57. К пресвитерам и монахам: Аффонию, Феодоту и Херею

I would also like to see you here; but since there are many obstacles to this, I do not dare demand this now, but I ask you to help us, while remaining far from us, with the assistance of your bold prayers (and this kind of help does not weaken with time and is not delayed by the distance, but, wherever a person lives who has boldness before God, like you, he can thus bring the greatest benefit to those living far from him), in addition to prayers, I also ask you to constantly please us with news about your health. No matter how many waves surround us from everywhere: the desolation of the place, and the state of siege, and the invasion of the Isaurians, and the daily threat of death (we constantly live hand in hand with death, imprisoned in this fortress, as in a prison, and suffering from a serious bodily illness), - with all this, despite all the misfortune, we will draw considerable consolation among these disasters from your love. Although we did not spend much time with you, we received a lot of evidence of your sincere, ardent, more than honey, sweet, unchanging, strong and unshakable affection, which you showed to us both during a personal meeting and in absentia. That is why, far from you, and amid so much anxiety, we rest our souls at the memory of your valor, as if in a joyful haven, considering your love to be our greatest treasure. With the passing of winter and the onset of spring, we got rid of the strong pressure of the disease; but there are still remnants of it, they are supported by constant anxiety excited by the attacks of the Isaurians. Never forget us, no matter what distance separates us, and do not make it a point to write to us constantly, as soon as possible, delighting us with news about your health. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: