Letter 458: Theodore Studite, Letter 458; Greek heading: Εὐφροσύνῃ ἡγουμένῃ τοῦ Κλουβίου.

What has befallen the blessed lady and our common mother (for I do not decline to name her our mother also, on account of her virtue) demanded that we ourselves should have come and chanted over her the funeral oration that was fitting, and should have uttered to you, who are left behind and as it were orphaned of that maternal union and concord of spirit, some word of consolation—if indeed such a remedy could be found, one able to soothe the grief and the collapse of your soul. But since this is not possible, our oversight comes by way of a letter. Oh, how she has flown away from us, the good "amma" [Coptic/monastic title for a spiritual mother, 'abbess'], the Christ-bearing woman, the treasure-house of chastity, the face full of grace, the sacred precinct of reverence, the one full of days, both those that pass away and those that abide, a spectacle, the consecrated temple, the olive-grove of compassion, the mercy of giving, truly the living creature shaped by God, the eye without grudging, the heart without envy, who even before death was a sojourner away from the things here below for the sake of the longed-for Bridegroom Christ and for the sake of that life yonder that knows no grief and no end. Oh, oh, how much might I be able to speak so as to empty out the holy theme that presses upon my heart—although I am a late learner of the lady and of the virtues that are in you, and have as much experience as one who has touched honey with the tip of his finger. Yet even so the brief taste affords a demonstration of the whole sweetness; and besides, having been thoroughly instructed by your brethren who are more practiced in her virtue, I have sufficient knowledge concerning her in the Lord. She was led from such a life into this commonwealth [the monastic state]; for I must take up the account from the beginning and dwell a little upon the matter for the sake of comfort. It stands thus. She was of the race from the risings of the sun, both in place and in manner—if indeed Armenia is the source, whence also her virtue came; and if one must inquire into her blood as well, she was of an imperial blend. There were generalships and public leaderships both in Armenia and in Greece [the Roman lands, here the Greek-speaking provinces]—I mean of her yokefellow [her husband], since the man here took up his first command as general, just as he took up the rank of patrician. Torn away from him by death, she did not endure to remain unyoked, but rather to have a betrothed. Whom, then? Not this or that ruler or emperor, as is the longing of the many who cleave to flesh and blood, but the only beautiful Bridegroom, the Prince of peace; wherefore the bride too bears the name of peace [Eirene], having betrothed herself to the King of all things, Christ, the Lord of glory, and this through the monastic profession. And how she proved her excellence in this, doing the things of her Beloved, our account has shown beforehand as in a sketch. Hers was the lightning-flashing prayer, the compunction, the pouring forth of tears, the tongue that uttered no slander, the bearing free of all boldness, the Christ-imitating humility, the right hand that loved the commandments, the mind ever watchful toward God, the heart that burned with the fire of the love of Christ, and finally the orthodox worship and the keeping of oneself from heretical communion [koinonia, sacramental fellowship with heretics] with unshrinking boldness of speech. And it is a marvel how, in the persecution that lately rode through [the iconoclast persecution under Leo V, begun 815], she preserved not only herself but also you, lady, and your whole holy company unparticipating in it, with God—sealing her end with a fair crowning-stroke, having partaken of the holy things from the orthodox sources, and from there departing with rejoicing; which is the greatest sign of the attainment of the things she longed for, namely to obtain Christ and to be with Christ forever. So, then, did the blessed one live, and so holily did she depart, and so do we sinners believe her to fare. For the rest, the word must be transferred to you, my mistress. What is this? It is that, even though the parting is bitter, you may nonetheless bear it with thanksgiving, just as we have heard and have greatly praised you, that you do not give vent to irrational wailings and hopeless lamentations, but as befits one who is truly a religious and an excellent teacher, who shapes by her own example the souls entrusted to you by the Lord—or rather, that I may put it more plainly, as the example of that song-worthy woman of one soul and one mind with you, your daughter in the Lord, your bride in the flesh, your equal in virtue in the religious life; for in your case it is one soul in two bodies, a thing both praiseworthy and glorified. She has not, therefore, been parted from you altogether, lady—the lady from the lady—but for a little while, until we too shall travel the same road. Except that she is also present both spiritually and even now, and your endeavors are of benefit to her; and what is greater, that having come nearer to God she intercedes for the things concerning you and yours. Do not then for the rest fall down, we beg you, as one without a protector, nor as one left alone. You have her, and before her God, to whom all things belong; and if you will, you have us sinners also, according to her request both before death and in her dying breath—if indeed a sinful man can be of any profit at all. This is our funeral address. But you, O blessed soul (for the word must now be turned to her), do not ask God on our behalf to become gracious to you, but rather do you reconcile him to us by your intercessions (for we are confident that you have power for this); and do not have us as your helpers for your lady, the sister-mother-and-child of yours, but offer yourself both to her and to us and to your whole flock in the Lord, to whom be glory unto the ages. Amen.

Ἀπῄτει τὸ συμβὰν περὶ τὴν μακαρίαν κυρίαν καὶ κοινὴν μητέρα (οὐ γὰρ παραιτοῦμαι καὶ ἡμῶν μητέρα αὐτὴν ὀνομάζειν διὰ τὴν ἀρετὴν) αὐτοὺς ἡμᾶς ἀφῖχθαι καὶ τὸν προσήκοντα ἐπιτάφιον ἐκείνῃ μὲν ᾆσαι, σοὶ δὲ τῇ ὑπολελειμμένῃ καὶ οἱονεὶ ὀρφανῇ τῆς μητρικῆς συναφείας τε καὶ συμπνοίας φθέγξασθαι παραμύθιον, εἴ γε καὶ ἐξευρεθείη τοιοῦτον φάρμακον, δυνάμενον καταπραῧναί σου τὸ τῆς ψυχῆς ἀλγεινὸν καὶ συμπεπτωκός. ἀλλ' ἐπεὶ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐνδέχεται, διὰ γράμματος ἡ ἐπισκοπή. ὤ, πῶς ἀπέπτη ἀφ' ἡμῶν ἡ καλὴ ἀμμάς, ἡ χριστοφόρος γυνή, τὸ κειμήλιον τῆς σωφροσύνης, τὸ κεχαριτωμένον πρόσωπον, τὸ τῆς εὐλαβείας τέμενος, τὸ πλῆρες ἡμερῶν, τῶν τε λυομένων καὶ μενουσῶν, θέαμα, ὁ ἡγιασμένος ναός, ὁ ἐλαιὼν τῆς συμπαθείας, ὁ οἰκτιρμὸς τῆς ἐπιδόσεως, τὸ ζῷον ὄντως τὸ θεόπλαστον, ὁ ἄφθονος ὀφθαλμός, ἡ ἀβάσκανος καρδία, ἡ καὶ πρὸ θανάτου ἔκδημος τῶν τῇδε διὰ τὸν ποθούμενον νυμφίον Χριστὸν καὶ διὰ τὴν ἐκεῖσε ἄλυπον ζωὴν καὶ ἀμήρυτον. ὤ, ὤ, πόσα λαλήσας δυνηθείην κενῶσαι τὸ συνωθοῦν τὴν καρδίαν μου σεμνολόγημα, καίτοι γε ὀψιμαθὴς ἐγὼ τῆς κυρίας καὶ τῶν ἐνόντων ὑμῖν ἀρετῶν καὶ τοσοῦτον ἐν πείρᾳ, ὅσον ἄκρῳ δακτύλῳ ἐφαψάμενός τις μέλιτος. ἀλλ' ὅμως ἡ βραχεῖα γεῦσις δήλωσιν παρίστησι τῆς ὅλης γλυκύτητος, ἄλλως τε καὶ παρὰ τῶν μᾶλλον πεπειραμένων ὑμῶν τῆς ἀρετῆς ἀδελφῶν ἐκδιδαχθεὶς ἀρκοῦσαν ἔχω τὴν περὶ αὐτῆς γνῶσιν ἐν Κυρίῳ. Ἐκείνη ἀπὸ τοιούτου βίου ἤχθη εἰς τόδε τὸ πολίτευμα· δεῖ γάρ με ἄνωθεν ὑπολαβεῖν καὶ μικρόν τι ἐνδιατρίψαι τῷ λόγῳ παρηγορίας χάριν. ἔχει οὕτως. τῶν ἀφ' ἡλίου ἀνατολῶν τὸ γένος καὶ κατὰ τόπον καὶ τρόπον, εἴπερ ἡ Ἀρμενία ὅθεν καὶ ἡ ἀρετή, εἰ δὲ καὶ τὸ αἷμα δεῖ ζητεῖν, ἐκ βασιλικοῦ κράματος· στρατηγίαι καὶ δημαγωγίαι καὶ ἐν Ἀρμενίᾳ καὶ ἐν Γραικίᾳ, τοῦ ὁμοζύγου λέγω, ἐπεὶ καὶ τὴν πρώτην στρατηγίδα εἷλεν ἐνταῦθα ὥσπερ καὶ τὴν πατρικιότητα ὁ ἀνήρ· οὗ ἀπορραγεῖσα διὰ θανάτου οὐκ ἤνεγκεν ἄζυξ μένειν, ἀλλ' ἔχειν μνηστῆρα· τίνα ἆρα; οὐ τόνδε καὶ τόνδε ἄρχοντα ἢ βασιλέα ὡς ἡ τῶν πολλῶν ἔφεσις, σαρκὶ καὶ αἵματι προσκειμένων, ἀλλὰ τὸν μόνον ὡραῖον νυμφίον, τὸν ἄρχοντα τῆς εἰρήνης· διὸ καὶ εἰρηνώνυμος ἡ νύμφη, τὸν τῶν ὅλων βασιλέα Χριστόν, τὸν Κύριον τῆς δόξης, καὶ τοῦτον διὰ τοῦ μοναδικοῦ ἐπαγγέλματος μνηστευσαμένη. ἐφ' ᾧ ὅπως ἠρίστευσεν πράττουσα τὰ τοῦ ἐραστοῦ προδεδήλωκεν ὁ λόγος ὡς ἐν σκιαγραφίᾳ. ταύτης ἡ ἀστράπτουσα προσευχή, ἡ κατάνυξις, ἡ τῶν δακρύων χύσις, ἡ ἀκατάλαλος γλῶττα, ἡ ἀπαρρησίαστος ἕξις, ἡ χριστομίμητος ταπεινοφροσύνη, ἡ φιλέντολος δεξιά, ἡ θεογρήγορος διάνοια, ἡ καιομένη τῷ τῆς ἀγάπης Χριστοῦ πυρὶ καρδία καὶ τέλος ἡ ὀρθόδοξος λατρεία καὶ τὸ πεφυλαγμένον τῆς αἱρετικῆς κοινωνίας μετὰ ἀνυποστόλου παρρησίας. καὶ θαῦμα, πῶς ἐν τῷ παριππεύσαντι διωγμῷ οὐ μόνον ἑαυτήν, ἀλλὰ καὶ σέ, κυρία, καὶ ὅλην σου τὴν ἁγίαν συνοδίαν ἀμέθεκτον σὺν θεῷ ταύτης διεφυλάξατο, καλὴν κορωνίδα τῷ τέλει ἐπισφραγισαμένη, ἐκ τῶν ὀρθοδόξων πηγῶν μετασχοῦσα τῶν ἁγιασμάτων κἀντεῦθεν ἀπάρασα χαιρομένως· ὅπερ σημεῖον μέγιστον τῆς ὧν ἐπεπόθει ἐπιτεύξεως, Χριστοῦ τυχεῖν καὶ μετὰ Χριστοῦ ἔσεσθαι εἰσαεί. Οὕτως οὖν ἐβίω ἡ μακαρία καὶ οὕτως ἁγίως ἀπῆρεν καὶ οὕτως πιστεύομεν ἔχειν οἱ ἁμαρτωλοί. λοιπὸν ἐπὶ σὲ ὁ λόγος μεθικτέος, δέσποινά μου· τί τοῦτο; ἵνα, εἰ καὶ δριμὺς ὁ χωρισμός, ἀλλ' ὅμως ἐνέγκῃς εὐχαρίστως, καθὰ καὶ ἀκηκόαμεν καὶ ἐπαινέσαμέν σε πάνυ, μὴ προϊεμένην κωκυτοὺς ἀλόγους καὶ θρήνους ἀνελπίστους, ἀλλὰ δεόντως καὶ ὡς ἀληθῶς μοναζούσης καὶ ἀρίστης διδασκάλου, ὑποτυπούσης τῷ καθ' ἑαυτὴν ὑποδείγματι τὰς πιστευθίας σοι ψυχὰς ὑπὸ Κυρίου, μᾶλλον δέ, ἵνα γνωριμώτερον εἴπω, ὡς ἐκείνης τῆς ἀοιδίμου ὁμοψύχου, ὁμογνώμονος θυγατρὸς ἐν Κυρίῳ, νύμφης ἐν σαρκί, ἰσαρέτου ἐν πολιτείᾳ· καὶ γὰρ μία ψυχὴ ἐν δυσὶ σώμασι τὸ καθ' ὑμᾶς καὶ αἰνετὸν καὶ δεδοξασμένον. οὐ τοίνυν εἰς ἅπαν ἐχωρίσθη σου, κυρία, ἡ κυρία, ἀλλὰ πρὸς μικρόν, ἕως ἂν καὶ ἡμεῖς τὴν αὐτὴν ὁδεύσωμεν ὁδόν· πλὴν ὅτι καὶ πνευματικῶς καὶ ἄρτι πάρεστι καὶ συμφέρει σοι τὰ σπουδάσματα, καὶ τὸ μεῖζον, ὅτι καὶ ἐγγυτέρω γεναμένη θεοῦ ἀντιβολεῖ τὰ περὶ σοῦ καὶ τῶν σῶν. μὴ δὴ οὖν λοιπὸν καταπέσοις, παρακαλοῦμεν, ὡς ἀπροστάτευτος μηδὲ ὡς μεμονωμένη· ἔχεις αὐτὴν καὶ πρὸ αὐτῆς τὸν θεόν, οὗ τὰ πάντα, εἰ δέ, καὶ ἡμᾶς τοὺς ἁμαρτωλοὺς κατὰ τὴν ἐκείνης καὶ πρὸ θανάτου καὶ ἐν τῷ ἀποπνεῖν αἴτησιν ἔχεις, εἴπερ τι καὶ λυσιτελεῖν δύναιτο ἄνθρωπος ἁμαρτωλός. Αὕτη ἡμῶν ἡ ἐπιτάφιος προσφώνησις. σὺ δέ, ὦ μακαρία ψυχὴ (πρὸς αὐτὴν γὰρ ἐπιστρεπτέον), μὴ πρὸς ἡμῶν αἰτοῦ τὸν θεόν σοι ἵλεω γενέσθαι, ἀλλ' αὐτὴ αὐτὸν ἡμῖν κατάλλαξον ταῖς πρεσβείαις (θαρροῦμεν γὰρ τοῦτο ἰσχύειν σε), μηδὲ ἡμᾶς ἐπικούρους ἔχειν τὴν κυρίαν ἀδελφομητρότεκνόν σου, ἀλλὰ σαυτὴν πάρεχε καὶ αὐτῇ καὶ ἡμῖν καὶ ὅλῃ τῇ ποίμνῃ σου ἐν Κυρίῳ, ᾧ ἡ δόξα εἰς τοὺς αἰῶνας. ἀμήν.