To the Deaconess Celarina

The flames of the war against us have been lit again. After giving way for a while, the enemy of humankind has once more armed against us men raised on lies. They openly slander me, and say that I divide our one Lord Jesus Christ into two sons. But I know the distinction between Godhead and manhood, and I confess one Son, God the Word made man. I declare that he is eternal God, who was made man at the end of days, not by a change of the Godhead, but by taking up the manhood. There is no need, though, for me to tell your piety what I think, for you know exactly what I preach and how I instruct the ignorant. So I beg you, since the workers of lies have poured their insults on all the godly bishops of the East at once and have overwhelmed the churches with a storm, to show all possible zeal for the teachings of the gospel and the peace of the churches. That is why the very godly bishops have left the churches they shepherd, paid no heed to the harshness of winter, and endured the labors of their long journey: to calm the storm that has arisen. I am sure that your godly excellency will regard them as champions of true religion and governors of the churches. [a]