Letter 189

To Tryphon the Architect [master-builder]. The finest repentance, together with earnest supplication and entreaty, makes fragrant the man who has rotted away in his deeds; for the Lover of mankind accepts even a defiled prayer. The most loving Master, Christ, accepts what is offered from a defiled mouth in great humility. And the thief who speaks to you is heeded: "Remember me, Lord Jesus, when you come into your kingdom" [Luke 23:42] -- and at once he hears: "Today you will be with me in paradise" [Luke 23:43].

Ἡ καλλίστη μετάγνωσις, καὶ σύντονος δέησις, καὶ παράκλησις, εὐωδιάζει τὸν σεσηπότα ταῖς πράξεσιν ἄνθρωπον· δέχεται γὰρ καὶ δέησιν ῥυπαρὰν ὁ φιλάνθρωπος. ἀνθρωποτατος Δεσπότης Χριστὸς ἐκ στόματος ῥυπαροῦ ἐν ταπεινώσει προσφερομένην πολλῇ. Καὶ πείθεται σε ὁ φράζων ληστής· « Μνήσθητί μου, Κύριε Ἰησοῦ, ὅταν ἔλθῃς ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου, » παραντίκα ἀκούσας· « Σήμερον μετ’ ἐμοῦ ἔσῃ ἐν τῷ παραδείσῳ. »