“Be Strong in Prayer” ~ St. Cyril of Alexandria (Letter 26)

Cyril, to the most reverend and most religious fathers of monks and to those practicing the solitary life with you firmly rooted in faith in God, beloved and most dear, greetings in the Lord.'

Our Lord Jesus Christ, when He endured the violence of the unholy Jews, being reviled, and slapped, and flogged, and in the end being nailed to the Cross because of us and for our sakes, beholding all those ill-treating Him and shaking their unholy heads against Him, said, "And I

looked for one that would sympathize together with Me, but there was none: and for those who would comfort Me, but I found none" (Psa. 68:21). We realize that something like has happened now as well…

For even as the enemy has been defeated, we are still in the midst of what is left of our worry and we need our prayers to God and it is necessary that you, as you consecrate your own lives to God, lift up pure hands (1 Tim. 2:8)  and do this continually for us. Reflect that Joshua the son of Nun fought against Amalek with the chosen of Israel and that blessed Moses by holding up hishands sought from God that they be able to conquer their enemies in war and battle. (Ex. 17:9-13). 

Therefore, let your service of God be strong in prayer. As true children should, assist yourfathers who have cut out the false doctrine of Nestorius like some pestilential disease, in order that we, by having a spotless and blameless faith, suspected from no side, can be very pleasing to Christ Who endured all things for us and on account of us.

 But please us also by letters. Thus we shall receive the most adequate encouragement in deed. I pray that you are well, my beloved and most cherished brothers.