Letter 24: To the Catholicos (I)

When to the holy in all things, my revered father, Mar Ishoʿyahb, Catholicos and Patriarch. Bless. Ishoʿyahb, by the grace of the Lord, greetings. May the fear of God that is in you, or my holy father, be strengthened. For that good fear which, with the burden of sacrifice, was being driven away from the forest and the stars, as if by the idleness of your fatherhood in this sacrifice, was purified and set free; and by the light of the heavenly ones, it began to dawn. And to the angels of God, that joy which is prepared in the Gospel. For the one who until now was being bent down with the forms of error towards the depth of insignificance, and could not look well towards the height of the heavenly ones, because of the persuasion of thanksgiving—now, by the help of God through the right hand of your fatherhood, he has been released from bonds such as these. And he has shown himself free from the servitude of destruction. And when, then, he goes forth simply, this great house, which until now was narrow for him, and with a new and fitting soul and a body prepared for anointing, he offers good thanks before many witnesses. And he stirs up the zeal of the God-fearers to the glory of the Most High. And also, by the same token, his holy church of Christ, which, from the sinful beginning of that one who came, was being served, she spread out her hands and received him. And the hidden, sanctifying power of all, through the participation of the life-giving mysteries, she gave to him. By this, the sickness of the remoteness of hope and the pain of the schism are removed, and with the beginning that is set, they are pressed together. And for the glory of God and victorious thanksgiving, there was a proclamation. And immediately after these things: to that region which is now near, he hastened to go. For there, whatever God the merciful wills to reveal through his grace before him, there was a receiver. Let your fatherhood, therefore, rejoice in these things that are. And pray earnestly that the completion of all these things may be accomplished in the glory of God.

And he who fears God is merciful; he who attains by his hands every grace is abundant in his fears. May the labor of your fatherhood be completed in every good deed for the glory of the holy name at all times. Amen. Completed.