108. К Аравию 77

Your letter showed us in the clearest way what a crucible of sorrow you carry in your soul as a result of the fate that befell us. Of course, we knew this before: we will never be able to forget those abundant tears that you shed at the very beginning of these disasters. But your letter, no less than those tears and sobs, revealed to us what burning sorrow torments your heart. The humane God will reward you for this, because there is a reward for sorrow, and a great and abundant reward. During the disasters of the Jewish people, there were also people who could not avert the people’s crimes, but only groaned and wept over them, and these people acquired such a reward for themselves that while all others were handed over to destruction and destruction, they alone escaped wrath. “Make a sign on the foreheads of people who mourn and sigh...,” said the Lord. (“Give a sign on the faces of men who groan and are sick”) (Ezek. 9:4). In fact, although they could not stop other people’s iniquities, they did for their part everything that was in their power - they cried, they sobbed about what was being done, and thus acquired the right to perfect security. Weep, my lords, constantly about what is happening now, and constantly pray to the man-loving God to put an end to this general collapse of the universe. You know, of course, you positively know, that confusion and disorder have spread everywhere; and therefore it is necessary to pray to God not only for Constantinople, but for the entire universe, since the evil that began there, spreading in a crushing torrent, harms churches throughout the earth. What you asked of us, that is what we also ask of you: as long as we are separated from you physically (spiritually we are always united with your nobility and with your home), do not make it a point to constantly write to us and delight us with news about your health. You know how pleased we will be. You ordered us, as I learned about this after leaving, to take shelter on your estate; but an order followed to send us no longer to Sebaste, but to Kukuz - the most deserted place in Armenia and, moreover, extremely dangerous due to the raids of the Isaurians. In any case, we express gratitude to your nobility for the honor that you showed us, and the concern for our peace of mind even far from you, for which you prepared a room for us and asked to leave us in your house. If you have friends in Kukuza, then please write to them about us. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” Before arriving in Kukuz, in 404. You might be interested in: