Letter 67: Theodore Studite, Letter 67; Greek heading: Τῇ ἀδελφότητι Κιζάρων.

The tidings of the falling-asleep [death] of our spiritual father, and yours, beloved brethren, have struck our soul with dismay, as was to be expected, and have brought it to a grievous groaning, not for the sake of him who has fallen asleep (for blessed is he, having been brought to perfection in a blessed life, since he was both a tried and proven monk and, even unto old age, had practiced asceticism in the best manner, and, what is chief of all, having departed from this world with a guarded and orthodox faith amid persecutions and amid the hardships endured for the good, and crowned, as it were, with the righteousness of the confession on behalf of Christ), but rather for our own sake, or rather for your own, you who have been left behind like a flock that has been thrown into perplexity by the departure of its good shepherd. For indeed the remembrance of the superior [the head of the community] draws one to compassion and to contrition of heart, when it is called to mind according to the place and the manner of his leadership in the Lord: how he would console one man when he was downcast, and rebuke another when he grew insolent, summon yet another back when he was running wild, and rouse still another when he was growing sluggish, governing with gentleness and forbearance in imitation of the very Master who said, 'Learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart' [Matthew 11:29]; and, in a word, in all the qualities by which he shone in your midst like the morning star. Besides this, by reason of long-accustomed habit the separation from a father is wont to weigh down the soul exceedingly. But what shall we do, brethren, against the law of God which thus commands, 'Dust thou art, and unto dust thou shalt return' [Genesis 3:19]? Or rather, the separation is a departure to the Lord. He was permitted to make the passage, and he went forth out of the body. He was parted from you and was added to his fathers, leaving behind for you, as a good example, his own life, the likeness of virtue. What, then, remains to be sought? That you come to yourselves and console one another in the Holy Spirit. And just as he left to you the lord Antony as superior, that by the same rule and in the same footsteps of piety you should begin to conduct your life, guarding the faith and suffering hardship on its behalf, if need be, even unto death amid the present persecution, and in no way betraying the truth; and that you embrace with all your strength both love toward one another and obedience toward the superior. For this is for your salvation; this is a ground of boasting also for that blessed man on the day of Christ; this is also most dearly to be longed-for by us, your friends and brethren. For walking in this way you will best have us accompanying you, so far as is possible, in the things that pertain to the Lord, most honored brethren.