Nicene and Post-Nicene Church Fathers Series 2 - The Still Small ...

great afflictions. “For some had trial of cruel mockings and scourgings, and others were
sawn asunder and were slain with the sword.” 2461 These are the glories of saints. Blessed
is he who is deemed worthy to suffer for Christ; more blessed is he whose sufferings are
greater, since “the sufferings of this present time are not worthy to be compared with the
glory that shall be revealed in us.” 2462
2. Had it but been possible for me to travel to you I should have liked nothing better
than to meet you, that I might see and embrace Christ’s athletes, and share your prayers
and spiritual graces. But now my body is wasted by long sickness, so that I can scarcely
even leave my bed, and there are many who are lying in wait for me, like ravening wolves,
watching the moment when they may be able to rend Christ’s sheep. I have therefore been
compelled to visit you by letter; and I exhort you first of all most earnestly to pray for me,
that for the rest of my remaining days or hours I may be enabled to serve the Lord, in accordance
with the gospel of His kingdom. Next I beg you to pardon me for my absence and
for my delay in writing to you. I have only with great difficulty found a man able to carry
out my wishes. I speak of my son, the monk Eugenius, by whom I beseech you to pray for
me and for the whole Church, and to write back news of you so that, when I hear, I may be
more cheerful.
2461 cf. Heb. xi. 36, 37.
2462 Rom. viii. 18.
To the Alexandrians.
588