Letter 869
Isidore of Pelusium→Unknown|isidore pelusium
From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk
To: An unnamed person
Date: ~410 AD
Context: Isidore writes on matters of priesthood.
The priesthood is a sacred trust, not a career. Those who pursue it for gain or status have already disqualified themselves. A true priest serves God's people, not himself.
Τῷ ἱερωμένῳ πλοῦτος μὲν ὁ τῆς ἀρετῆς χύτμος, ἡδονὴ δὲ ἡ σωφροσύνη, τρυφὴ δὲ ἡ αὐτάρχεια, εὑ- φροσύνη δὲ ἡ τῶν ὑπηχόων πρὸς ἀρετὴν ἐπίδοσις" εἰ δέ τις τἀναντία τούτων ἐπιτηδεύευν ἱερωσύνης ὀνόματι ἐναδρύνεται, οὗτος ἁνίερος τυγχάνει, χαὶ τῆς ἀρχῆς ἀνάξιος.
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From: Isidore of Pelusium, monk
To: An unnamed person
Date: ~410 AD
Context: Isidore writes on matters of priesthood.
The priesthood is a sacred trust, not a career. Those who pursue it for gain or status have already disqualified themselves. A true priest serves God's people, not himself.
Modern English rendering for readability. See the 19th-century translation or original Latin/Greek for scholarly use.