Послание 15. К Феодулу, столпнику

From a long time ago until now, I have had a desire to come to you, my holy father, and ask for your holy prayers, but until now, of course, for my sins, the path has not been opened to me, just as now. Therefore, I am forced to send our brother Kalogir, who will make up for the lack of our humility, and then we, with the help of God, will come to bow before your honest feet. Forgive me, father, for what I want to say; for I will say it in simplicity, out of sincere love and according to my desire, without reproaching you. Some, knowing that I am your sincere and unanimous friend and son, and being good friends themselves, said that your holiness was not acting as it should. When I was indignant and began to object and talk about the greatest exploits of your lofty life, they agreed with me on this, but in some words and deeds they accused you, namely, I will say one thing: they said that you displayed Angels on the windows, and, moreover, crucified, like Christ, and depicted Christ Himself and the Angels as elderly. We talked a lot about this, but I could not object to them: for they argued that this was a strange matter and alien to Church Tradition and, of course, did not come from God, but from the enemy, since for so many years and from so many God-bearing and Holy Fathers such an example had not been seen. For the apostle warns us against current innovations, even from an Angel, saying in one place: “But even if we or an Angel from heaven should preach the gospel,” I will add: and convey, “let him be accursed if we preach anything other than what we preached” (Gal. 1:8). I don’t know what to say to this, my holy father, and, being at a loss, I am forced to write to you, so as not to grieve from those who condemn thoroughly and, as it were, from the entire Church. For God's sake, accept me as your advising son, who cares about you, who considers your glory to be his glory and who does not want to hear any reproach against you, who leads a truly impeccable life. Enlighten, instruct, listen, listen, be merciful, deliver from all bewilderment those looking at your high life. You might be interested in: