Second Letter to Orsisius

“But when the most holy archbishop Athanasius heard about our father Theodore, he grieved, and sent this letter to Abbot Orsisius and the brothers to console them for his death, as follows:” [a] Athanasius to Orsisius, abbot and father of monks, and to all with him who practice the solitary life and are settled in faith in God, beloved brothers most longed for in the Lord: greeting.

I have heard of the death of the blessed Theodore, and the news caused me great anxiety, since I knew how much he meant to you. Now if it had been anyone other than Theodore, I would have written you many words, with tears, thinking of what follows after death. But since it is Theodore, whom you and I have known, what need is there for me to say in my letter anything but “Blessed is” Theodore, “who has not walked in the counsel of the ungodly”? And if “blessed is the one who fears the Lord,” we may now confidently call him blessed, firmly assured that he has reached a harbor, as it were, and has a life free from care. Would that the same had happened to each of us! Would that each of us might arrive this way at the end of his race! Would that each of us, on his voyage, might anchor his own boat there in the harbor where no storm comes, so that, at rest with the fathers, he might say, “Here I will dwell, for I delight in it.” [b]

So, brothers beloved and most longed for, do not weep for Theodore, for he “is not dead, but sleeps.” Let no one weep when he remembers him, but let him imitate his life. For one must not grieve over someone who has gone to the place where there is no grief. I write this to all of you together, but especially to you, beloved and most longed-for Orsisius, so that now that he has fallen asleep, you may take up the whole charge and take his place among the brothers. For while he was alive, you two were as one: when one was away, the work of both was carried on, and when both were there, you were as one, speaking to the beloved brothers about what was for their good. Act this way, then, and as you do so, write and tell me how you and the brotherhood are faring. And I urge you all to pray together that the Lord may grant the churches further peace. For we have now kept the feast with joy, both Easter and Pentecost, and we rejoice in the blessings of the Lord. I write to you all. Greet all who fear the Lord. Those with me greet you. I pray that you may be well in the Lord, beloved and much longed-for brothers.