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to suffer? And what temple did I save, having defiled the temple of God, yourself? And what brothers did I guard, who were corrupted by your destructive communion, even in foods? A scandal to the world, an example of denial, an incitement to destruction, flesh but not spirit, a darkener but not a luminary. These things the truth itself cries out to those who are so impious; whom, if they do not repent of speaking such godless things, are not to be considered Christians. Have you heard the judgment, father? You have sinned, having turned back and broken your promise. But the good God will forgive you. Remain now therefore in the monastery, since matters have turned out otherwise, holding to confessing to every man "4I have sinned"5, so that God might be appeased and lead you up to the former light, when the lamp of your conduct was shining, when you were revered even by emperors, when not even a chance oversight was contemptible to you. And for the future, as the Lord shall manage the affairs of the church, so shall we also speak, so shall we also die with you for love's sake in love. Pray for us sinners and do not think that we write arrogantly (for we know ourselves to be an abomination among holy men), but for the sake of truth and your salvation; and if also that of others, let him who has suffered confess his thanks to God. 433 {1Catechetical. To the beloved spiritual children and brothers Laurentius, Symeon, Dionysius, Poemen, Litoius and the rest scattered here and there, Theodore, a sinner and monk, in the Lord, greeting}1 It is possible to rejoice always for those living according to God, even if they should fall into things contrary to joy, since there is one work of true gladness, the hope in God and for His sake and through Him to live and to move and to do anything else whatsoever. And that you are so, the facts themselves bear witness; for on account of what else is your scattering and labor and turmoil, if not for our good God himself? Although the persecution has now ceased by His providence at the proclamation of the good sovereign, and a door of free speech has been opened to the persecuted, who are enjoying a moderate release and peace throughout every city and country. For which things we are debtors, O fathers, to offer thanks to the Lord and prayers for both a richer peace and the strengthening of our divinely appointed emperors. This, then, is the first point. Second, that both we and you may not receive this release as a dissolution of virtue, but wherever each of us is, to be of the same mind, to walk by the same rule, giving no offense in anything, so that the ministry may not be blamed, but in everything commending ourselves, as it is written, as ministers of God in patience, in afflictions, in distresses, in other things to which the life of the present days is subject; for thus we would keep what has been accomplished inalienable, and we would manage with ease what now befalls us, and we would meet what is to come in a manner worthy of God. We are here, dwelling outside the city with the knowledge of the imperial power, seeing and being seen by our brothers and fathers who visit; and freedom has been commanded by the good emperor. For the future, as the Lord may grant success or the sovereign power may command us to remain here or to move and withdraw elsewhere, so shall we be borne along. Only hold fast to your work and to praying for our humility, so that we may be without offense to these and to those and to the church of God. The exceedingly good God was pleased in many ways for the brothers who were previously broken off against their will to be united with us with the appropriate reason. And we, the unworthy, rejoiced with great joy, because what we did not hope for, we have seen with our eyes; and the scattered members have been healed together, and we celebrate a feast to the Lord in the coming together of each one, and we give thanks to the Lord and express our gratitude to the rulers, because, if nothing else, the gift to us is great, and again, because we would not have otherwise fittingly had the agreement, had we not been thus released from our prisons and seated in so great a seat. All things have worked together for our good and will work together, I know well that,