48. К бывшему консулярию Феодоту 37

This is what it means to be a father! You are not only not upset that your son has a desire for true wisdom, but you rejoice in this, you use all means so that he reaches the very top of wisdom, and you are not even burdened by his removal from his homeland, from home, from your own supervision, on the contrary, you think that he is now closer to you when he becomes more virtuous. We deeply thank you for this and for our part we are surprised how, having given us such a priceless gift, your son, you still considered yourself obliged to honor us with treats of a different kind. We accepted the honor; but we return the very things sent back, not out of disdain for your nobility (how is this possible in relation to a person who loves us so dearly?), but because we consider it unnecessary to chase after what we do not need. As for the good reader Theodotus, we would like to keep him with us and take care of his education; but since the entire local area is filled with murder, confusion, bloodshed, fires, because the Isaurians destroy everything with fire and sword, and we are constantly moving from place to place, changing our location every day, we considered it necessary to send him away, thoroughly ordering my master, the most reverent deacon Theodotus, to take vigilant care of him and have the utmost care for him. care. Try to treat your son in the same way, and then you will certainly praise our decision and bring us great gratitude for this admonition. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” Written in 406. The heads of some provinces were called consulars. You might be interested in: