To Andrew, Monk of Constantinople

I have never seen your piety, and we have never written to each other, but I have come to feel a warm attachment to you. What cast the spell, and keeps it burning, is the report brought with one voice by those who have tasted your honey. They all admire the orthodoxy of your faith, the brightness of your life, the steadiness of your soul, the harmony of your character, the charm and sweetness of your company, and all the other marks of a true foster child of philosophy. For all these reasons I am attached to your godliness, and my longing has even made me begin a correspondence. But, my dear sir, grant me what I want as soon as possible, and let me have a letter from you. For when friends are far apart, letters give them great comfort. [a]

You will be writing to no man who holds opinions contrary to the faith, but to one brought up in the teaching of the apostles, a preacher not of a quaternity but of a Trinity. In fact I see little difference between the impiety of those who dare to try to shrink the two natures of the only Son into one, and that of those who try to divide our Lord Jesus Christ, the Son of the living God, God the Word made man, into two sons, if indeed there are any such people. I cannot think there are. But Arians, Eunomians and Apollinarians too have always shamelessly fabricated this slander against the church. Indeed, diligent students can easily see that our far-famed Fathers, lights of the churches, suffered at the hands of the enemies of the truth under this very accusation which is now leveled against me by the most excellent champions of the newfangled heresy. Our wise Lord has laid their impiety bare, for he could not bear to confirm the unholy heresy by his patience. So be sure, sir, that you will be writing to one who thinks as you do. You can easily satisfy yourself of this from my many writings.

So write to me in return, and your letter, God willing, will once more serve to kindle affection. And before you write, help me with your prayers, and beg our good Lord to guide my feet into the right road, so that I may travel the rest of my journey according to his laws. You have won the right of approach to him by your spotless life, and you will easily persuade the one who is eager to give us his good gifts.