Theodoret of Cyrrhus→Sporacius|c. 440 AD|theodoret cyrrhus
monasticismslavery captivity
To Count Sporacius.
Your Excellency's letter has given me great delight. My pleasure has been further increased by the devout presbyter and monk Iamblichus, who has told me of your warm zeal, your earnestness in the faith, and your genuine goodwill toward me. On hearing of this — and of the efforts on my behalf of the most glorious and devout lord Patricius — I pronounce over you the apostolic blessing that the blessed Onesiphorus received from that holy tongue: "May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day."
This I pray for you, even if the enemies of truth should inflict on me yet greater sufferings — for we have been taught to consider the will of those who act toward us, not merely what they do. And be certain of this: with the true faith as my companion, death itself is very welcome to me, and exile to the ends of the earth. What distresses me is still the storm tossing the churches — which the Lord of all is mighty to calm.
Letter 97
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To the Count Sporacius.
I am delighted with your excellency's letter. My pleasure has been increased by the very religious presbyter and monk Iamblichus, who has told me of your warm zeal, your earnestness in religion, and your real goodwill to me. On hearing of this as well as of the efforts of the glorious and pious lord Patricius on my behalf I give you the apostolic blessing which the blessed Onesiphorus obtained from that holy tongue; The Lord give mercy to your house, for he oft refreshed. me and was not ashamed of my chain; The Lord grant unto him that he may find mercy of the Lord in that day. This I pray for you, even though the enemies of the truth inflict on me yet greater miseries as they suppose; for we have been taught to regard men's purpose; but be sure of this, that with true religion death to me is very pleasant, and exile to the ends of the earth. Still we are distressed at the storm of the churches, which the Lord of all is mighty to disperse.
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To Count Sporacius.
Your Excellency's letter has given me great delight. My pleasure has been further increased by the devout presbyter and monk Iamblichus, who has told me of your warm zeal, your earnestness in the faith, and your genuine goodwill toward me. On hearing of this — and of the efforts on my behalf of the most glorious and devout lord Patricius — I pronounce over you the apostolic blessing that the blessed Onesiphorus received from that holy tongue: "May the Lord grant mercy to the household of Onesiphorus, for he often refreshed me and was not ashamed of my chains. May the Lord grant that he will find mercy from the Lord on that day."
This I pray for you, even if the enemies of truth should inflict on me yet greater sufferings — for we have been taught to consider the will of those who act toward us, not merely what they do. And be certain of this: with the true faith as my companion, death itself is very welcome to me, and exile to the ends of the earth. What distresses me is still the storm tossing the churches — which the Lord of all is mighty to calm.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.