A Strange Beast

Ξένον τι καὶ ἀλλόκοτον εἶναι σε θηρίον πάντες κωμῳδοῦσιν οὔτε τρᾳπέζῃ κολακευόμενον, οὔτε δεσμοίς ἀγάπῃς κρατούμενον, οὔτε τῇ τυράννου συνηθείᾳ χειρούμενον, καὶ τοιαύτην ὕβριν τῷ θυσιαστηρίῳ ἐπισυρόμενον. Ἤ τοίνυν ἄρνησαι τὸ ἀτιθασσον, καὶ ἀντὶ θηρίου φάνηθι ἄνθρωπος, ἤ παῦσον τὴν κατὰ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας λοιδορίαν, σαυτὸν εἴργων τῆς φρικτῆς λειτουργίας. Ἅγιος Ἰσίδωρος Του Πηλουσιώτου, Βιβλίον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολὴ ΛΗ´ Μαρωνι Source: Migne PG 78.205b-c

All ridicule you as a novel and quite unheard of beast, which no table tames, nor do the bonds of love restrain, nor do the customs of a ruler direct, and yet with such pride you drag yourself to the altar. Either, then, be done with this ferality and bring forth the man for the beast, or let this abuse of the Church stop and exclude yourself from the awe inspiring liturgy. Saint Isidore of Pelusium, Book 1, Letter 38, to Maron