Letter 887

To Sophronius. You say that unbelief toward God arises in you, even against your will, instilled in you by the devil. But do not cower before the unbelief that he wickedly plants in the heart; rather, boldly expose him to Christ the great physician, crying out: "I believe, Master; help my unbelief" [cf. Mark 9:24]. And so you will obtain healing.

Λέγεις καὶ μὴ θέλοντί σοι ἀπιστίαν πρὸς Θεὸν ἐγ- γίνεσθαι σοὶ ὑπὸ τοῦ διαβόλου, ἀλλὰ καὶ μὴ πτήξῃς τὴν κακῶς ὑποτιθέμενον τῇ καρδίᾳ τὴν ἀπιστίαν, ἀνάδειξον δὲ αὐτὸν θαρσαλέως Χριστῷ τῷ μεγάλῳ ἰατρῷ, κράζων· « Πιστεύω, Δέσποτα, βοήθησον τῇ ἐμῇ ἀπιστίᾳ· » καὶ τεύξῃ θεραπείας.