John Chrysostom, Letters

it does not make a noise, nor does it disturb, us who are enjoying your love; but even if we are separated in body, we are bound to you in soul with great vehemence, we seem to dwell in your untroubled and peaceful city rather than in Cucusus, being always with you in our disposition, and wherever we may be, carrying you in our minds. 112. To Theodore the bishop. If it were possible to come, and to embrace your reverence, and to delight in your love through your very presence, we would have done this with great eagerness and speed; but since this is not in our power now, we fulfill this very thing through our letters. 52.669 For even if we should be carried off to the very ends of the world, we cannot forget your love, which is genuine, and warm, and sincere, and without deceit, both from above, and from the beginning, and which you have shown now. For it has not escaped our notice how much you have striven to say and to do on our behalf, my most honored and most God-loving lord. And if nothing more has come of it, yet you have God as a debtor for your eagerness and zeal, and your reward complete. And we do not cease giving thanks to your holiness, and proclaiming your reverence to all, and exhorting you to maintain the same love, ever flourishing. For it is no small consolation that we enjoy, even sitting in the wilderness, when we have so great a treasure and wealth laid up in our heart, the love of your watchful and noble soul. 113. To Palladius the bishop. Concerning ourselves we need no consolation; for the cause of what has happened is sufficient consolation for us. But we lament the common storm of the Churches, and the shipwreck which has overtaken the world, and we beseech you all to help with your prayers, so that this utter ruin may at some time be ended, and all things change into a bright calm. Do not cease, then, to do this. For being hidden and concealed, you now have more leisure to persevere in prayers, even with a troubled mind. And this is no small thing, to fall before the God who loves mankind. Therefore do not cease doing this, and when it is possible, write to us continually. For even if we have been settled far away from your care, yet we do not cease each day to be anxious about your affairs, asking and inquiring diligently of those who arrive from there—even if we rarely meet them. Therefore, so that we may know all things more clearly, whenever it is possible, grant us this favor, by bringing us the good news of your health, so that even while living in the wilderness we may reap great consolation. 114. To Elpidius the bishop. This too is your work, this is the work of a sober and watchful pilot, not to give way even when the storm has risen to such a height, but to persist still in caring and being concerned, and contributing all your own efforts as far as is possible, running about everywhere by means of letters, 52.670 assembling those near and those far away, rousing them, exhorting that no one be carried away by the surging sea, but to stand fast, and to be sober, even if ten thousand waves more grievous than these should come upon them, and while established in one place, to fly everywhere by means of exhortation. For none of your deeds has escaped our notice, although we are situated at so great a distance. Wherefore we also bless and admire your reverence, and your roused soul, and your steadfast mind, and the zeal that is youthful in so great an old age; and it is not at all unlikely. For when the matters at hand require the strength of the body, there old age becomes a hindrance; but when it demands the wisdom of the soul, grey hair is not wont to cast any shadow on achievements; therefore it has cast no shadow, but all things have been contributed by your reverence. And that this labor and so great a vigil will also bear fitting fruit, I think there is no need to doubt. But since, along with the whole world, you have also undertaken care for us, because of your great and warm love, and you desire to learn how we are getting on, and in what our affairs are anchored, and who are with us, and to learn

θορυβεῖ, οὐδὲ διαταράττει, τῆς ὑμετέρας ἀπολαύοντας ἀγάπης· ἀλλ' εἰ καὶ τῷ σώματι διεστήκαμεν, τῇ ψυχῇ συνδεδεμένοι μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς σφοδρότητος ὑμῖν, τὴν ὑμετέραν μᾶλλον τὴν ἀτάραχον καὶ ἀπόλεμον, ἢ τὴν Κουκουσὸν οἰκεῖν δοκοῦμεν, ἀεὶ μεθ' ὑμῶν ὄντες τῇ διαθέσει, καὶ ὅπουπερ ἂν ὦμεν, ἐπὶ διανοίας σε περιφέροντες. ΡΙΒʹ. Θεοδώρῳ ἐπισκόπῳ. Εἰ μὲν οἷόν τε ἦν καὶ ἐλθεῖν, καὶ περιπτύξασθαί σου τὴν εὐλάβειαν, καὶ ἐντρυφῆσαί σου τῇ ἀγάπῃ διὰ τῆς παρουσίας αὐτῆς, μετὰ πολλῆς ἂν τοῦτο ἐποιήσαμεν τῆς σπουδῆς, καὶ τοῦ τάχους· ἐπειδὴ δὲ τοῦτο οὐκ ἐφ' ἡμῖν κεῖται νῦν, διὰ τῶν γραμμάτων 52.669 τὸ αὐτὸ τοῦτο πληροῦμεν. Κἂν γὰρ πρὸς αὐτὰς τῆς οἰκουμένης τὰς ἐσχατιὰς ἀπενεχθῶμεν, ἐπιλαθέσθαι σου τῆς ἀγάπης οὐ δυνάμεθα, τῆς γνησίας, καὶ θερμῆς, καὶ εἰλικρινοῦς, καὶ ἀδόλου, τῆς τε ἄνωθεν, καὶ ἐξ ἀρχῆς, ἥν τε ἐπεδείξω νῦν. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ἔλαθεν ἡμᾶς ὅσα καὶ εἰπεῖν καὶ ποιῆσαι ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν ἐσπούδασας, δέσποτά μου τιμιώτατε καὶ θεοφιλέστατε. Εἰ δὲ μηδὲν γέγονε πλέον, ἀλλὰ τὸν Θεὸν ὀφειλέτην ἔχεις τῆς σπουδῆς, καὶ τῆς προθυμίας, καὶ τὸν μισθὸν ἀπηρτισμένον. Καὶ ἡμεῖς οὐ παυόμεθα χάριν εἰδότες σου τῇ ὁσιότητι, καὶ πρὸς ἅπαντας ἀνακηρύττοντές σου τὴν εὐλάβειαν, καὶ παρακαλοῦντες τὴν αὐτὴν ἀγάπην διὰ παντὸς ἀκμάζουσαν διατηρεῖν. Οὐ γὰρ τὴν τυχοῦσαν, καὶ ἐν ἐρημίᾳ καθήμενοι, καρπούμεθα τὴν παράκλησιν, ὅταν τοσοῦτον ἐν καρδίᾳ θησαυρὸν καὶ πλοῦτον ἀποκείμενον ἔχωμεν, τῆς ἐγρηγορυίας καὶ γενναίας σου ψυχῆς τὴν ἀγάπην. ΡΙΓʹ. Παλλαδίῳ ἐπισκόπῳ. Ὑπὲρ μὲν τῶν καθ' ἡμᾶς αὐτοὺς οὐδὲν δεόμεθα παρακλήσεως· ἀρκεῖ γὰρ ἡμῖν εἰς παράκλησιν τῶν γενομένων ἡ ὑπόθεσις. Θρηνοῦμεν δὲ τὸν κοινὸν τῶν Ἐκκλησιῶν χειμῶνα, καὶ τὸ τὴν οἰκουμένην καταλαβὸν ναυάγιον, καὶ πάντας ὑμᾶς παρακαλοῦμεν εὐχαῖς βοηθεῖν, ὥστε τὴν πανωλεθρίαν ταύτην λυθῆναί ποτε, καὶ εἰς λευκὴν ἅπαντα μεταβαλεῖν γαλήνην. Τοῦτο δὴ ποιοῦντες μὴ διαλίπητε. Λανθάνοντες γὰρ καὶ κρυπτόμενοι, πλείονα σχολὴν ἔχετε νῦν προσκαρτερεῖν ταῖς εὐχαῖς, καὶ μετὰ θλιβομένης διανοίας. Οὐ μικρὸν δὲ τοῦτο, τῷ φιλανθρώπῳ προσπίπτειν Θεῷ. Μὴ διαλίπητε οὖν τοῦτο ποιοῦντες, καὶ ἡνίκα ἂν ἐξῇ, καὶ γράφετε ἡμῖν συνεχῶς. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ πολλῷ τῷ μήκει τῆς ἐμμελείας ὑμῶν ἀπῳκίσθημεν, ἀλλ' οὐ παυόμεθα καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν μεριμνῶντες τὰ ὑμέτερα, καὶ τοὺς ἐκεῖθεν ἀφικνουμένους εἰ καὶ τούτων σπανιάκις ἐπιτυγχάνομεν ἐρωτῶντες καὶ περιεργαζόμενοι. Ἵν' οὖν σαφέστερον πάντα εἰδότες ὦμεν, ὅταν ἐγχωρῇ, παρέχετε ταύτην ἡμῖν τὴν χάριν, περὶ τῆς ὑγιείας τῆς ὑμετέρας εὐαγγελιζόμενοι ἡμᾶς, ἵνα καὶ ἐν ἐρημίᾳ διατρίβοντες πολλὴν καρπωσώμεθα τὴν παράκλησιν. ΡΙ∆ʹ. Ἐλπιδίῳ ἐπισκόπῳ. Καὶ τοῦτο σὸν, τοῦτο νήφοντος καὶ ἐγρηγορότος κυβερνήτου, τὸ μηδὲ εἰς τοσοῦτον ἀρθέντος τοῦ χειμῶνος ἀναπεσεῖν, ἀλλ' ἐπιμένειν ἔτι μεριμνῶντα καὶ φροντίζοντα, καὶ κατὰ τὸ ἐγχωροῦν τὰ ἑαυτοῦ πάντα εἰσφέροντα, πανταχοῦ διὰ τῶν γραμμάτων περι52.670 τρέχοντα, τοὺς ἐγγὺς, τοὺς πόῤῥωθεν συγκροτοῦντα, διεγείροντα, παρεγγυῶντα μηδένα τῷ κλυδωνίῳ παρασυρῆναι, ἀλλ' ἑστάναι, καὶ νήφειν, κἂν μυρία τούτων ἐπίῃ χαλεπώτερα κύματα, καὶ ἐν ἑνὶ ἱδρυμένων τόπῳ, πανταχοῦ διὰ τῆς παραινέσεως ἵπτασθαι. Οὐδὲν γὰρ ἡμᾶς ἔλαθε τῶν σῶν, καίτοι ἐκ τοσούτου καθημένους διαστήματος. ∆ιὸ καὶ μακαρίζομεν καὶ θαυμάζομέν σου τὴν εὐλάβειαν, καὶ τὴν διεγηγερμένην ψυχὴν, καὶ τὴν ἀπερίτρεπτον γνώμην, καὶ τὴν ἐν τοσούτῳ γήρᾳ νεάζουσαν προθυμίαν· καὶ οὐδὲν ἀπεικός. Ὅταν μὲν γὰρ τὰ προκείμενα τῆς τοῦ σώματος δέηται ῥώμης, κώλυμα ἐνταῦθα τὸ γῆρας γίνεται· ὅταν δὲ ψυχῆς ἀπαιτῇ φιλοσοφίαν, οὐδὲν ἡ πολιὰ τοῖς κατορθώμασιν ἐπισκοτεῖν εἴωθεν· οὐ τοίνυν οὐδὲ ἐπεσκότησεν, ἀλλ' ἅπαντα παρὰ τῆς σῆς εὐλαβείας εἰσενήνεκται. Ὅτι δὲ καὶ καρπὸν δώσει τὸν προσήκοντα ὁ πόνος οὗτος καὶ ἡ τοσαύτη ἀγρυπνία, οὐδὲν οἶμαι δεῖν ἀμφιβάλλειν. Ἐπειδὴ δὲ μετὰ τῆς οἰκουμένης ἁπάσης καὶ ἡμετέραν μέριμναν κατεδέξω, διὰ τὴν πολλήν σου καὶ θερμὴν ἀγάπην, καὶ μαθεῖν ἐπιθυμεῖς οἷ διατρίβομεν, καὶ ἐν τίσιν ὁρμᾷ τὰ ἡμέτερα, καὶ τίνες οἱ συνόντες ἡμῖν, καὶ μαθεῖν