Letter 482

To Therinus the Protevon. [protevon: the chief magistrate or leading citizen of a city] While those who are mindful of their hope cry out to Christ the Savior, "Remember us, Lord, when you come into your kingdom" [the prayer of the penitent thief, Luke 23:42], the good Master answers, saying: "I will remember Rahab and Babylon among those who know me" [Psalm 86:4 LXX]. And those whom Christ remembers, these he also assuredly saves, because out of His great compassion He brings prostitutes and tax-collectors into the kingdom.

Τῶν ἐπιμελομένων τῆς ἐλπίδος βοώντων πρὸς τὸν Σωτῆρα Χριστὸν, «Μνήσθητι ἡμῶν, Κύριε, ὅταν ἔλθης ἐν τῇ βασιλείᾳ σου,» ἀνταποκρίνεται ὁ ἀγαθὸς Δεσπότης λέγων· «Μνησθήσομαι Ῥαὰβ καὶ Βαβυλῶνος τοῖς γινώσκουσί με.» Ὧν δὲ μνημονεύει Χριστὸς, τούτους καὶ σῴζει πάντως, διότι πόρνας καὶ τελώνας δι’ εὐσπλαγχνίαν πολλὴν εἰς βασιλείαν εἰσφέρει.