Послание 14. К Игнатию-игумену

First of all, I consider it my duty to greet your fatherly holiness, for this is how it should be, and then I will figuratively tell you about the reason for the letter. Our verbal sheep, the famous brother, seduced by the manifold cunning of the soul-destroying wolf, was torn away from our humble flock, and, as we know, received into the monastery of your reverence. If you, having received him, immediately ordered him to return, showing the deception and destruction to which he was subjected, and then, having corrected him, sent him to our humility, you would not have done anything unjust, but befitting you, as we are commanded by the saints. But since so much time has passed and there is no result, I want to ask how your love for God detains my student, as if without knowing about it. You should, having found out, let go of the one whom you did not tonsure, knowing how much harm this would cause. For you know that the divine and great Basil commands not to accept into any fraternities anyone who has separated from the society of his brothers 20 . For how could communal monasteries exist if this main rule were not observed first of all? For if the teachers of this world are not allowed to accept into education a youth who has been sent to another school, and whoever does this is all assembled and subjected to discipline and punishment, then shouldn’t it be much more so, Holy Father, with us, who lead the Church of God and govern souls following the example of our first Teacher and Shepherd Jesus Christ? I know that you are full of wisdom and knowledge, but I ask you: understand the incongruity of what has been done, you who have a special advantage over others and influence in the sacred brotherhood. Or don’t you know, most reverend, that it is harmful for your flock itself to join someone else’s sheep? So, if such evil is finally recognized by everyone, then we ask you to convey to your brother, upon receipt of our humble petition, in a letter to our brothers sent for this purpose, so that they bring him to their flock with the church things that he appropriated. If the brother does not obey, then deign to immediately throw him out of your sacred flock. If - which we do not think - after this news you want to keep him, then know that he is bound by us not without reasoning, but very judiciously, or better, by the Holy Trinity and all the sacred laws, so that he should not have communication in the Divine Gifts and participation even in ordinary food, until, having returned, he is received into his monastery. How unfair it would be if someone else allowed your own disciple, bound by your holiness! For this matter is lawless and, according to the court of the entire church community, is subject to the same punishment. So also on our power, which the Lord gave to us, unworthy, not for destruction, but for the edification of souls, let not your holiness be encroached upon, for for such a terrible judgment. Prompted by this, you will certainly hand over our spiritual son to the brothers, praying for us sinners incessantly. Ascetic charters. Chapter 33. Creations in Russian translation. Part 5 pp. 387–388. M., 1901. You might be interested in: