Letter 139

139. To the Alexandrians

The report of the persecutions which have taken place at Alexandria and throughout the rest of Egypt reached us long ago, and disposed our souls as was to be expected. For we reflected on the artfulness of the diabolical warfare: which, when it saw the Church multiplied and rather flourishing under the persecutions of the enemy, changed its counsel, and no longer wars openly, but lays hidden snares for us, cloaking its plot under the name which they bear, so that we may both suffer the same things as our fathers, and yet not seem to suffer for Christ's sake, because our persecutors too bear the name of Christians. Reflecting on these things, we sat a long while astounded at the tidings of what had happened. For indeed both our ears rang when we learned of the shameless and misanthropic heresy of those who persecuted you, that they reverenced neither age, nor labours in the service of the state, nor the love of the people; but tortured their bodies, dishonoured them, delivered them to exile, and plundered the possessions of those they could find, neither shamed by the condemnation of men, nor foreseeing the dreadful requital of the just Judge. These things astounded us and nearly drove us out of our senses. And along with these reflections there entered also this thought: has the Lord perhaps utterly forsaken his own churches? Is this perhaps the last hour, and is the apostasy through these things gaining its entrance, so that henceforth the lawless one, the son of perdition, the adversary, may be revealed, who exalts himself above all that is called God or is worshipped?

But whether the trial is for a season, bear it, you noble combatants of Christ; or whether all things are being delivered up to utter destruction, let us not lose heart at what is present, but await the revelation from heaven and the appearing of our great God and Saviour Jesus Christ. For if all creation shall be dissolved and the fashion of this world shall be changed, what wonder if we too, being a part of creation, should suffer the common sufferings and be delivered to afflictions which the just Judge brings upon us according to the measure of our strength, not allowing us to be tried beyond what we are able, but giving with the trial also the way out, that we may be able to endure?

The crowns of the martyrs await you, brethren; the choirs of the confessors are ready to stretch out their hands to you and to receive you into their own number. Remember the saints of old, that no one in luxury or in flattery was counted worthy of the crowns of endurance, but all, tried in the fire through great afflictions, displayed their proof. For some had trial of mockings and scourgings, others were sawn asunder, others died by slaughter of the sword. These are the glories of the saints. Blessed is he who is counted worthy of the sufferings for Christ; but more blessed is he who has abounded in the sufferings, because the sufferings of the present time are not worthy to be compared with the glory which is to be revealed in us.

If, then, it were possible for me to come in person, I should have preferred nothing to meeting you, that I might both see the athletes of Christ, and embrace them, and share in the prayers and the spiritual gifts among you. But since my body has now been consumed by chronic disease, so that I cannot even come down from my bed, and those lying in wait for us are many, like ravening wolves, watching for a time when they may be able to plunder the sheep of Christ, I have of necessity resorted to a visitation by letter, begging first of all that you would make earnest supplications for me, that I may be counted worthy to serve the Lord, at least for the days or hours that remain, according to the gospel of the kingdom; and then also that you would pardon my absence and this tardiness of my letters. For we have scarcely been able to procure a man able to minister to our desire; I mean our son Eugenius the monk, through whom I beg you to pray for us and for the whole Church, and to write back to us about your affairs, so that, learning of them, we may be more cheerfully disposed.