LETTERS
I. To Georgios Kladas, the Locum Tenens of the Metropolis of Kephallenia
I. To Georgios Kladas, the Locum Tenens of the Metropolis of Kephallenia
To the Reverend and Learned Georgios Kladas, Grand Oikonomos and Head Teacher of Kephallenia at Kastron:
Most wise, most sacred, holy Grand Oikonomos (Steward), Lord Georgios, kissing your hand I greet you. 1, my brother, am a sinful, ignorant man, an unworthy servant of our Christ and God. Urged by the patriarchs of the Eastern Church, by bishops, abbots, and especially by the Lord Sophronios to teach the Christians in accordance with my ability, I find myself here on this blessed island. Receiving their permission and that of the governor in Assos, it seemed proper and right for me to report to your sacredness and ask for your permission, because you are the oikonomos and counselor of the hierarch and because you are a brother born and raised in this place, and you know best how matters stand. Advise me, therefore, whatever God inspires you either directly or indirectly by letter so that I may perform my duty.
Be well. I pray for you and all of the Christians.
Your brother in Christ,
Hieromonk Kosmas
13 June 1777
My most noble beloved brethren and spiritual children, inhabitants of the village of Zalongo, I greet you, praying and beseeching the Holy God for your spiritual and physical health.
I, my brethren, as an unworthy servant of our Christ and God, travel about and teach the Christians according to my ability. I have also come here to your village, and seeing that you don't have a school, I urged the Christians and they gave for the school according to their ability and will.
You, too, should always help your school from your own resources or those of the village or from the religious endowments so that you may receive wages from God and honor from men. I too am a debtor and I beseech the Lord to bless your land, your school, your children, so that you may live well and pleasing to God here (on earth), and to put you in paradise to rejoice and be glad and glorify the Holy Trinity.
This much for now. Stay well in the Lord.
Your unworthy servant,
Hieromonk Kosmas
January 1779
III. To His Brother Chrysanthos of Aitolia
My most sacred and beloved brother Lord Chrysanthos:
I greet you and beseech the Holy God for your spiritual and physical health. Thanks to divine grace, brother, I am somewhat well, but spiritually the Lord knows. What has happened to me appears unbelievable to many and even cannot understand it. I say only this so that you can glorify the Lord and rejoice. There is much repentance among the people. I have traveled through about thirty provinces. I have established ten Greek Schools, two hundred grammar schools while the Lord worked with them and confirmed the word by the signs that attended it. But glory to him who says: my power is made perfect in weakness.
I am now traveling through Paramythia and Margarite; I hope shortly, God willing, to come and see you. I also passed through our village and all our relatives and friends send their respect.
I greet you and the most holy bishop and I pray for all the brethren in Christ. Be well in body and soul. Ten thousand Christians love me and one hates me; a thousand Turks love me and one doesn't; thousands of Jews want my death and one doesn't.
Your brother,
Hieromonk Kosmas
2 March 1779
IV. To the Inhabitants of the Village of Papadates
My most noble brethren, inhabitants of the village of Papadates, I greet you and beseech the Holy God for your spiritual and physical health.
I, my brethren, as an unworthy servant of God, travel about and teach the Christians according to my ability. I have also come here to your village, and seeing that you do not have a school, I urged the Christians and they gave according to their ability and will for your school.
You, too, should always help your school from your own resources or from those of the village or of the religious endowments so that you may receive wages from God and honor from men.
I too am a debtor, and I beseech the Lord, who blesses all things, to bless your village, your school, and your children, and to find you worthy to live well and pleasing to God here (on earth), and to put you into paradise to rejoice and be glad and to glorify the Holy Trinity. Amen.
I appointed, with the consent of all, Mr. Ioannes, son of Panos, trustee; and Mr. Demos, son of Ioannes the priest, and Mr. Stavros, son of Demos, overseers and his assistants to govern the school as the Lord inspires them.
Hieromonk Kosmas
who prays for you
March 1779
V. To the Inhabitants of the Village of Variades
My most noble beloved brethren, inhabitants of the village of Variades, I greet you and beseech the Holy God for your spiritual and physical health.
I, my brethren, as an unworthy servant of Christ our God, hoping and teaching the Christians according to my ability, have also come here to your village. Seeing that you do not have a school, I urged the Christians and they gave according to their ability and will for the school.
You, too, should always help your school from your own resources or from those of the village or from those of the religious endowments so that you may receive wages from God and honor from men.
I too am a debtor and I'll beseech the Lord, who blesses all things, to bless your village, your school, your children, and to find you worthy to live well and pleasing to God here (on earth) and to put you into paradise to rejoice and be glad, glorifying the Holy Trinity.
I appointed, with the consent of all, Mr. Georgios, the son of Demos, trustee; and the entire village as his assistants, particularly Mr. Georgakes, son of Panos, to govern your school as the Lord enlightens them. In addition, (I also appointed) the priest Apostles as overseer.
Unworthy Hieromonk Kosmas
who prays for you
March 1779
VI. To the Inhabitants of Preveza
My most noble beloved brethren, inhabitants of the village of Preveza, I greet you and beseech the Holy God for your spiritual and physical health.
I, my brethren, as an unworthy servant of God, travel about and teach the Christians according to my ability. 1 also came here and seeing that you don't have a school, I urged (the Christians) and they gave according to their ability and will for your school.
You also should always help your school from your own resources or from those of the village or from those of the religious endowments, so that you might receive wages from God and honor from men.
I too am a debtor and I beseech the Lord, who blesses all things, to bless your village, your school, your children, and to find you worthy to live well and pleasing to God here (on earth) and to put you into paradise to rejoice and be glad, glorifying the Holy Trinity. Amen.
I appointed the priests, Mr. Nicholas Keramidas and Mr. Anastasios Rizos, trustees to keep and govern the above school. In addition, (I appointed) Mr. Demos, son of Chrestos; Mr. Spyros, son of Georgios Lampros; and Mr. Chrestos, son of Georgios, overseers to assist this school as the Lord enlightens them. And if you encounter any obstacle from the rulers of the village, expel them from the boundaries (of the village) if it seems fair to you. So much for now. Stay well in the Lord.
Hieromonk Kosmas
who prays for you
April 1779
VII. To the Inhabitants of the Village of Syrakates
My most noble beloved brethren, inhabitants of the village of Syrakates, I greet you and beseech the Holy c for your spiritual and physical health.
The priest of your village came here to Krogkous and complained to me that you don't do what he counsels v and what the Church commands. This, my brethren, saddens me a great deal.
The trustees and overseers of your village, whom I appointed with the consent of all, should try very hard to deal with the complaints of your priest and with the assistance of the monastery and of the rulers of your village so that the school will be built and your child will learn and you may receive from the Almighty wages and honors from men.
I too am a debtor and I beseech the Most High God, who blesses all things, to bless your school and your children to learn. This much for now. Stay well in the Lord.
Hieromonk Kosmas
who prays for you
10 July 1779
VIII. To The Inhabitants of the Village of Droviane
My most noble and beloved brethren, inhabitants of the of Droviane, of the neighborhood of Upper Machala, I greet you and beseech the Holy God for your spiritual physical health.
I, my Christian brethren, as an unworthy servant of Jesus Christ our God, travel about and teach the holy Gospel, ding to my ability to the Christians with the permission of the local bishops. I have come here to your village, and that you do not have a school for your children to without paying, I urged the Christians and they gave according to their ability and will for the school.
But you too should help the school, all of you Christians, from your own resources or from those of the village or from of the churches so that you may receive wages from id honor from men.
I, to am a debtor and I beseech our Lord Jesus Christ, blesses all things, to bless your village, your school, and your children, and to find you worthy to live well and g to God here (on earth), and to put you into paradise to rejoice and be glad forever and ever and to glorify the Holy Trinity. Amen.
I have appointed, with the consent of all the Christians of the village, the reverend priest Mr. Kyriakos ... as trustees, overseers and assistants to everyone in the village and to the school as the Lord enlightens them.
Hieromonk Kosmas
who prays for all the Christians
15 July 1779
IX. To the Inhabitants of the Village of Chalion
My most noble and beloved brethren, inhabitants of the village of Chalion, I greet you and I beseech the Holy God for your spiritual and physical health.
I, my brethren, as an unworthy servant of Christ our God, travel about and teach the Christians according to my ability with the permission of the local bishops. I came to your village, and seeing that you don't have a school for your children to learn without paying, I urged the Christians and they gave according to their ability and will for the school.
You also should help the school from your own resources or from those of the village or from those of the religious endowments so that you may receive wages from God and honor from men.
I too am a debtor and I beseech the Lord, who blesses all things, to bless your village, your school, and your children to receive an education, and to find you worthy to live well and pleasing to God here (on earth) and to glorify the Holy Trinity. Amen.
I appointed, with the consent of all, Mr. Rizos, son of Demos, trustee, and as overseers and his assistants everyone in the village, and in particular, Mr. Kyriazos, son of Zeses; Mr. Ioannes, son of Gkikas; Mr. ioannes, son of Zotos; Mr. Kyriazos, son of Demetrios; Mr. Konstas, son of Stavros; and Mr. Pantos, son of Demos, to govern the school as the Lord enlightens them.
This much for now. Stay well in the Lord.
Hieromonk Kosmas
who prays for you
July 1779
X. To the Inhabitants of the Village of Mouzina
My most noble and beloved brethren. inhabitants of the village of Mouzina, I greet you and beseech the Holy God for your spiritual and physical health.
I, my brethren, as an unworthy servant of Christ our God, travel about and teach the Christians according to my ability with the permission of the local bishops. I have come here to your village, and seeing that you don't have a school to teach your children without paying, I have urged the Christians and they have given according to their ability and will for the school. You too should all help your school always from your own resources or those of the village or those of the religious endowments so that you may receive wages from God and honor from men.
I too am a debtor and I beseech the Lord who blesses all things to bless your land, your school, and your children, and to find you worthy to live well and pleasing to God here (on earth) and to put you into paradise to rejoice and be glad and to glorify the Holy Trinity.
I appointed, with the consent of all, the priest, Mr. Diamantes, trustee, and everyone in the village as trustees and his assistants, and in particular, the priest, Mr. Ntenten; and Mr. Athanasios, son of Zeses; and Mr. Nikos, son of Kyriakos, to govern the school as the Lord enlightens them.
This much for now. Stay well in the Lord.
Hieromonk Kosmas
who prays for you
July 1779
XI. To the Inhabitants of the Village of Semitsa
My most noble and beloved brethren, inhabitants of the village of Semitsa, I greet you and beseech the Holy God for your spiritual and physical health.
I, as an unworthy servant of our God, my fellow Christians, travel about and teach the Christians according to my ability with the permission of the local bishops. I have come to your village, and seeing that you have no school for your children to learn without paying, I urged the Christians and they gave according to their ability and will for the school. You all should also help the school from your own resources or from those of the village or from those of the religious endowments so that you may receive wages from God and honor from men.
I too am a debtor and I beseech the Lord who blesses all things to bless your village, your school, and your children, and to find you worthy to live well and pleasing to God here (on earth), and to put you into paradise to rejoice and be glad and to glorify the All-Holy Trinity. Amen.
I appointed, with the consent of all, Mr. Lekas, son of Kyrkos, trustee, and the entire village as overseers and his assistants, and particularly the priest, Mr. Nikos; Mr. Gkenos Demos; Mr. Spyros Ntenes; and Mr. Spyros Athanasiou to govern the school as the Lord enlightens them.
This much for now. Stay well in the Lord.
Hieromonk Kosmas
who prays for you
28 July 1779
XII. To the Inhabitants of the Village of Cheimarra
My most noble beloved brethren, inhabitants of the village of Cheimarra, I greet you and beseech the Holy God for your spiritual and physical health.
I, my brethren, as an unworthy servant of Christ our God, travel about and teach the Christians according to my ability with the permission of the local bishops. I have come here to your village, and seeing that you do not have a school for your children to learn without paying, I urged the Christians and they gave according to their ability and will for the school [and you also should help the school] from [your] own resources or from those of the village or from those of the religious endowments so that you may receive wages from God and honor from men.
I (too) am a debtor and I beseech the Holy God who blesses all things to bless your village also, your school, your children, and to make you worthy to live well and pleasing to God here (on earth), and to put you into paradise to rejoice and be glad and to glorify the Holy Trinity.
I appointed, with the consent of all, the priest, Mr. Michael, trustee, and the entire village as trustees and his assistants, and particularly Mr. Zachos, the priest Spyros, and Mr. Ilias Demetriou to govern the school as the Lord enlightens them.
Hieromonk Kosmas
who prays for you
August 1779
XIII. To a Turkish Judge
Most glorious, most wise (may you live many years) Lord Judge, I greet you and beseech the Holy God for your spiritual and physical health and happiness.
I, my Lord, as a Christian and an unworthy servant of the holy God and a slave of my emperor, Sultan Haniid, have been commanded by my patriarchs and bishops to travel about and teach the Christians to keep God's commandments and to obey the divine imperial commands.
Approaching your domain, it seemed proper for me to greet you with this present humble letter and to seek your permission to travel about your domain. I await your command.
Stay well in the Lord.
Your unworthy servant,
Hieromonk Kosmas
1779
Source: Apostle to the Poor, Translated by Nomikos Michael Vaporis.