Wounds And Fighting

Ὥσπερ στρατιώτης γενναῖος ὑπὲρ τοῦ βασιλέως μαχόμενος, ἐὰν βέλεσι κατατοξευθεὶς ὑπὸ τῶν ἐναντίων ὑπομείνῃ τὰς ἀλγηδόνας , καὶ μὴ παραχωρήσε τῇ ὀλιγοψυχίᾳ, ἐπιμελείας τυχών, καὶ ἰατρευθείς, ἕξει τὰς οὐλὰς τῶν τραυμάτων εἰς καύχησιν ἀνδρεία; οὕτως καὶ οἱ τρωθέντες παρὰ τοῦ ἐχθροῦ ἐὰν μὴ ἀκηδιάσωσι τοὺς πόνους τῆς μετανοίας, ἀναμφιβόλως σωθέντες καυχήσονται ἐν ἡμέρᾳ κρίσεως· ὁ γὰρ ἀνδρεῖος , κἂν ἐν τραύμασι γένηται, πάντως νικήσει καὶ τραυματίας μαχόμενος. Ἅγιος Νειλος, Βιβλιον Πρῶτον, Ἐπιστολὴ ΞΖ’ Ἡρακλειῳ Ὑποδιακονῳ Source: Migne PG 79.112b

As a good soldier fights for his king and if he suffers blows from the arms of his enemy, his soul does not despair, because cured and brought back to health the scars of the wounds shall be his boast of bravery, so things are with those who receive wounds from the enemy, if they do not neglect penance, for without doubt they shall have their glory on the day of judgement when salvation follows, for he who is brave, though covered with wounds, may yet fight on and overthrow the one who wounds. Saint Nilus of Sinai, Book 1, Letter 67, To Heraclius the Subdeacon