Letter 669

To Marinus the Presbyter. You make demands, and through your unbelief you turn aside the fruit of the prayers of those who fear God, whether clergy or monks; yet you do not consider that God is seeking you and demanding the fruit of his own commandments. You wish to be heard quickly when you pray, and yet you disobey the commandments of God. If you will obey, you will be heard. Receive God as he gives his law, and he receives you as you pray. But if you disobey, despising the Master of all things, you cause even the righteous, who pray on your behalf, to go unheard.

Σὺ μὲν ἀπαιτεῖς, καὶ ἐξινεύεις διὰ τῆς ἀπιστίας τὸν καρπὸν τῶν προσευχῶν τῶν φοβουμένων τὸν Θεὸν, εἴτε κληρικῶν, εἴτε μοναχῶν, τὸν δὲ Θεὸν οὐκ ἐννοεῖς ζητεῖν σε, καὶ ἀπαιτεῖν τὸν καρπὸν τῶν ἑαυτοῦ προσταγμάτων. Σὺ θέλεις ταχὺ ἐπακούσεσθαι προσευχόμενος, καὶ παρακούεις τῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἐντολῶν. Ἐὰν ἐπακούσῃς, εἰσακουσθήσῃ. Δέξαι τὸν Θεὸν. νομοθετοῦντα, καὶ δέχεταί σε εὐχόμενος. Ἐὰν δὲ παρακούσῃς, τοῦ Δεσπότου τῶν ὅλων καταφρονῶν, ποιεῖς καὶ τοὺς δικαίους παρακουσθῆναι ὑπὲρ σοῦ εὐχομένους.