with your brother Silas.