56. К пресвитеру Николаю

We accept this as a sign of your sincere and ardent love, that even from such a distance you are concerned about our safety. Previously, in the depths of winter, we constantly moved from place to place, stopping now in cities, now in gorges and wooded valleys, and everywhere pursued by the Isaurians. Finally, when the local disasters subsided somewhat, leaving the deserts, we hastily moved to Araviss, finding its fortress safer than other places, and now we live in it (and not in the city itself, because even that is unsafe) worse than in any prison. In addition to the fact that death daily, so to speak, knocks on our doors - because the Isaurians penetrated everywhere, everywhere destroying people and homes with fire and sword - we also fear famine, which our cramped situation and the large number of people who have fled here threaten us. The winter season and the continuous flight from one place to another plunged us into a long illness: its difficult period has now passed, but some traces still remain. With all this, even in the midst of so many disasters and such dangers, we will draw the greatest consolation from your love - ardent, sincere and unchanging. Knowing this, do not make it difficult to constantly please us with news about your health. Although we live far from you, for all that we are firmly connected with you by bonds of love. I bring great gratitude to your honesty for the fact that even in the midst of such turmoil surrounding you, you show great zeal for affairs in Phenicia. If you receive any more news from there, don’t be lazy to let us know. No one can quickly get to us from anywhere, since all the roads leading here are blocked from everywhere. But, although it is difficult to maintain constant correspondence with us, with all this, write as soon as possible and inform us about everything that is happening there, notifying at the same time about the health of all of you, about which it is especially desirable for us to have information. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: