191. К Пеанию

When you feel, my most venerable and sweetest master, the sorrow and severity of separation from us, then remember what kind of business you are in charge of, remember that you are trying to put the whole city, or, better yet, working through this city, the whole universe on the right path, and you will be comforted and cheerful. One who brings as much benefit as you does has much to rejoice in. If others rejoice immensely, collecting money that is perishing and destroying them, and at the same time enduring long-term separation from their home, wife, children and all relatives, then where should you put a limit to the joy of that wealth, that priceless treasure that you collect every day just by being there? I say this not out of flattery to you - here, in absentia, everyone hears the same thing from me - but out of a feeling of lively pleasure, out of a feeling of joy, in inspiration from delight. In fact, you only need to show up to convert many there to the right path, to strengthen, encourage, and unite them into one whole. You are my true commander; I know your valiant deeds there, your zeal, vigilance, troubles, mental anxiety, fearlessness, freedom with which you rebelled even against bishops when circumstances required it, with due restraint, of course. And before, I highly valued you for this, but I value you even more highly at the present time, when, not having a single assistant there - since some fled, others were driven out, others were hiding - you alone now stand at the head of the formation, adorning its brow with yourself, and not only do not allow anyone to run over to the other side, but even from the ranks of opponents you daily attract someone into the ranks of your measure. But that's not all. What amazes me no less is that, while invariably remaining in one place, you at the same time extend your solicitude to the entire universe, to affairs in Palestine, Phenicia, and Cilicia, the affairs of which, however, require special care on your part. The Palestinians and Phoenicians, as I correctly learned, did not accept what was sent there by our opponents and did not even deign to answer him, but Aigis, as I heard, and the Tarsian (bishops) are on their side, and Castavalsky 138 wrote here to one of our friends that the Constantinople are forcing them 139 to take part in their lawlessness, but that they are still resisting. Therefore, you must especially try, take special care to put this part in order, too, and write to your cousin, my lord, Mister Bishop Theodore. As for Faretrius, it is bitter and extremely regrettable: for all that, since his presbyters do not agree with our opponents, as you write, and do not dare to have communication with them, saying at least that they still adhere to our side, then you do not tell them anything about this - what Faretrius did against us, indeed, no longer allows any excuse. His entire clergy grieved, lamented, cried and was with all their souls for us. But, I say, in order not to alienate them and not make them more hostile towards us, you, having learned everything from the report of the prefectural officials, keep it to yourself and treat them as gently as possible - I know your prudent resourcefulness - tell them that we also heard that he was very sad about this event and that he would be ready to endure everything just to correct this whole bad matter. Our health is completely satisfactory; The last remnants of the disease have passed. Really, when we remember that this is also the subject of your concerns, then the mere thought that we have a friend so ardently devoted to us adds a lot of strength to us. May God reward you for such zeal for us, for such love and unceasing zeal, both in this life and in the next century - may God protect you, may he protect you, may he establish you in inviolable peace and may he grant you his indescribable blessings. May God grant that we see you as soon as possible, be satisfied with the outpourings of your tender soul and wait for this all-joyful holiday. You know that the happiness of being rewarded with your most pleasant and desirable company and still enjoying it again constitutes a true holiday and triumph for us. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” That is, the bishop of the city of Castaval, which also belonged, like the cities of Aigi and Tara, to the Cilician province. That is, the Castaval bishopric - the Castavalians. You might be interested in: