Послание 8 Григория Нисского

Sacrilege in the Old Testament Scripture is recognized as worthy of no less condemnation than murder. For both the one convicted of murder and the one who stole what was dedicated to God were equally subject to stoning (Joshua 7). In church custom, I don’t know how, some condescension and relaxation followed, and an easier cleansing of this illness was accepted. For the tradition of the fathers defines such penance for a shorter time than for adultery. In any type of crime, one must first of all look at the disposition of the person being healed, and for healing it is sufficient to consider not time (for what kind of healing can come from time?), but the will of the one who heals himself through repentance. We send this to you, man of God, with great care from what we have in our hands, since you must be obedient to the commands of the brethren. Don’t stop offering God the usual prayers for us, for you must, as a well-meaning son, who according to God gave birth to you, feed you in your old age with your prayers, according to the commandment that commands you to honor your parents, so that your days may be prolonged on the earth that the Lord your God is giving you (Ex. 20:12). It is true that you will accept this scripture as a sacred sign and will not despise the gift, even if it is below your high spirit. (Ap. 72, 73; Dicr. 10). You might be interested in: