Letter 18: To the brothers in the monastery of Beth Abhe on the estabslishment of a director

Letter 18: To the brothers in the monastery of Beth Abhe on the establishment of a director. To the God-loving ones, my beloved and dear brothers. Yeshmuʿel and Yohannan and Qamishoʿ and Bar Dukha and Dadiyail and Bar Zsurya and Bar Shuʿ and Yeshuʿzekha and Afimira and all the holy brothers in the monastery of Beth Abhe, by name and equally. Yeshuʿyahb, your brother in the Lord, greets. I was able, O brothers and men, that through the diligence of your love, the praiseworthy repose of that holy head, who from this life in the flesh to the life of the world to come, was revealed. And if I do not fully consent, I am inwardly accustomed and greatly subjugated to the love of upbringing, so that I might not be hindered by such a simple matter. Not because of order and name, but because of brotherhood and customary upbringing. On account of these, therefore, that you are lacking in this matter, by the law of divine love, O God-loving brothers, the Lord will be a forgiver and a merciful one. And He will strengthen your hearts in the love of truth at all times. Concerning that which I heard, that until now the administration of the headship is in a state of confusion for you, and that which in the eternal covenant was entrusted to you by your holy father in a living word, you have not yet firmly established, but rather, from now on, other matters of will are being revealed among you, I was thinking that I myself would come to you, and we would take counsel together, so that the inner hand might be a helper. And it would be for the holy and praiseworthy name of God. And since I was not able to do this, because I set out from now on the journey to the Patriarch, it seemed to me that in the moment of haste, I was compelled to you by the law of spiritual love. Remember therefore, O pious men, me as a partner of your love and a son of the upbringing of your customs. For I am compelled by the memory of these things, as I think.

because, as is fitting for the sick, the works of brotherhood are necessary. Not for the name of the episcopate or the priesthood that is prepared for me. Not for the laying on of hands of the priesthood with the mixture of my inner thoughts. Not for the Jesus of the place, the Jesus of the pasture, to beget. Not for those within who are helpers and for the glory of God to increase, has anyone among you more than I ever thought or spoke or acted. In the poverty of my thought, I say that in everything that anyone among you excels in the things of order and the honor that is due to you, I also excel. And not in equal measure, but with a more excellent hand. And as for what is considered in this work now, which is more than all that is worthy of the idle: you have been occupied with the faithfulness of the feast, that you called me to your brother for the thought of the inner at the time of the feast. For on my side it was, also the living testament that was made from the blessed mouth of our holy father in the true word a few days before his passing, concerning what was necessary for him to stand in the place of his service. He who, as you have heard, even on the day of his passing commanded concerning him. For when he was about to depart, lest after his repose a dispute arise concerning him for the sake of anointing, as if to prevent him from saying anything that he thought to do, he first delivered to me privately the word concerning this. For he did not think that without me you would be occupied with doing anything after his passing, as you have now omitted from what is required. And while I was holding in my mind the word of our blessed father that he spoke at the time of his sacrifice, the grace of God, which guides her in a Christian manner on the path of life, gave to him the spirit of thought that he also spoke to you on the day of his sacrifice. And as from his side you are in peace and in the fold, and from now on he is for you the head and the director.

of the one who has designated and established a head for you, your community shall be wholly subject to that head and director. Let no one therefore suppose that apart from the secret sign of prayer he may dismiss and neglect him. But from the moment he sets his mind upon him and designates him by word, he is bound by the hands of God to the discipline of his humility. And if anyone, by his own zeal, of his own will, estranges himself from this order, it is a transgression. If not, the help of the righteous one's prayer is lost. But if even something contrary to the door is done, then from the distinguished ones: it is not a small and trivial matter, apart from the grievous pain of the soul, which without success strikes him. That which is fitting for pure requests of the righteous father, and for the severe discipline of the holy head, and for the beloved brothers and the sons of my own upbringing, that nothing of such things be lacking or be heard in their house. But those things that are good and near to life, and that give help to the interior, and glory to the name of the Lord, let them be done. Or rather, beloved brothers, take care for the sake of the God-loving brother, the priest Mar Yohannan, that one who, by the test of his excellence, at seventy years, lacking a little, has completed thirty of them in the solitude without distraction, and the remainder before these in the steadfast conduct of the school. And for you, moreover, he is a father and an elder to be honored among you, in partnership with your blessed father, receiving and being discipled. And now, over all these things, he has been crowned by the command of your father with the crown of authority. For this one, then, as a sign from God, has been separated by an excellent election, receive him in the Lord with all joy, as pure requests of God, and by your hands and your lips. Moreover, in your hearts, confirm for him the administration of authority with the help of God. And the God of peace will be with you.

and strengthen you in the monastery of your dwelling, so that all the days of your life may not be shaken. And in your interior, may Christ dwell through faith, and in your hearts through love, while your root and foundation are firm, that you may be able to reach with all the saints the hope of eternal life, through the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ, to whom is glory for everlasting ages. But because the enemy of good things is accustomed to sow the seeds of his deceit in the fields of the righteous, it is fitting that the matter be cut short: lest also in your house, as in a reckless band, opposition to order should arise. Therefore, take care, O brothers, that if anyone among you should anticipate with such foolishness, and should reject your equality without submission to the God-loving head—that one who was separated for you by the Lord—you, who are spiritual, should subdue him with a humble spirit, until he is freed from the snare of the adversary by which he was caught for his will. And you shall be completely of one spirit for the work of righteousness, just as you were called by one hope that called you, for the glory of God himself and for your own hearts. As for me, I am in many difficulties that often hinder me from writing about such matters. And moreover, I am not remaining here, so that I may oppose each one of those who are contrary to your house, as I am constrained by my strength, which is needed for helpful arrangements. For this reason, I am compelled to write you a letter of brief words, not as a head and ruler, but as a presbyter brother. If anyone should rebel against the God-loving head—that one who was separated for you by the command of the Lord through the will of God—let him not remain in the monastery of the fathers, lest he disturb his brothers and be deprived of his standing.

but in tranquility and peace, with a calm that is without anger, to the place where profit and benefit are found. And if it happens, due to a deficiency of oversight, that someone is found to speak against this word on my account—that is, what is this that he commanded you to do?—he will learn afterwards from the outcomes of the actions and be satisfied. If he fears God, he will also be concerned even about a small repentance. For the sake of finding the confidence of those who seek peace, this is after peace and after the request of each one. And these few lines that I have written to you are sufficient for you to know the intention of my thought in the desire for your good. And this entire humble effort of mine is that you may be well and speak well, and that God may be praised through you, and that I too may be held. Concerning this matter, what happened I made known in the letter to our father, the God-loving Mar Metropolites. And again, I am about to make it known to our father, Mar Patriarch, in a living word, if God helps me. And you, therefore, when you learn of these things, strive together to foster unity of spirit in the bond of peace. And may you be enriched by the gift of the Lord, that He in His grace may perfect you in every good work, so that you may do His will at all times. And pray also for me, that the remainder of my days in life may be spent in a way that pleases the will of God.