Letter 459: Theodore Studite, Letter 459; Greek heading: Ἰουλιανῷ βεστήτωρι.

Since you greeted us through the brother, good brother, I judged it good to greet you in return by letter, showing thereby how lovingly I am disposed toward your honorable self, and not only this, but also how anxiously concerned I am that it be kept safe from the temptations of the devil. For know, beloved, that he goes about always like a lion, seeking whom he may devour. Hold yourself, then, attentively; remember your covenants. It is written: Have you sinned? Do not add to it, and concerning your former sins make supplication. And again the Lord says: Every branch that does not bear fruit, the Father takes it away, and it is cast into the fire and burned. Let us therefore fear the example; let us struggle on behalf of our souls before the hour of death comes upon us, lest we be cut off as unfruitful and barren from the good vine, which is Christ. For this reason I came, says the Lord, not that I might judge the world, but that I might save it; and again he says: If I had not come and spoken to them, they would not have had sin; but now they have no excuse for their sin; and again: The word which I have spoken, that will judge him on the last day. Already, beloved, our good God has fulfilled all things on our behalf: he appeared on earth, he took on the form of a servant, he became obedient unto death, even death on a cross, and this though he is the Lord of glory and bears all things by the word of his power, recalling us from the corruption that came upon us through the first-formed man [Adam], and not only this, but indeed deifying us [theosis: making us partakers of the divine nature] through his holy flesh; of whom we have been counted worthy to be called brothers, and members of one body, and partakers together, and joint heirs. We must therefore guard ourselves with all vigilance. You pass through the midst of snares as you go about in the city; see that you are not entangled. Let your conduct be in the fear of the Lord, in the company of good men; flee those who live without vigilance, flee the games and frivolous jests of the young, flee the carousings and ruinous drinking-bouts. Let no corrupt word proceed out of your mouth, but only what is good for the edification of those who hear. Do not be anxious to grow rich, for you entered naked into this world, and naked you shall depart. Do not love the glory of this world, for it passes away like smoke. Love one thing only: the good, to keep your heart clean from filthy sin, to attain the kingdom of heaven and to flee the eternal judgment. The commandments you have received, keep them; incline your ear to the poor man; when your hand has the means to help, stretch it out to the one in need; the two small coins of the poor widow outweighed all that were cast into the treasury. Let no oath lodge in your mouth, for the one who swears will not be saved, even if he should seem to fulfill every commandment. Visit a man in prison, that you may be visited by the Lord. Pray with understanding and sing psalms in your heart, that you may receive the Holy Spirit as your fellow-dweller. These, out of many, are a few tokens of love, good commandments, which may we both practice and so be saved in Christ Jesus our Lord, to whom be the glory unto the ages of ages. Amen.