80. К пресвитерам монахам: Аффонию, Феодоту, Херею и ко всему вашему братству 52

A personal meeting with loved ones, of course, is most capable of comforting those who love. So Blessed Paul, who constantly and continuously carried in his heart the entire body of believers and did not forget about them for a single moment, neither in prison, nor in chains, nor even in the midst of pronouncing justificatory speeches, as he expressed it when he said: “I have you in my heart in my bonds, in the defense and establishment of the gospel” (“for I have you in my hearts, in my bonds and in the answer and announcement of the gospel” ) (Phil.1:7), with all this, with the liveliest zeal he desired a personal meeting with them, as can be seen from his words: “But we, brethren, being separated from you for a short time in face, and not in heart, we tried with great desire to see your face.” 1 Thess. 2:17). We feel the same now, fervently desiring a personal meeting with both those who have seen us and those who have never seen us. But since this is not yet possible (because the distance of the distance is an obstacle, and the time of year, and the danger from robbers, and besides all this, it is inconvenient for us to leave our residence and undertake long journeys), then, resorting to another means, we give you a due greeting in writing, first of all, we beg you and ask you, as the greatest mercy, to constantly remember us in your prayers and with all diligence, with tears, to to the humane God with a prayer for our humility. You, who have escaped the whirlpool of everyday affairs, have freed yourself from the soot and noise of the disasters raging in the world and have directed your souls, as if into a kind of quiet and storm-proof haven, into the shelter of this kind wisdom; You, who turned the nights into days with sacred all-night vigils and in the middle of the night see more clearly than others see during the day - you are the most likely to help us - with your prayers. We can take advantage of them, despite our such a long distance from you, and there is no place so far away, as well as time, that could prevent this kind of help from reaching us. Reach out and help us with your prayers. This is predominantly the highest type of love. And besides your prayers, do not bother to inform us about your health, so that from here we can derive the greatest reinforcement for ourselves, enjoying your love and imagining you as if personally present with us, since sincere love gives us the ability to form a corresponding concept even about the appearance of never-before-seen beloved faces. Even if we had to live in an even more difficult desert than now, we will draw the greatest consolation from here. The paragraphs in the text were arranged by us. – Editorial staff of “ABC of Faith” You might be interested in: