Послание 16. К Никифору, императору 21

It was pleasing to our good God, who provides for His Church, to place your piety as King over the present race of Christians, so that not only worldly government, which was in a bad state, would be well established, but also church government, if there was any deficiency in it, would be corrected, so as to “be a new test” in both (1 Cor. 5:7). By His grace, your Christ-loving reign has already made corrections in one part and will do even more, strengthened by inspiration from above; now it remains for the other part to experience similar attention and care. This can be granted by God, and with God’s help, by you through the legal election of the future archpastor. But since you also wanted to know our opinion from us, sinners and unworthy, here, as if before the Lord, Who will judge us, is our answer, for which we will give an account on the Day of Judgment. We do not know and do not know anyone - not because people shining with life and word have become impoverished, for there are known to both God and people, although not in equal measure, and especially to your enlightened soul, but because the opinion and desire of your kingdom require one who could comprehend the statutes of God with a perfect heart, would be gradually elevated in dignity and rank from the lowest to the highest, who, “having endured, having been tempted,” could “and help those who are tempted” (Heb. 2:18, 4:15). And why do I need to say a lot to you, who knows well and can imagine from your own position and success what it should be like. He should shine before many, like the sun among the stars. Without seeing this, we do not dare to raise a voice; but, as if for memory, we humbly and respectfully propose - which, of course, is not unknown to your experienced and divine wisdom - that, making a choice from bishops, from abbots, from stylites, from hermits, then from the clergy and from the dignitaries themselves, take those who are superior to others in intelligence, prudence and life. Let the pillars also come down, let the hermits also come out - because what is useful for everyone is sought - so that you discuss and together with them choose the most worthy. And blessed are you, and even more blessed are they, if you arrange all this, our Christ-like rulers. Through this, your kingdom will be even more established, your name will be “magnified to generation and generation” (Ps. 134:13), and the years of your power will be multiplied. God gave Christians these two gifts - the priesthood and royal dignity; they heal, they decorate earthly things, as in heaven. Therefore, if one of them is unworthy, then all of them are inevitably endangered. So, if you want to bring the greatest benefits to your kingdom, and through your kingdom to all Christians, then may the Church receive a primate equal, as far as possible, to your royal valor, so that the heavens will rejoice and the earth will sing. May the hand of God, in which your heart is, be a guide and pointer to the best, and may you be honored from it for the work, care and concern you have undertaken for this, an endless kingdom! Written in 806, on the occasion of the election of a new Patriarch of Constantinople (after the death of St. Tarasius). You might be interested in: