101. К епископу Елпидию 69

This is worthy of you, this is absolutely as it should be for a cheerful and vigilant helmsman, that you did not lose heart when such a terrible storm arose, but continue your worries and cares, using all possible means on your part, appearing everywhere in your letters, rallying both near and far, exciting and encouraging everyone and everyone not to succumb to the force of excitement, but to hold on tightly and not be timid, even if thousands of even more terrible ones were coming towards you. shafts, - thus standing unshakably in one place and at the same time flying everywhere with their admonitions. We know all your affairs, no matter how great the distance that separates you and me. We please and loudly glorify for them your reverence, your spiritual vigor, your unyielding will, your youthful ardor in such advanced years. The phenomenon, however, is completely natural: if the upcoming tasks required bodily strength, then old age would serve as an obstacle; but as soon as they require spiritual wisdom, gray hair usually does not in the least hinder their accomplishment. And indeed, she did not prevent you, and with your reverence everything possible was done on your part. That your labors and your tireless activity will bring the proper fruit, of course, there should be no doubt about it. But, not content with caring for the entire universe, out of great and ardent love for us, you also care about us personally and want to know what kind of place we live in, what our position is here, who these good people are who share our lives with us and whom you want to know in order to thank them for this. We will never cease to praise, glorify, extol and thank you for such love for us in the face of everyone who lives with us or visits us. But even more incomparably, above the merit itself, the humane God will reward you for this, whose rewards immeasurably exceed everything that people can bring in gratitude, in word or deed. In satisfaction of your desire to know about our situation, we inform you that, although Kukuz, where we are exiled, is the most desolate place, for all that its desolation is not felt at all by us: we live so peacefully, so freely here, everyone is so diligently trying to serve us. The remnants of my illness have passed away through your prayers, and now we enjoy perfect health; the fear that the Isaurians instilled has ceased, no danger no longer exists, and our peace is not disturbed by anything. With us are the most honest presbyters Constantius and Evifius; but we must expect that several more people will soon arrive who were hitherto kept in chains: now they are all freed, and I am sure that they will fly to us. Do not cease to pray for us, who sincerely love you, most respected and most God-loving Bishop, and constantly, as soon as possible, write to us and notify us about your health. You understand that we would be pleased if we could receive information about this every day. To my lord, the most honest and most reverent presbyter Asinkriti 70 with his dear children, and to the entire clergy of your reverence, please convey our sincere greetings. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” From Kukuz in 404. Elpidius was the bishop of Laodicea. According to the manuscript of Fabricius: “Asyncritus.” You might be interested in: