Theodoret of Cyrrhus→Marcellus, Archimandrite of Acoemetæ|c. 440 AD|theodoret cyrrhus
grief deathmonasticism
From: Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus
To: Marcellus, Archimandrite of the Acoemetae [the "Sleepless Monks" of Constantinople, famous for perpetual prayer in shifts]
Date: ~451 AD
Context: Theodoret praises the monks for their defense of orthodox faith during the crisis and, now that the tide has turned, writes to establish a connection.
To Marcellus, Archimandrite of the Acoemetae,
Your holiness is made bright by your worthy life, which mirrors on earth the manner of the angels. But you are made brighter still by your zeal for the apostolic faith. As a keel is to a boat, as a cornerstone is to a house, so the truth of the Gospel is to those who choose a life of devotion. You have fought bravely for this truth when it was attacked -- not as though it needed your protection (for the teaching of our Master Christ possesses its own stability and strength, as the Savior Himself promised: "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" [Matthew 16:18]), but to demonstrate your godly resolve.
It is the loving and generous Lord who has seen fit that I too should be dishonored and condemned for the sake of this doctrine. Truly, we have counted dishonor as honor and death as life. We have heard the Apostle's words: "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake" [Philippians 1:29]. But the Lord "awoke as one from sleep" [Psalm 78:65] and stopped the mouths of those who uttered blasphemy against God and injustice against me. He has made the tongues of the faithful pour forth their message once again.
I, for my part, am gathering the pleasant fruits of rest. Looking at the turmoil of the churches, I grieve; but being freed from cares, I rejoice. I have always admired your piety but have not written until now -- not from any lack of charity, but because I was waiting for a suitable opportunity. Having now met the devout and prudent monks sent by your holiness on other business, I seized the chance to act on my wish. I salute your godliness and ask you, first, to support me with your prayers, and second, to gladden me with a letter -- for by God's grace I have been attacked for the Gospel's sake.
Letter 141
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To Marcellus, Archimandrite of the Acoemetæ.
Bright is made your holiness by your goodly life, exhibiting on earth the image of the conversation of the angels, but it is made still brighter by your zeal for the apostolic faith. As keel to boat, as corner-stone to house, so to them that choose to live in piety is the truth of the doctrines of the Gospel. For this truth when assailed you have bravely fought, not striving to protect it as though it were weak, but showing your godly disposition; for the teaching of our Master Christ is gifted with stability and strength, in accordance with the promise of the same Saviour, that the gates of hell shall not prevail against it. It is the loving and bountiful Lord who has thought right that I too should be dishonoured and slain on behalf of this doctrine. For truly we have reckoned dishonour honour, and death life. We have heard the words of the apostle For unto us it is given by God not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake. But the Lord arose like the sleeper, and stopped the mouths of them that uttered blasphemy against God and injustice against me. But He has made the tongues of the pious pour forth their fountains in their wonted message. I, however, am gathering the delightful fruits of rest; as I look at the agitation of the churches I am grieved, but I rejoice and am glad at being freed from cares. I have ever been gratified at your admirable piety, but heretofore I have not written, not from any lack of regard for the dictates of charity, but because I have waited for some suitable occasion. Just now, having fallen in with the most pious and prudent monks who have been sent by your holiness on other business, I have lost no time in carrying out my wish. I salute your godliness. I beg you in the first place to support me with your prayers, and further to cheer me by a letter, for by God's grace I have been attacked for the Gospel's sake.
◆
From:Theodoret, Bishop of Cyrrhus
To:Marcellus, Archimandrite of the Acoemetae [the "Sleepless Monks" of Constantinople, famous for perpetual prayer in shifts]
Date:~451 AD
Context:Theodoret praises the monks for their defense of orthodox faith during the crisis and, now that the tide has turned, writes to establish a connection.
To Marcellus, Archimandrite of the Acoemetae,
Your holiness is made bright by your worthy life, which mirrors on earth the manner of the angels. But you are made brighter still by your zeal for the apostolic faith. As a keel is to a boat, as a cornerstone is to a house, so the truth of the Gospel is to those who choose a life of devotion. You have fought bravely for this truth when it was attacked -- not as though it needed your protection (for the teaching of our Master Christ possesses its own stability and strength, as the Savior Himself promised: "the gates of hell shall not prevail against it" [Matthew 16:18]), but to demonstrate your godly resolve.
It is the loving and generous Lord who has seen fit that I too should be dishonored and condemned for the sake of this doctrine. Truly, we have counted dishonor as honor and death as life. We have heard the Apostle's words: "For it has been granted to you on behalf of Christ not only to believe in Him, but also to suffer for His sake" [Philippians 1:29]. But the Lord "awoke as one from sleep" [Psalm 78:65] and stopped the mouths of those who uttered blasphemy against God and injustice against me. He has made the tongues of the faithful pour forth their message once again.
I, for my part, am gathering the pleasant fruits of rest. Looking at the turmoil of the churches, I grieve; but being freed from cares, I rejoice. I have always admired your piety but have not written until now -- not from any lack of charity, but because I was waiting for a suitable opportunity. Having now met the devout and prudent monks sent by your holiness on other business, I seized the chance to act on my wish. I salute your godliness and ask you, first, to support me with your prayers, and second, to gladden me with a letter -- for by God's grace I have been attacked for the Gospel's sake.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.