Letter 45: To the Patrician Anatolius,

To the Patrician Anatolius, Your greatness knows well how all the people of the East feel toward your magnificence -- as children feel toward a loving father. Why then have you shown coldness to those who love you, withdrawn your generous care, and driven everyone to tears by putting your own interests ahead of public service? I truly believe there is not one God-fearing person who is not deeply grieved at the loss of your authority in office, and I think even those without right knowledge of divine things, when they remember your kindnesses, share in this distress. For my own part, I am especially sorry when I think of your dignity and your unaffected character. I pray the God of all to protect you always with his invincible right hand and to supply you with every kind of blessing. But I must ask: even though you are no longer present in an official capacity, extend to us your accustomed protection. Help us undo the schemes of our unworthy bishop, whose purposes are perfectly well known to your greatness. He is working, I am told, toward the complete ruin of our district. He has taken up the informer's role to discredit the recent tax assessment -- and this when everyone knows that taxation here is crushing, and that many estates have already been abandoned by their farmers. Yet this man, in contempt of his excommunication and in flight from the holy synod, has turned his tongue against the wretched poor. May your magnificence see to it that the truth is not defeated by a lie. And I bring the same plea on behalf of the Cilicians -- for we will not stop protesting until this injustice is set right.

Letter 45