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as has also been set forth in the preceding discourse; that is, the steward considering from his very life the healing of the one being treated, so as to shorten the time limit of the penance defined by the canons. But sacrilege, in the ancient Scripture, was not even considered more tolerable than the condemnation for murder. For similarly, both the one caught for murder and the one who stole things dedicated to God, underwent the punishment by stoning. But in ecclesiastical custom, I do not know how some condescension and accommodation occurred, so that the purification for such a disease was considered more tolerable; for in a shorter time than for adultery, the tradition of the Fathers ordained the penance for such persons.

Everywhere and in the case of a transgression, it is fitting to observe this above all, what the disposition of the one being treated is, not to think that time is sufficient for healing; for what healing could come from time? but the choice of the one healing himself through repentance. These things to you, O man of God, having composed them with much haste from what was at hand, because it was necessary to obey the commands of the brethren, we have sent with haste. But you, do not cease offering the customary prayers to God on our behalf. For you owe, as a grateful son, to the one who begot you according to God, the care of his old age through prayers, according to the commandment that bids to honor parents, that it may be well with you, and you may live long on the earth. And it is clear that as a priestly token, you will receive the letter, and will not dishonor the gift, even if it be something less than your own genius.

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καθὼς καὶ ἐν τῷ προλαβόντι διῄρηται λόγῳ· ἐπισκοποῦντος δηλαδὴ τοῦ οἰκονόμου ἐξ αὐτοῦ τοῦ βίου τὴν ἰατρείαν τοῦ θεραπευομένου, ὥστε συντεμεῖν τὴν ἐκ τῶν κανόνων ὁρισθεῖσαν τοῦ ἐπιτιμίου προθεσμίαν. Ἡ δὲ ἱεροσυλία, παρὰ μὲν τῇ ἀρχαίᾳ Γραφῇ, οὐδὲ ἐνομίσθη τῆς φονικῆς κατακρίσεως ἀνεκτοτέρα. Ὁμοίως γὰρ ὅ τε ἐπὶ φόνῳ ἁλοὺς, καὶ ὁ τὰ ἀνατε-θέντα τῷ Θεῷ ὑφελόμενος, τὴν διὰ τῶν λίθων τιμω- ρίαν ὑπέσχον. Ἐπὶ δὲ τῆς ἐκκλησιαστικῆς συνηθείας οὐκ οἶδα πῶς συγκατάβασίς τις ἐγένετο, καὶ συμπερι-φορὰ, ὥστε ἀνεκτότερον νομισθῆναι τὸ τῆς τοιαύτης νόσου καθάρσιον· ἐν ἐλάττονι γὰρ χρόνῳ παρὰ τὴν μοιχείαν, τοῖς τοιούτοις τὸ ἐπιτίμιον διετάξατο ἡ τῶν Πατέρων παράδοσις.

Πανταχοῦ καὶ ἐν πλημμελήματος εἴδει τοῦτο καθορᾷν προσήκει πρὸ πάντων, οἵα ἐστὶ τοῦ θεραπευομένου διάθεσις, μὴ τὸν χρόνον οἴεσθαι πρὸς θεραπείαν ἀρκεῖν· τίς γὰρ ἂν ἐκ τοῦ χρόνου ἴασις γέ-νοιτο; ἀλλὰ τὴν προαίρεσιν τοῦ ἑαυτὸν δι' ἐπιστροφῆς ἰατρεύοντος. Ταῦτά σοι, ὦ ἄνθρωπε τοῦ Θεοῦ, κατὰ πολλὴν σπουδὴν ἐκ τῶν προχείρων συνθέντες, διὰ τὸ δεῖν τοῖς τῶν ἀδελφῶν ἐπιτάγμασι πείθεσθαι, κατὰ σπουδὴν ἀπεστείλαμεν. Σὺ δὲ τὰς συνήθεις ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν εὐχὰς τῷ Θεῷ προσάγων μὴ διαλείπῃς. Χρεωστεῖς γὰρ ὡς εὐγνώμων υἱὸς, τῷ κατὰ Θεόν σε γεννήσαντι, τὴν διὰ τῶν προσευχῶν γηροκομίαν, κατὰ τὴν ἐντολὴν τὴν κελεύουσαν τιμᾷν τοὺς γονέας, ἵνα εὖ σοι γένηται, καὶ ἔσῃ μακροχρόνιος ἐπὶ τῆς γῆς. ∆ῆλον δὲ ὅτι ὡς σύμβολον ἱερατικὸν, δέξῃ τὸ γράμμα, καὶ οὐκ ἀτιμάσεις τὸ ξένιον, κἄν τι μικρότερον τῆς σῆς μεγαλοφυΐας εἴη.