Letter 52: To Mar Gabriel the Metropolitan and Hormizd the bishop

To my good and honored father, Mar Gabriel, the Metropolitan Bishop, and to my beloved and dear brother, Mar Hormizd, the Bishop. And to the esteemed bishop of Beth Lapat, who wrote to me with you, that one who is not yet your brother, the honored Mar Maramah. Ishoʿyahb, your brother in the Lord, sends greetings. When I first encountered the external signature of your letter which you wrote to me, or the blessed men, I was astonished and confirmed in what had happened. And because of the haste of the change, I was not even able to attend to the matter. And when I opened and read the address to me, I was especially moved to wonder. And I was first struck by this: how is it that the holy man who, a short while ago, was a peacemaker on my behalf, whom I sent before the Father of the Interior, now appears at the head of the list of my opponents at the beginning of the letter? And this, while the former order is held with you. That one, however, is among the men who are appeased by my anger and without my being disciplined, and in the rest of the idle customs of my simplicity. But you should know: upon what did your wondrous choice rely, that you immediately and before the encounter of peace, placed that man, whose very name of his work you did not take, at the head of the order of the power of the Lord, and sent him beyond the boundaries of the region, as if he were the one called the Toparch of the Orklidian? And thirdly, with these things: that from a certain rough cord, that humble man was bound, so that without hesitation he might show forth such a spectacle, in faithful obedience. In these things, I was greatly astonished, O holy fathers, but I was also cut off and shamed. And I did not become arrogant at all. And I was prevented from praising. However, if you say from my side that it was a notification, and you confirmed my trust to complete what I did not write to you concerning that one who is thus your trust.

I had, for I still have, many things—both of friendship and of non-friendship—to show you, in that which I have said more than is fitting. For it is also within to be known: that the custom and the middle of Assyria and these peoples near to the excellence of beloved conduct, and the pure habit that is praised in the divine discourses of teachings, and the humble order that is honored in the lowliness of discipline, and the tranquility, gentleness, and humility of the distinguished orders. And these graces to the Lord who is able to do this which has been said. As for the other, and to the faces of the young and the middle of the pragmatic class—concerning how these and the middle of the pragmatic class—as if to say: the man… and … and all those who are like these. And with these, as also your letter: this man who has been mentioned is quite lacking. Apart from with no repetition, or rather with no encounter that is like these. However, unless someone says that this is sufficient for the work of God, that is the work of God. I say: this and that. But the times are narrow, and concerning these of the time. And I know also concerning this good news in the faithful thought: everything is able to happen for that which is faithful, as it is written. Because of this, that the Lord becomes the work. But you, or many with obedience, are justified—not that you would be deprived a little without your being pacified, your caution; and thus alone until I come, and where you with before you arrive are justified. But also that you be reconciled on my behalf, I have sent your letter, and the coming of your father to you, your caution. And this concerning that I, with the bonds as I said, that without possibility I was prevented from coming, as also you know. You, however, and the commands, you erred, and not only did you not bring my father to me, but also you, as I think, distanced yourself from me and forever.

Not so, O blessed one, not so. But see to it that you go forth with a full sail, and take care that you do not delay in your hope. And do not let yourself be overcome by the bitterness of what has happened. And do not, with these my own heads, occupy yourself with pettiness of soul. But be roused by the hope of the Lord’s help, and direct the shoulder of your obedience to his good yoke, that of Christ. And now that you have been moved and have taken it up, do not be distressed by its burden, as you earlier read. For it is good and light, and it loves to be completed by the weak. And if the beauty of nature is able, it adorns its service with abundance. It is a good measure that, when you are tested by both, you go forth to meet it, and the gifts of his church work in you as he wishes. For by his honor and the power of the name, it is fitting to profit you in the world, and by the salt of your goodness the churches of the Lord are seasoned. And the whole work of your ministry becomes for the glory of the interior. And the soul of your father is comforted in you, and thanks are given on your face to the Lord. And you, O blessed ones, beloved of my soul, it is not on account of my coming that I have begun with you or that I have persuaded you: you were persuaded and began, so that until now it was possible to oppose my will. Now, however, the opposition has diminished a little. But the necessities concerning my coming cannot be told in many words. And especially since I have also heard that your blessed father has prepared his face for my face. If, then, it is so, I am eager to see you with him. But if it should happen otherwise, or if by the necessities of affairs there beyond you are occupied with delay, write to me as is fitting, so that when I find an opportunity for coming, I may quickly see you. And pray for me that I may be worthy of the mercies of God and see you in peace. Thus far from the episcopate. From here on, from the metropolitanate.