How great is the danger that surrounds you. How many the unexpected mischances. War has expended you; or an earthquake overwhelmed you; or the sea swallowed you up; or a wild beast carried you off; or a sickness killed you; or a crumb going the wrong way (a most insignificant thing, but what is easier than for a man to die, though you are so proud of the divine image); or a too freely indulged drinking bout; or a wind knocked you down; or a horse ran away with you; or a drug maliciously scheming against you, or perhaps found to be deleterious when meant to be wholesome; or an inhuman judge; or an inexorable executioner; or any of the things which make the change swiftest and beyond the power of human aid.

Ὅσος ὁ περὶ σὲ κίνδυνος ὅσα τὰ παρ΄ ἐλπίδα συμπτώματα ῍Η πόλεμος παρανάλωσεν ἢ σεισμὸς συνέχωσεν ἢ θάλασσα ὑπεδέξατο ἢ θηρίον ἥρπασεν ἢ νόσος ἀπώλεσεν ἢ ψὶξ παραδραμοῦσα, τὸ φαυλότατον (τί γὰρ τοῦ ἀποθανεῖν ἄνθρωπον εὐκολώτερον͵ κἂν μέγα φρονῇς τῇ εἰκόνι;)͵ ἢ πότος πλεονάσας ἢ ἄνεμος κρημνίσας ἢ ἵππος συναρπάσας ἢ φάρμακον ἐκ προνοίας ἐπιβουλεῦσαν͵ τυχὸν δὲ καὶ ἀντὶ σωτηρίου φανὲν δηλητήριον͵ ἢ δικαστὴς ἀπάνθρωπος ἢ δήμιος ἀπαραίτητος ἤ τι τῶν ὅσα ταχίστην ποιεῖ τὴν μετάστασιν καὶ βοηθείας ἰσχυροτέραν.  

Cf. BASIL THE GREAT : We must strive after a quiet mind ||| GREGORY OF NYSSA : Christ is always born in our soul ||| MAXIMUS CONFESSOR : Nothing is empty of the Holy Spirit ||| SYMEON THE NEW THEOLOGIAN : Holy Communion ||| GREGORY PALAMAS : Calling everything near Him