Letter 553: Theodore Studite, Letter 553; Greek heading: Πρὸς τὴν σπαθαρέαν, ἧς τὸ ὄνομα Μαχαρᾶ.

How fine is the letter of your nobility, dictated indeed in the local tongue, but adorned with much grace of humility and, what is wonderful, suddenly bearing your confession like some God-given betrothal-gift! But from where, sinners as we are, comes such faith of yours and so pious an outpouring? Or is it that to us too it might be made known who and what manner of person you are in piety, taking up together with yourself the lord and head [her husband], and indeed drawing along with you, like some God-spread provision, the ladies your sisters as well? Thus, then, is the letter pleasing to God and revealing the character of your piety as most beautiful. But for my part I am not worthy that you should say you have given yourselves over to my lowliness; only, give yourselves not to us, but to God. For this reason we are debtors both to rejoice over your good life and to pray for you the holy things and to grant only what we have, to offer our slight word. And offering it even now, we ask: on what account does your honored self seek that I should speak concerning the divine communion [the Eucharist], and for what reason these many years do you partake of it rarely? For this ought to have some account given. For one must partake not rarely, nor simply every day, but with a pure conscience; for he who eats and drinks unworthily, it says, eats and drinks judgment to himself, not discerning the body of the Lord [1 Corinthians 11:29]. If, then, examining your own affairs in such a manner and being reverent, you await the proper time, it would be well, whether more frequently or more rarely; and there is in this no other rule than the approach with a pure heart, so far as is possible for a human being. But if anyone is debarred from communion on account of a fault, it is clear that that person will then communicate when the penance has been fulfilled for him. But if, again, one holds back on account of heresy, this is necessary; for to communicate from a heretic, or from one openly slandered in his manner of life, alienates one from God and makes one a familiar of the devil. Consider, then, O blessed one, in which of the ways that have been mentioned your aim might be, and according to that approach the mysteries. And it is known to all that the heresy now prevailing in the Church among us is that of the Moechians [from Greek 'moicheia,' adultery; the faction that condoned Emperor Constantine VI's adulterous second marriage]. Spare, therefore, your honored soul, together with the sisters and the head. You said to me that you are afraid to tell your presbyter not to commemorate the heresiarch. And what to say to you about this at the present I do not see clearly, except that the communion has a defilement merely from the commemoration, even if the one commemorating should be orthodox. And may the Lord, who has led you to so great a measure of piety, himself preserve you and keep you safe in all things, unharmed and complete in body and in soul, for every good work and for all sufficiency of life-I mean your wedded pair and the most reverent sisters-while all of our unworthiness pray earnestly on your behalf.