Letter 133: I have always known, my lord, that you have not forgotten our friendship.

To John, Bishop of Germanicia, I have always known, my lord, that you have not forgotten our friendship. And it has always been my wish and prayer that your piety should hold fast to exact truth, shun communion with traitors to true religion, and give thanks to the supreme Ruler for His care on our behalf. For indeed, while I was silent and inactive, He put an end to our keen and terrible sufferings and replaced the dire tempest with this bright calm. Now that the loving-kindness of the Lord has granted us this blessing, I find the quiet of my retreat delightful. But I feel the need to persuade those who were misled by the slanders against me -- to convince them of the truth of Gospel teaching and refute the attacks of falsehood. Once that refutation is complete and the truth is vindicated, I intend to leave public life and withdraw to the rest I so deeply long for. Of the enemies of truth I cry out with the prophet: "Their memory has perished with a crash" [Psalm 9:6]. Of ourselves I sing with the Psalmist: "He sent from above, He took me, He drew me out of many waters; He delivered me from my strong enemy" [Psalm 18:16-17]. This letter is in reply to two I received from your holiness -- one carried by Anastasius, the presbyter of Beroea, and one by the standard-bearer Theodotus. In your latest letter you mention another, but that one has not been delivered. As for my travel plans, I can say nothing until I know what orders the most pious emperor gives concerning me. His letter has not yet arrived.

Letter 133