Letter CLVIII.781    Placed in 373.

To Antiochus.

My sins have prevented me from carrying out the wish to meet you, which I have long entertained.  Let me apologise by letter for my absence, and beseech you not to omit to remember me in your prayers, that, if I live, I may be permitted to enjoy your society.  If not, by the aid of your prayers may I quit this world with good hope.  I commend to you our brother the camel-master.

ΑΝΤΙΟΧῼ

[1] Ἐπειδὴ ἀντέστησάν μοι αἱ ἁμαρτίαι μου πρὸς τὸ μὴ δυνηθῆναί με ἣν πάλαι ἔσχον ἐπιθυμίαν τῆς ὑμετέρας συντυχίας ἀγαγεῖν εἰς πέρας, γράμμασι γοῦν παραμυθοῦμαι τὴν ἀπόλειψιν: καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν ὑμᾶς μὴ διαλιπεῖν μεμνημένους ἡμῶν ἐν ταῖς προσευχαῖς, ἵνα, ἐὰν ζῶμεν, καταξιωθῶμεν ὑμῶν ἀπολαῦσαι, εἰ δὲ μή, διὰ τῆς βοηθείας τῶν προσευχῶν ὑμῶν μετὰ ἀγαθῆς ἐλπίδος μεταναστῶμεν ἀπὸ τοῦ κόσμου τούτου. Τὸν δὲ ἀδελφὸν τὸν ἐπὶ τὰς καμήλους παρατιθέμεθα ὑμῖν.