To the Newly Baptized

​Practice quietness in words, and quietness in deeds, likewise in tongue and gait; and avoid rash violence; for thus the mind will remain firm, and will not, by being disturbed by violence, become weak and deficient in wisdom and see in darkness, nor will it be conquered by gluttony, nor by boiling anger, nor by other passions, lying before them as an easy prey. For the mind must conquer the passions, sitting high upon a quiet throne and looking away toward God. Be in no way filled with short-temperedness regarding anger, nor sluggish in words, nor full of hesitation in your steps, so that a good order may adorn your quietness and your appearance may seem divine and sacred. Watch out also for the signs of pride: a neck-lofty posture, a lifted head, and a luxurious and haughty step of the feet.

​Let your words to those you meet be mild, and your greetings sweet; and let there be respect toward women and your gaze turned to the ground. Speak all things after consideration, and give what is useful in your voice, measuring your speech by the need of the listeners, so that it may be just audible, neither escaping the hearing of those present through smallness, nor exceeding it with a greater shout. Watch out that you never speak anything which you did not first consider and foresee; nor cast in your own words rashly and in the midst of another’s words; for it is necessary to listen and converse in turn, dividing speech and silence by time; learn gladly, and teach generously, and never hide wisdom from others out of envy, nor turn away from learning through shame. Submit to elders as to fathers; honor the servants of God; take the lead in wisdom and virtue. Do not be contentious toward friends, nor a mocker and jester against them; strongly reject falsehood, deceit, and insolence; and with good words bear even the proud and insolent man as a gentle and magnanimous man.

​Let everything, both deeds and words, be established for you in God, and refer all your things to Christ, and frequently turn your soul to God, and lean your intellect on the power of Christ, resting, as if in some harbor, in the divine light of the Savior from all talk and action. And during the day, often share your wisdom with men, but to God, give the most time both in the night and in the day; for let not much sleep conquer you from prayers and hymns to God; for long sleep is rival to death. Constantly make yourself a partaker of Christ, who shines with divine radiance from heaven; for let Christ be your continuous and unceasing joy.

​Do not loosen the tension of your soul in feasting and relaxation of drinking, but consider what is necessary sufficient for the body. And do not hasten to food before the time of dinner is present; and let your dinner be bread, and let the herbs of the earth be added, and the seasonal fruits from trees; and go to your food quietly and not showing a raging gluttony; neither be a meat-eater nor wine-loving, unless some sickness should lead to this as a cure. But instead of the pleasures in these things, choose the joys in divine words and hymns, supplied to you by the wisdom of God, and let heavenly care always lead you up to heaven.

​And release your many cares about the body, having trusted with hopes toward God, that He will provide you with necessary things: sufficient food for life, clothing for the body, and defense against the winter cold. For indeed, all the earth and whatever grows from it belong to your King; and He cherishes His servants exceedingly as His own limbs, just like His own sacred places and temples. Because of this, fear neither excessive diseases nor the approach of old age expected in time; for disease too will cease when we perform His commandments with a wholehearted purpose.

​Knowing these things, prepare your soul to be strong against diseases, and take courage like some excellent man in the stadiums to undergo labors with unswerving strength. Nor be crushed deeply in your soul by grief, whether an impending disease weighs you down or some other difficult thing happens, but with your mind resist the labors nobly, rendering thanks to God even in the midst of troublesome matters, as thinking things wiser than those of men, and which it is not possible nor easy for men to find. And pity those who suffer, and ask help from God for men; for He will nod assent to His friend who asks, and will provide aid to those who suffer, wishing to make His power known to men, so that having come to knowledge they may ascend to God and enjoy eternal blessedness, when the Son of God arrives, restoring good things to His own.