Letter 359

To Euthymius the Deacon. Others take delight in vineyards and olive groves, in cattle, in a multitude of household servants, in conspicuous houses, in gold and silver, and in the other earthly possessions. But you, all-praiseworthy servant of Christ, beholding the invisible King unceasingly with the eyes of the intellect, and enjoying the delight of him, and bound to him by an unbroken longing, nourishing your soul on the hope set upon him, and exulting in love that does not fade, persevering in continual prayers and in the singing of psalms, and taking the spiritual words to your heart, the things received from the prophets: "I remembered God, and was made glad." And: "I will rejoice exceedingly in my Lord; I have not grown weary in following after my Lord." "I will exult, therefore, O Master who loves mankind, in your words, like one who has found riches and much spoil." Therefore the Savior and Creator of all things answers you in return, that no one will be able to plunder your joy and your exultation. For Mary chose the good portion, the ever-flourishing portion of the divine teachings. Since, then, my words make their dwelling in you, with remembrance I will remember you in my kingdom. And: "Fear not at all, for I am with you always," delivering you from every affliction, and snatching you out of the hand of those who plot against you.

Ἕτεροι μὲν ἐπ᾽ ἀμπελῶσι, καὶ ἐλαιῶσι, καὶ κτήνεσι, καὶ πλήθει τῶν οἰκετῶν, καὶ οἴκοις περιφανέσι, χρυσῷ τε, καὶ ἀργύρῳ, καὶ τοῖς ἄλλοις γηΐνοις εὐφραίνονται κτήμασι. Σὺ δέ γε, πανεύφημε δοῦλε Χριστοῦ, τὸν ἀόρατον Βασιλέα τοῖς νοητοῖς ἀδιαλείπτως θεώμενος ὀφθαλμοῖς, καὶ τῆς ἐκείνου τερπνότητος ἀπολαύων, καὶ τῷ ἀδιασπάστῳ πόθῳ συνδεδεμένος αὐτῷ, ἐλπίδι τε τῇ εἰς αὐτὸν τρεφόμενος τὴν ψυχήν, καὶ ἐναβρυνόμενος τῇ ἀμαράντῳ ἀγάπῃ, εὐχαῖς τε συνεχέσι, καὶ ψαλμῳδίαις προσκαρτερῶν, καὶ ἐνστερνιζόμενος τοὺς πνευματικοὺς λόγους, τὰ τῶν προφητῶν ἐκδοχάς· «Ἐμνήσθην τοῦ Θεοῦ, καὶ ἐφράνθην.» Καί· «Ὑπερευφρανθήσομαι ἐν τῷ Κυρίῳ μου, οὐκ ἐκόπιασα κατακολουθῶν ὀπίσω Κυρίου μου.» «Ἀγαλλιάσομαι τοίνυν, ὦ φιλάνθρωπε Δέσποτα, ἐπὶ τοῖς λόγοις σου, καθάπερ ὁ εὑρηκὼς πλοῦτον, καὶ σκῦλα πολλά. Διὸ ἀνταποκρίνεται σοὶ ὁ Σωτήρ, καὶ Κτίστης τῶν ἁπάντων, ὅτιπερ τὴν χαράν σου, καὶ τὴν ἀγαλλίασιν οὐδεὶς ἀποσυλήσει δυνήσεται. Μαρία γὰρ τὴν ἀγαθὴν ἐξελέξατο, τῶν θείων μαθημάτων ἀειθαλῆ μερίδα. Ἐπειδὴ οὖν οἱ λόγοι μου ἐν σοὶ κατασκηνοῦσι, μνεία μνησθήσομαί σου ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ μου. Καί· «Μηδαμῶς φοβηθῇς, μετὰ σοῦ γὰρ εἶμαι διὰ παντός,» ἐκ πάσης σε λυτρούμενος θλίψεως, καὶ ἐξαρπάζων ἐκ χειρὸς τῶν ἐπιβουλευόντων.