Letter 25: To the Catholicos (II)

Letter 25: To the Holy Father, the merciful Catholicos Patriarch, Mar Ishoʿyahb, in peace. The letter has reached its destination, as is evident, a cup of affliction. O father, beloved of God, it has been remembered in the exigencies of the times of persecution, the opportunity for salvation. And it has also been placed in the house of refuge, as is written. And there is no demand for the oppressed. For that many-colored worm, which with the body of the inner man gave birth to an evil deed in the time of its youth, has grown strong evilly. It has conquered the multitude of the simple from the beginning, as is evident to see. And now it has crept shamefully to the head of the inner man. That one, in whom also is the being of the child, that same one, whose church is called by God, is established by the command of God, that the uprightness of its multitude might be completed in the destruction of its feast. And already after everything has ended, that one also ends, and the world rests from its sorrow. I know that you are still in these things, as is the hope, O father. And if there is an opportunity, as also you pray, that you are, and if it has been preserved for your fatherhood by the grace of God, the uprightness of peace in spirit and in body, if there is any messenger who comes, command him to write to me. So that from the burdens of grief, even in the remainder of my lowliness, I might have something to comfort me. For these things which are established are a little in the help of God, thus as at the time. However, I am still struggling against the time. And above the sorrows of the time, the guides of my weakness are occupied with the vanity of the grace of God. And it is a wonder if, after the end of what is fitting for my sins, I might be saved from these things. For concerning this, I have no dispute. Therefore, let your fatherhood pray, I beseech: that I might be worthy of mercy and find the grace of repentance which is sufficient for the healing of my pains, before it reaches incurability, which is prepared for many. And may the God of peace find for your fatherhood a dwelling of peace at all times, with all that is pleasing to his will, all the days of your life.