Letter 539: Theodore Studite, Letter 539; Greek heading: Κασσίᾳ κανδιδατίσσῃ.

The letter of your honored self has come late, and it is one of complaint, in one part humbling itself, in another part rising up against our nothingness, as though we accepted the slanders against you simply and without examination, and indeed as though we uttered our words without judgment, and these too in matters of the very greatest necessity. But we, accustomed to bid such things farewell, declare this much: that we hear the things being noised about as so many trifles, and so we speak, not as men pleasing men, but pleasing God, who tests our hearts [cf. 1 Thessalonians 2:4], even if otherwise we happen to be sinners. For if Balaam the soothsayer [the diviner of Numbers 22-24] did not, contrary to the will of God, presume to answer Balak, king of the foreigners, how could we, who are set in the rank of the priesthood and who shall render account on the day of judgment for the answers we give to those who question us, possibly speak in a manner perverted from what is fitting? In this way, then, we answered those who questioned us, not having ourselves, of our own accord, given permission for this or that to be done, as you were led to say. And what do you wish, that we should answer each person in the manner that pleases him, as merchants do, rather than rightly dividing the word of truth [cf. 2 Timothy 2:15]? Therefore let neither you yourself strike out unseasonably against us, the lowly ones, nor the lady your sister, nor anyone else who chooses to mock and tear us to pieces; but know that we hold even the ever-remembered general [the deceased man here mourned] not with enmity, but rather most affectionately, just as we do his consort. Yet we are grieved, and we make a counter-charge with good reason, that you women, who both excel in knowledge and lay claim to piety, were not in the end moved by true love toward him; since it was necessary, before all things and above all things, to strive for the saving of his soul, that he might partake of the holy things [the sacraments], counting all other things as refuse [cf. Philippians 3:8], so that he might be found in orthodox communion, since it is written: 'Wherever I find you, there will I judge you.' We, then, think and speak in this way. But if others think otherwise, they are themselves masters of their own utterance, and we for our part keep silence. The Lord knows those who are his, and let everyone who names the name of the Lord depart from iniquity [2 Timothy 2:19], as it is written.