Letter 59: Theodore Studite, Letter 59; Greek heading: Τῇ ἡγουμένῃ τῶν Γόρδινα.

Our beloved brother Antony has requested of us the present letter, saying that I had long ago promised to compose it. And so for this very reason, and on account of your messages, behold, I greet and address you as mothers, as sisters in the Lord, remembering your reception of me and the labor of love which you displayed for His name, in that you fled the communion of the heretics and kept yourselves unspotted from the world. Look, therefore, also to what lies ahead, holy ones. Since the impiety [iconoclasm, the rejection of the veneration of holy icons] still presses on, keep the deposit of the faith inviolate, so that, if it should be needful even to die, you may with joy give yourselves up rather than partake of the leaven of those who are heterodox [the iconoclasts]. And indeed I also exhort you to conduct yourselves with holiness in your manner of life. Do not become thieves of slavish pleasure, but by the virginity to which Christ has betrothed you, keep hearts and bodies pure, fleeing the sight of men's faces so far as is possible; for from looking a fire is kindled and sin sets it ablaze. Let the superior be as a superior, set forth as a pattern of good works; let the disciples be as disciples, having one will, one heart, not wrangling, not chattering, not holding private property, but breathing after their teacher, guarding what has been approved by her in the law of the Lord. And if these things pertain to the disciples, how much more to the woman who presides, for whom, as great as is the reward of her leadership, so great also is the danger of her failing. Let the saying of "mine" and "yours" in the community perish, as the cause of countless wars; let living by one's own rule and acting on one's own be banished, as a dissolver of good order; let strife of tongues and the making of uproar be driven out, as unholy for nuns. But whatever is silent, whatever is given to prayer, whatever is of the psalms, whatever is of labor, these things do, and the God of peace and of love will be with you. Pray for us sinners, that we too may be saved. The grace of our Lord Jesus Christ be with you all. Amen.