(Again he complains that Glycerius and the virgins have not yet returned. (Written about 374 A.D.))

And before I wrote to you about Glyceria and the virgins. But they have not yet returned, and they are still delaying, I do not know why or how. For I will not accuse thee of this, as if thou didst do this to our prejudice, or to be grieved with me in some way, or to please others. Therefore, let them come, fearing nothing. Be your guarantor in this. For it is painful for the members that have been cut off, although they are justly cut off. And if they persist, then the burden will fall on others, and I wash my hands of it.

166 (173). To Theodora, a nun

(For the fact that he rarely writes, he excuses himself for the uncertainty of the correct delivery of letters; he depicts the difficulty of attaining perfection in life, which Theodora devoted herself to according to her vow. (Written about 374 A.D.))

It makes me lazy to write to you because I am not sure that my letters will certainly reach the hands of your love, and that thousands of other people will not read them in advance because of the unfitness of my servants, especially in view of the confusion of affairs in the universe today. Therefore, I expect that they will scold me, as it is, and forcibly demand letters from me, and this will serve as a sign for me that the letters are being delivered.

Therefore, whether I write or remain silent, I have only one thing to do – to keep in my heart the remembrance of your modesty and to pray to the Lord that He may allow you to complete the course of a good life in accordance with your intention. For it is indeed no small feat for one who has pronounced a vow to add to this and what follows the vow. Anyone can choose a way of life that is in harmony with the Gospel; but to observe everything to the smallest extent and not to pass unnoticed anything written in the Gospel — in this very few of the known to us have managed to use a bridled tongue, and an eye trained, according to the intention of the Gospel, and to act with their hands in order to please God, and to move their legs, and to use each of the limbs, as our Creator first commanded. In dress — decency, in the treatment of men — caution, in food — moderation, in the acquisition of necessities — not excess; All this, to put it so simply, is not an important matter, but it requires a great feat in its fulfillment, as we find in reality itself. And perfection in humility — so that we do not remember the nobility of our ancestors, nor, if we have any advantage of soul or body by nature, we do not exalt ourselves with them, nor turn the opinions of others about ourselves into a pretext for exaltation and arrogance — and this belongs to the life of the Gospel, just as in abstinence — firmness, in prayer — tirelessness, in brotherly love — compassion, with those in need, sociability, modesty, contrition of heart, sound faith in the way of thinking, indifference in sorrow, and that in our thoughts there should never cease to be mindful of the Dread and inevitable Judgment, to which we are all hastening, although very few remember it and care about how it ends.

167 (174). To the widow

(In that he has not written to her until now, he justifies himself by the fear of exposing her to some danger from his ill-wishers; he advises her to have the fear of God in her heart and to receive everyone into the communion of prayers. (Written about 374 A.D.))

With a strong desire to write often to your nobility, I have always restrained myself from suggesting that I am bringing some kind of temptation upon you, because they are disposed towards me, and, as I hear, they extend their enmity to such an extent that they find out if anyone has ever received my letter. But since you yourself (which you did well) began a correspondence and wrote to me, asking, as befits your advice, on matters concerning your soul, I also am moved to write to you, both as a reward for what was lowered in former times, and together in response to what was written by your nobility.

Blessed is the soul that day and night has no other care than this alone, but on that great day when all creation will stand before the Judge to give an account of its deeds, and it will not hesitate to answer for its life. Whoever has this day and hour before his eyes and always thinks about justification at the infallible Judgment Seat, will either not sin at all, or will sin very little, because we sin because of the absence of the fear of God in us. Therefore, remember God, have the fear of God in your heart, and receive all into the communion of prayer. For great is the help of those who are able to propitiate God. And you don't stop doing it. For prayer will be a good helper to us in this life as long as we live in this flesh, and it will serve as a sufficient farewell to those who depart from here for the age to come. But just as solicitude is a good deed, so again despondency, despair, and hopelessness in salvation harm the soul. Therefore, trust in the goodness of God and wait for God's intercession, knowing that if we turn to Him as we should and sincerely, not only will He not reject us at all, but while we are still pronouncing the words of prayer, He will say: "Here I am!"

175 (182). To the presbyters of Samosata