Послание 1. К Платону, отцу духовному 1

What will we talk about with you, our dear father, we, who were cut off for God’s sake from your holy womb? What can we say that is pleasant or joyful? For it is not with tears and sorrow that we endure our apparent exile. We have learned from you to recognize this as such, not just this, since we are “strangers” on earth (Gen. 15:13), but only one falling away and distant separation from God through the transgression of any of His commandments. Therefore, we rejoice and rejoice over the fact that we, although unworthy of heaven and earth, have been worthy, together with you, our holy father, to endure this for His commandment and to be deprived of fellowship with you in the flesh. However, you, father, are always with us, before our eyes and talking with us. How else could we live prosperously, when each of us lives separately from the others, on our own, if by the cover of your holy prayers we were not preserved unharmed from the evil one? However, we all remained unharmed and solid. And although we suffered a little on the way, so that some fell ill, yet He who said: “Look at the birds of the air” and “the lilies of the field” (Matthew 6:26-28) - and the Unfalse One in His promises preserved us, as we had not hoped, bringing us here and inclining the hearts of the local men, especially the archbishop, to compassion for our misfortunes. There remains only one concern and unceasing thought for us, combined with fervent and unworthy prayer - that you may strengthen yourself, our most beloved father, and remain firm and unyielding in your undertaken confession for the truth of God, fearing nothing and not wavering in spirit from the slander of people who are trying to pervert and humiliate the deeds of piety bestowed upon you by the grace of God. For the rumor about this spread everywhere and frightened the souls of almost everyone, and the Lord “raised a horn of salvation” among Christians and “removed the reproach” from the monastics (Luke 1:25, 69). And I know that every sensible person will say that Christ lives and reigns in us, and we obey Him more than men, whom He created not to be despised, but to be glorified by them. You know everything, you know what needs to be done, you don’t need our reminder, but you yourself first ordered us to write about it. So, father, do not be afraid of man or grief from people. You know that the saints, considering this a dream and a shadow, became an object of wonder in heaven and on earth. Let us work a little, I beg you, let us endure a little more, and our “good course” will be over (2 Tim. 4:7). A crown of gossip, an eternal reward is prepared, and you will be called a friend of the Heavenly King, a companion of saints and a confessor among people. So I beg and conjure the mercy of my father: be for us support, patience, courage. For if you, father, stand, then we, your weak children, will become strong, we will be courageous, we will endure everything that happens courageously by the power of God and your prayers. This is permission from God, who in this way, of course, tests us and Himself gives us strength. Do not be afraid, father, of the machinations of those who are trying to deviate you from the truth. The point about this is simple. Saint Epiphanius, in his conversation about Easter, shows what a person is like who advises contrary to what is contained in Divine Scripture. He speaks from his heart and sets forth the statutes of men. I will quote the words of the apostle, who speaks about such people: “If an angel from heaven says this, let him be accursed” (Gal. 1:8). Should we talk about the words: “My priests have rejected My law and have profaned My holy things” (Ezek. 22:26)? Citing this prophetic saying, St. Gregory the Theologian in his great defensive word 2 adds the following: “They did not distinguish the holy from the bad, but everything was the same for them.” And much more, if anyone wanted to listen! Let those who distort the truth of God with false speeches finally be silent, and let them listen to themselves. With such a clear commandment, moreover, threatening eternal fire for a crime, we will not fall before human threats or torment - no, I swear by deeds for virtue - but even if it is necessary to shed blood, we will gladly do it, strengthened by God through your holy prayers. Take courage, too, my brother Euthymius: “You have fought the good fight” (2 Tim. 4:7). Let us not lag behind each other, my light and my life. For the sake of small and temporary well-being, let us not lose our blessed life. Don’t enjoy real pleasures, brother, and don’t be overwhelmed by sorrows, don’t show your rear. Christ rejoiced when he saw you being scourged for His sake. He is not saddened, my beloved, nor are the angels who rejoiced, nor the lord father, nor the venerable mother, who is pained for us by the Holy Spirit, nor all your brothers, especially me, whom you call a dear gift. We are three brothers in the flesh, 3 and let us be brothers in spirit. Let us not dishonor the venerable and original number of God, let us give ourselves over to suffer for God’s commandment, so that we may live forever. Father, we have great sadness about our other dear brothers: how did the Lord arrange them? For we sinners pray that He Himself would be their Trustee, Manager, Leader, arranging their affairs as He Himself knows, and commands, and desires. For truly, we shed bitter tears for them, and we constantly have their faces before our eyes, asking for their prayers to help our laziness. However, you, father, pray for everyone, so that we may gain patience, well-being, God’s help and protection from the temptations of the devil and, if God pleases, that we may see you or our brothers in the flesh. May this come true! We dare to ask you to greet our dear brother from us, if he is with you. If another of our brothers happens, then hasten to tell him this too. Together with me, the lord deacon and our father, the good brother and your son the steward, and other venerable and much-loving brothers greet your holy soul. Pray for us, father, fervently and unceasingly, as you command. We have nothing else to say. These are the next two letters to St. Plato written to St. Theodore from Thessalonica in 797, during his first exile. Creations in Russian translation. Part I P.46. M. 1889. That is Theodore, Joseph and Euthymius. You might be interested in: