Letter 537: Theodore Studite, Letter 537; Greek heading: Μαρίᾳ σπαθαρέᾳ.

Your Honor knows that the church is a refuge of salvation, and that just as into the hands of God the suppliant flees for shelter, beset by necessities, so it is here. Therefore, neither in the Old Testament was it permitted for anyone to snatch away the one who had taken safe refuge in the city of asylum [the cities of refuge of Numbers 35], nor much more is it lawful in the New to drag away from the church those who flee to it for sanctuary; for this is an outrage against the divine laws and against the divine altar. So let Your Piety consider how great the audacity is. And what is the remedy? First, to set for yourself a fixed rule no longer to dare to do this, even should the world be turned upside down; then, abstain for the whole of Lent [the forty-day fast] from the holy things [Holy Communion], genuflecting ten times and fifty times each day, saying, "Lord, forgive me my sin; Lord, be merciful to me, the sinful woman," and likewise, "Lord, have mercy on me freely," and to recite three psalms in verse, especially Psalm 6, Psalm 37, and Psalm 50 [Septuagint numbering], and then in this way God will forgive you your sin, my lady. And if there is also the means, give forty pieces of silver to the poor.