Letter 69: You care for Pentapolis — you truly do.

To Theophilus. You care for Pentapolis — you truly do. You will therefore read the official correspondence. But beyond what those letters contain, the messenger will tell you that the disasters that have already occurred are greater and more numerous than those the letters threaten. He was sent to request military reinforcements, but the enemy did not even wait for his departure. They have already spread across the entire country. Everything is lost. Everything is destroyed. At the moment I write this, nothing remains but the cities themselves — and what may happen tomorrow, God alone knows. Your prayers are needed: the kind of prayers that have power to move the Almighty. As for me, I have prayed many times, in private and in public, and always in vain. Why do I say "in vain"? Everything is turning against me. Our sins are too many and too heavy.

Letter 69: The Horrors of War [1] To Theophilus You care even for Pentapolis , you do indeed. You will, therefore, read the official correspondence, but further than this you will learn from the words of the messenger that greater and more numerous misfortunes have already come to pass than those which the letters menace. [2] For he was sent to solicit military co-operation from thence, but the enemy did not wait even for his departure, and they have already spread  en masse over the country. All is lost, all is destroyed. At the moment of writing, there is nothing left but the cities, nothing. What may befall tomorrow, God alone knows. [3] In the face of this calamity your prayers are needed; I speak of such prayers as wont to stir the Almighty. As to myself, many times in private and in public have I already prayed in vain. Why do I say "in vain"? Everything is turning against me, so many and so heavy are our sins.