Послание 19. К обществу антисархенскому 24

We received from your venerability a letter about our disciple, who once ran away, and in those places, I don’t know how, through ignorance and wickedness, was accepted, and in some cave he founded not a monastery, but a den of passions, with a request that we would honor him with permission. The answer is short. Our disciple Marcian, until he returns to his monastery, in which he took vows of renunciation before God the Witness, will be bound and condemned and will remain unworthy of communication, according to the written Divine rules. It was not us who laid down such a threat, but the inspired Fathers. Therefore, if you, out of love, wish him salvation, then inspire him to return to his place; and we, having repented and returned, are ready to accept him with paternal disposition and forgive him all his sins. For just as it is impossible for a sheep that has wandered away from its yard and gone astray not to be caught by a beast, so it is impossible for someone who has left the monastery lawlessly, of his own free will, and is in a place that the Lord does not favor, not to be caught by demons. Therefore, his cell is a refuge of demons, a trapping of souls, a den of women, a workshop of all lawlessness, no matter what words and methods he or you try to soften what was said. So, if he obeys and you obey, it will be good for both him and you, since you will escape Divine wrath and threat; and if not, you will see before your eyes the fruits of your disobedience. And the most holy bishop is blessed by the Lord if he keeps the laws and drives the wicked far away. For this latter is completely unworthy of ordination, even if he returned here. I know his condition better than himself, as his former father. Antisarkh, or Antisar, is a little-known village. You might be interested in: