Letter 127: The patriarch Abraham won his victory in old age.

To Jobius, Presbyter and Archimandrite, The patriarch Abraham won his victory in old age. The great Moses was already an old man when, so long as he stretched out his hands in prayer, he defeated Amalek [Exodus 17:11-12]. The divine Samuel was old when he routed the enemy [1 Samuel 7:10-11]. Your venerable old age follows in their footsteps. In our wars for true religion you are playing the hero, championing the Gospel doctrines and putting younger men to shame by the vigor of your spirit. I rejoice to hear it and long to embrace your honored gray head. But I cannot: your years keep you at home, and the imperial decree keeps me confined here. So I cheat my longing with this letter and send you this most affectionate embrace. I ask you in your prayers to help the churches now engulfed by the storm, and to win divine support for me -- assailed as I am for the sake of the Gospel and in desperate need of help from above.

Letter 127