John Chrysostom, Letters

you cannot take refuge in a lack of time; for the number of days is sufficient to provide a traveler much ease for a return. But neither would we tolerate you putting forward the Isaurian troubles as an excuse, since we love you very much. For many from there have come here since your departure. What then is the cause of the silence? Sloth and indolence. But nevertheless we forgive you the charges for your previous neglect, if you are willing in the future by the frequency of your letters to correct the 52.642 oversight. For you know how you will please us, by continually writing to us about your health. 60. To Chalchidia and Asyncretia. I know that the succession of repeated temptations which befell my lord, the most honored and most reverend presbyter, has greatly disturbed you. But let this not trouble you at all. For he who suffers these things for God's sake, the more grievous things he suffers, the greater crowns he enjoys. Having, therefore, this sufficient consolation, bear what happens nobly and with thanksgiving, glorifying God for all that occurs. For thus you too will become partakers of the rewards and crowns laid up for him, for which you have borne the events nobly and gently. For you know that the present life is a journey, and its good things and its painful things pass by, and that through many tribulations we must enter into the kingdom of God; and that the way is narrow and afflicted, which leads to life. Therefore, being comforted both by these things and by his presence, scatter every cloud of despondency, rejoicing, being glad at his sufferings. For from this an unspeakable and incorruptible fruit will be laid up for him. 61. To Theodotus, ex-consular. This is a father, not only not to be displeased when his child pursues true philosophy, but also to rejoice, and to do everything that he might reach its summit; and not even to be burdened by his being far from his country, and home, and your eyes, but to consider him now even closer, when the things of virtue are increasing for him. For these reasons we too are very grateful to you, and we have marveled how, having given us such a gift, your son, you thought it necessary to also send gifts of hospitality for our honor. We have therefore reaped the honor from the things sent, but we have sent them back, not despising your nobility how could we, of one who loves us so ardently?, but considering it superfluous to seek the enjoyment of those things which we do not need. However, the good Theodotus the lector, we wished to keep and mold him with us, but since everything here is filled with murders, confusion, bloodshed, and burnings, with the Isaurians consuming everything with iron and fire, and we are changing places from places, 52.643 moving every day, we thought it necessary to send him away, having given many instructions to my lord the most reverend deacon Theodotus to care for him constantly, and to take great forethought for him. And you yourself be zealous for this to be accomplished for the boy, and you will certainly praise our counsel, and you will owe us much gratitude for this advice. 62. To Castus, Valerius, Diophantus, Cyriacus, presbyters of Antioch. That my lord, the most honored and most reverend presbyter Constantius, has left us, I grieve; but that he has reached you, I rejoice, and I rejoice more than I grieve at the other. For I know well that he will anchor in a waveless harbor, your love. For even if ten thousand troubles surround him from every side, and many waves are raised, yet such are your qualities, as to enjoy a calm sea even in a storm, because of your inherent courage, and your unswerving love and disposition. Having seen him, therefore, as is fitting for you, be entreated to become all things to him. For you know how great a reward is laid up for you, who are zealous to support one who is being harassed rashly and in vain. For neither do we seek anything else, but that he should not be harassed in any way contrary to justice, and be led about in vain and

χρόνου στενοχωρίαν ἔχεις καταφυγεῖν· ἱκανὸν γὰρ τῶν ἡμερῶν τὸ πλῆθος πολλὴν ὁδοιπόρῳ παρασχεῖν εὐκολίαν πρὸς ἐπάνοδον. Ἀλλ' οὐδὲ τὰ Ἰσαυρικὰ προβαλλομένου ἀνασχοίμεθα ἂν, ἐπειδὴ σφόδρα σε φιλοῦμεν. Καὶ γὰρ πολλοὶ οἱ ἐκεῖθεν μετὰ τὴν σὴν ἀποδημίαν ἐνταῦθα παραγενόμενοι. Τί οὖν ἐστι τῆς σιγῆς τὸ αἴτιον; Ὄκνος καὶ ῥᾳθυμία. Ἀλλ' ὅμως ἀφίεμέν σε τῶν ἐπὶ τῇ προτέρᾳ ὀλιγωρίᾳ ἐγκλημάτων, ἂν βουληθῇς εἰς τὸ ἐπιὸν τῇ πυκνότητι τῶν γραμμάτων διορθῶσαι τὸ 52.642 παροφθέν. Οἶσθα γὰρ ὅπως ἡμῖν χαριῇ, συνεχῶς ἡμῖν ἐπιστέλλων τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς σῆς. Ξʹ. Χαλκιδίᾳ καὶ Ἀσυγκριτίᾳ. Οἶδα ὅτι σφόδρα ὑμᾶς διετάραξε τῶν ἐπαλλήλων πειρασμῶν ἡ συνέχεια, τῶν ἐπενεχθέντων τῷ κυρίῳ μου τῷ τιμιωτάτῳ καὶ εὐλαβεστάτῳ πρεσβυτέρῳ. Ἀλλὰ μηδὲν ὑμᾶς τοῦτο θορυβείτω. Ὁ γὰρ διὰ τὸν Θεὸν ταῦτα πάσχων, ὅσῳπερ ἄν τι χαλεπώτερον πάθῃ, μειζόνων ἀπολαύει στεφάνων. Ἱκανὴν τοίνυν ἔχουσαι ταύτην τὴν παράκλησιν, φέρετε γενναίως καὶ εὐχαρίστως τὰ συμπίπτοντα, δοξάζουσαι τὸν Θεὸν ἐφ' ἅπασι τοῖς συμβαίνουσιν. Οὕτω γὰρ καὶ ὑμεῖς κοινωνοὶ γενήσεσθε τῶν ἀποκειμένων αὐτῷ μισθῶν καὶ στεφάνων, ὑπὲρ ὧν γενναίως καὶ πράως ἠνέγκατε τὰ συμβάντα. Ἴστε γὰρ ὅτι ὁδὸς ὁ παρὼν βίος, καὶ τὰ χρηστὰ αὐτοῦ καὶ τὰ λυπηρὰ παροδεύεται, καὶ ὅτι διὰ πολλῶν θλίψεων δεῖ ἡμᾶς εἰσελθεῖν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν τοῦ Θεοῦ· καὶ ὅτι στενὴ καὶ τεθλιμμένη ἡ ὁδὸς, ἡ ἀπάγουσα εἰς τὴν ζωήν. Παρακληθεῖσαι οὖν καὶ διὰ τούτων, καὶ διὰ τῆς παρουσίας αὐτοῦ, ἅπαν ἀθυμίας διασκεδάσατε νέφος, χαίρουσαι, εὐφραινόμεναι ἐπὶ τοῖς τούτου παθήμασι. Καὶ γὰρ ἄφατος αὐτῷ ἐντεῦθεν κείσεται ὁ καρπὸς καὶ ἀκήρατος. ΞΑʹ. Θεοδότῳ ἀπὸ κονσουλαρίων. Τοῦτο πατὴρ, τὸ μὴ μόνον μὴ δυσχεραίνειν τοῦ παιδὸς τὴν ἀληθῆ φιλοσοφίαν φιλοσοφοῦντος, ἀλλὰ καὶ συνήδεσθαι, καὶ πάντα ποιεῖν, ὅπως εἰς ἄκρον αὐτῆς ἀφίκοιτο· καὶ μηδὲ τῷ πόῤῥωθεν εἶναι καὶ πατρίδος, καὶ οἰκίας, καὶ τῶν σῶν ὀφθαλμῶν, βαρύνεσθαι, ἀλλὰ νῦν μᾶλλον αὐτὸν ἡγεῖσθαι πλησίον ἔχειν, ὅτε αὐτῷ τὰ τῆς ἀρετῆς ἐπιδίδωσι. ∆ιὰ ταῦτά σοι καὶ ἡμεῖς πολλὰς χάριτας ἴσμεν, καὶ τεθαυμάκαμεν πῶς τοιοῦτον ἡμῖν δῶρον δεδωκὼς, τὸν υἱὸν, ἐνόμισας δεῖν σοι καὶ ξενίων εἰς τιμὴν ἡμετέραν. Τὴν μὲν οὖν τιμὴν τὴν ἐκ τῶν πεμφθέντων ἐδρεψάμεθα, αὐτὰ δὲ ἀνταπεστάλκαμεν, οὐχ ὑπερορῶντές σου τῆς εὐγενείας πῶς γὰρ τοῦ οὕτω σφοδρῶς ἡμῶν ἐρῶντος;, ἀλλ' ἡγούμενοι περιττὸν εἶναι τούτων τὴν ἀπόλαυσιν διώκειν, ὧν ἐν χρείᾳ οὐ καθεστήκαμεν. Τὸν μέντοι καλὸν Θεόδοτον τὸν ἀναγνώστην ἐβουλόμεθα μὲν παρ' ἑαυτοῖς κατέχειν καὶ πλάττειν, ἐπειδὴ δὲ πάντα τὰ ἐνταῦθα φόνων, ταραχῆς, αἱμάτων, ἐμπρησμῶν ἐμπέπλησται, τῶν Ἰσαύρων πάντα σιδήρῳ καὶ πυρὶ ἀναλισκόντων, καὶ τόπους ἐκ τόπων ἀμείβομεν, 52.643 καθ' ἑκάστην μετανιστάμενοι τὴν ἡμέραν, ἀναγκαῖον εἶναι ἐνομίσαμεν ἐκπέμψαι αὐτὸν, πολλὰ παραγγείλαντες τῷ κυρίῳ μου τῷ εὐλαβεστάτῳ διακόνῳ Θεοδότῳ ἐπιμελεῖσθαι αὐτοῦ διηνεκῶς, καὶ πολλὴν αὐτοῦ ποιεῖσθαι πρόνοιαν. Τοῦτο δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς κατορθωθῆναι σπούδασον τῷ παιδὶ, καὶ πάντως ἡμῶν ἐπαινέσῃ τὴν συμβουλὴν, καὶ πολλὴν εἴσῃ τῆς παραινέσεως ταύτης τὴν χάριν ἡμῖν. ΞΒʹ. Κάστῳ, Οὐαλερίῳ, ∆ιοφάντῃ, Κυριακῷ, πρεσβυτέροις Ἀντιοχείας. Ὅτι μὲν ἡμᾶς ἀπέλιπεν ὁ κύριός μου ὁ τιμιώτατος καὶ εὐλαβέστατος πρεσβύτερος Κωνστάντιος, ἀλγῶ· ὅτι δὲ ὑμᾶς ἀπείληφε, χαίρω, καὶ μειζόνως χαίρω, ἢ ἐκεῖνο ἀλγῶ. Εὖ γὰρ οἶδ' ὅτι εἰς ἀκύμαντον ὁρμιεῖ λιμένα, τὴν ὑμετέραν ἀγάπην. Κἂν γὰρ μυρίαι πανταχόθεν περιεστήκωσι ταραχαὶ, καὶ πολλὰ ἐγείρηται τὰ κύματα, ἀλλὰ τοιαῦτα τὰ ὑμέτερα, ὡς καὶ ἐν χειμῶνι γαλήνης ἀπολαύειν λευκῆς, διὰ τὴν προσοῦσαν ὑμῖν ἀνδρείαν, καὶ τὴν ἀπερίτρεπτον ἀγάπην καὶ διάθεσιν. Ἰδόντες τοίνυν αὐτὸν ὡς ὑμῖν πρέπον ἐστὶ, πάντα αὐτῷ γενέσθαι παρακλήθητε. Ἴστε γὰρ ὅσος ὑμῖν κείσεται μισθὸς, εἰκῆ καὶ μάτην ἐπηρεαζόμενον ἀνέχειν σπουδάζουσιν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἡμεῖς ἄλλο τι ζητοῦμεν, ἀλλ' ὥστε μηδὲν αὐτὸν παρὰ τὸ δίκαιον ἐπηρεασθῆναι, καὶ μάτην ἄγεσθαι καὶ