John Chrysostom, Letters

of much, and we will be grieved. And I know clearly that you will consider this the most bitter penalty to pay, that we are grieved over these things, since I know how you have striven to love us genuinely and warmly. 117. To Theodora. I write to your modesty but seldom, because it is not easy to find those who carry letters; but I remember you not seldom, but continuously. For the one is in our power, but the other is not; but we ourselves are masters of remembering continuously, but of carrying letters, no longer. For this reason, the one happens always, but the other, whenever it may be possible. Therefore, we sent the other letters containing a greeting, but this one also a request for a favor. And what is the favor? One that brings profit more to you who grant it than to the one who receives it, and benefits the giver before the one who takes. For it has come to us that Eustathius is one of those who have offended your honor, and has fallen out of your house, and is out of your sight. Now, how the nature of the matter stands, and for what reason he has incurred such great anger, I cannot say; for I learned only that. But what you ought to hear from us, who greatly care for your salvation, is this. You know that the present life is nothing, but imitates spring flowers, and weak shadows, and is the deceit of dreams; but the true things, and fixed, and immovable, are those that will receive us after our departure from here. These things you have often heard from us, and you continue to philosophize on them at home. Wherefore I do not make the letter long, but we say this: if some, having acted insolently, cast him out unjustly, then revering the nature of justice, correct what has happened; but if justly, then honoring the laws of humanity, do this very same thing again, wherein you yourself will reap the greater fruit rather than he. For just as the one demanding the hundred denarii from his fellow servant did not harm him so much as he gave himself a fatal blow, overturning the forgiveness of ten thousand talents through his strict accounting with his fellow servant; so the one who overlooks the sins of his neighbor makes the future accountings gentler for himself, and by as much as he forgives greater sins, by so much will he himself obtain greater forgiveness. But not only in this is the difference, but also in giving a servile favor, one receives a masterly gift. Therefore, do not tell me that this and that has been done amiss by him. For the more grievous you show the things that have happened to be, the more necessary you make the 52.673 occasion for forgiveness, since you will store up for yourself beforehand a much greater basis of philanthropy for the future. Therefore, release your anger, even if it is just; subdue your wrath with philosophic reasoning; offer this as a sacrifice to God. Grant it also to us who love you, and show how great a power we have even from a brief letter. Grant also to yourself these great things which I mentioned: tranquility, the banishment of the disturbance from your soul, to ask from the philanthropic God with much boldness, from this very act, for entrance into the kingdom. For kindness towards a neighbor is a great cleansing of sins. For if you forgive men their trespasses, he says, your heavenly Father will also forgive you. Therefore, having considered all these things, send us a letter, showing what our letter has accomplished. For our part is complete, and we have done what is in our power: we have exhorted, we have begged, we have asked a favor, we have advised what was necessary. All the effort henceforth is for you. For the reward for this exhortation will be laid up for us, whether anything more comes of it or not; for it is possible to receive a reward even for words. But all our labor is to gain, through the deed, your modesty, and from present good deeds to reap with much ease the future and immortal good things. 118. To the bishops and presbyters in prison. You dwell in a prison, and are bound in chains, and are shut up with the squalid and filthy; and what could be more blessed for you than these things

πολλῆς, καὶ ἀλγήσομεν. Οἶδα δὲ σαφῶς ὅτι πικροτάτην ταύτην ἡγήσῃ διδόναι δίκην, τὸ ἀλγεῖν ἐπὶ τούτοις ἡμᾶς, ἐπειδὴ οἶδα πῶς καὶ φιλεῖν ἡμᾶς γνησίως καὶ θερμῶς ἐσπούδακας. ΡΙΖʹ. Θεοδώρᾳ. Γράφω μὲν ὀλιγάκις τῇ κοσμιότητί σου, διὰ τὸ μὴ ῥᾳδίως ἐπιτυγχάνειν τῶν κομιζόντων τὰ γράμματα· μέμνημαι δέ σου οὐκ ὀλιγάκις, ἀλλὰ καὶ διηνεκῶς. Τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἐφ' ἡμῖν κεῖται, τὸ δὲ οὐκ ἐφ' ἡμῖν· ἀλλὰ τοῦ μὲν μεμνῆσθαι διηνεκῶς, αὐτοὶ κύριοι, τοῦ δὲ κομίζειν τὰς ἐπιστολὰς, οὐκ ἔτι. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο τὸ μὲν ἀεὶ γίνεται, τὸ δὲ, ἡνίκα ἂν ἐξῇ. Τὰς μὲν οὖν ἄλλας ἐπιστολὰς πρόσρησιν ἐχούσας ἐπέμπομεν, ταύτην δὲ καὶ χάριτος αἴτησιν. Τίς δὲ ἡ χάρις; Σοὶ τῇ παρεχούσῃ μᾶλλον, ἢ τῷ δεχομένῳ τὸ κέρδος φέρουσα, καὶ πρὸ τοῦ λαμβάνοντος τὸν διδόντα ὠφελοῦσα. Καὶ γὰρ ἦλθεν εἰς ἡμᾶς, ὅτι δὴ Εὐστάθιος τῶν προσκεκρουκότων ἐστὶ τῇ τιμιότητί σου, καὶ τῆς οἰκίας τῆς σῆς ἐξέπεσε, καὶ ἀπὸ ὄψεως γέγονεν. Ὅπως μὲν οὖν ἔχει τοῦ πράγματος ἡ φύσις, καὶ τίνος ἕνεκεν τοσαύτην ὑπέμεινεν ὀργὴν, εἰπεῖν οὐκ ἔχω· ἐκεῖνο γὰρ ἔγνων μόνον· ἃ δὲ χρή σε παρ' ἡμῶν ἀκοῦσαι τῶν σφόδρα σου τῆς σωτηρίας ἀντεχομένων, ἐστὶ ταῦτα. Οἶσθα ὡς οὐδὲν ὁ παρὼν βίος, ἀλλ' ἢ ἄνθη μιμεῖται ἠρινὰ, καὶ σκιὰς ἀδρανεῖς, καὶ ὀνειράτων ἐστὶν ἀπάτη· τὰ δὲ ἀληθῆ πράγματα, καὶ πεπηγότα, καὶ ἀμετακίνητα, τὰ μετὰ τὴν ἐντεῦθεν ἀποδημίαν ἡμᾶς διαδεξόμενά ἐστι. Ταῦτα καὶ παρ' ἡμῶν πολλάκις ἤκουσας, καὶ οἴκοθεν φιλοσοφοῦσα διατελεῖς. ∆ιόπερ οὐδὲ μακρὰν ποιοῦμαι τὴν ἐπιστολὴν, ἀλλ' ἐκεῖνό φαμεν· εἰ μὲν ἀδίκως τινὲς ἐπηρεάσαντες ἐξέβαλον, αἰδουμένη τοῦ δικαίου τὴν φύσιν, διόρθωσον τὸ γεγενημένον· εἰ δὲ δικαίως, τοὺς τῆς φιλανθρωπίας τιμῶσα νόμους, τὸ αὐτὸ δὴ τοῦτο πάλιν ποίησον, ἔνθα καὶ αὐτὴ τὸ πλέον καρπώσῃ μᾶλλον ἢ ἐκεῖνος. Ὥσπερ γὰρ ὁ τὸν ὁμόδουλον ἀπαιτῶν τὰ ἑκατὸν δηνάρια, οὐκ ἐκεῖνον τοσοῦτον ἔβλαψεν, ὅσον ἑαυτῷ καιρίαν ἔδωκε τὴν πληγὴν, διὰ τῆς πρὸς τὸν σύνδουλον ἀκριβολογίας μυρίων ταλάντων συγχώρησιν ἀνατρέψας· οὕτως ὁ παρατρέχων τὰ τοῦ πλησίον ἁμαρτήματα ἡμερωτέρας ἑαυτῷ ποιεῖ τὰς ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι εὐθύνας, καὶ ὅσῳ ἂν μείζονα τὰ ἁμαρτήματα ἀφῇ, τοσούτῳ καὶ αὐτὸς πλείονος τεύξεται τῆς συγχωρήσεως. Οὐ ταύτῃ δὲ μόνον ἐστὶ τὸ διάφορον, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῷ δουλικὴν διδόντα χάριν, δεσποτικὴν λαμβάνειν δωρεάν. Μὴ τοίνυν μοι λέγε, ὅτι τὸ καὶ τὸ αὐτῷ πεπλημμέληται. Ὅσῳ γὰρ ἂν δείξῃς χαλεπώτερα τὰ γεγενημένα, τοσούτῳ τῆς συγχωρήσεως ἀναγκαιοτέραν ἀποφαίνεις τὴν 52.673 πρόφασιν, ἐπειδήπερ πολλῷ πλείονα φιλανθρωπίας ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι προαποθήσῃ σαυτῇ τὴν ὑπόθεσιν. Λῦσον τοίνυν τὴν ὀργὴν, κἂν δικαία ᾖ, δάμασον λογισμῷ φιλοσόφῳ τὸν θυμὸν, ἀνένεγκε τοῦτο θυσίαν τῷ Θεῷ· χάρισαι καὶ ἡμῖν τοῖς ἀγαπῶσί σε, καὶ δεῖξον πῶς καὶ ἀπὸ βραχείας ἐπιστολῆς τοσαύτην ἔχομεν δύναμιν. Χάρισαι καὶ σαυτῇ τὰ μεγάλα ταῦτα, ἅπερ εἶπον ἐγὼ, τὸ ἀτάραχον, τὸ ἐξοικίσαι τῆς ψυχῆς τὸν ἐντεῦθεν θόρυβον, τὸ μετὰ πολλῆς παῤῥησίας καὶ ἐντεῦθεν αἰτεῖν παρὰ τοῦ φιλανθρώπου Θεοῦ τὴν εἰς τὴν βασιλείαν εἴσοδον. Καὶ γὰρ μέγα καθάρσιον ἁμαρτημάτων ἡ εἰς τὸν πλησίον φιλοφροσύνη· Ἐὰν γὰρ ἀφῆτε τοῖς ἀνθρώποις, φησὶ, τὰ παραπτώματα αὐτῶν, ἀφήσει καὶ ὑμῖν ὁ Πατὴρ ὑμῶν ὁ οὐράνιος. Ταῦτ' οὖν ἅπαντα λογισαμένη πέμψον ἡμῖν ἐπιστολὴν, δηλοῦσαν ὅ τι ἤνυσαν τὰ γράμματα ἡμῶν. Τὸ μὲν γὰρ ἡμέτερον ἀπήρτισται, καὶ πεποιήκαμεν οὗπέρ ἐσμεν κύριοι παρεκαλέσαμεν, ἐδεήθημεν, χάριν ᾐτήσαμεν, συνεβουλεύσαμεν ἅπερ ἐχρῆν. Πᾶσα δέ ἐστιν ὑπὲρ σοῦ λοιπὸν ἡ σπουδή. Ἡμῖν μὲν γὰρ ὁ μισθὸς, ἄν τε γένηταί τι πλέον, ἄν τε μὴ γένηται, τῆς παρακλήσεως ταύτης ἀποκείσεται· ἔστι γὰρ καὶ ῥημάτων λαβεῖν ἀμοιβήν. Ὁ δὲ κάματος ἡμῖν ἅπας, διὰ τοῦ ἔργου καὶ τὴν σὴν κερδᾶναι κοσμιότητα, καὶ ἀπὸ τῶν παρόντων κατορθωμάτων τὰ μέλλοντα καὶ ἀθάνατα ἀγαθὰ μετὰ πολλῆς καρπώσασθαι τῆς εὐκολίας. ΡΙΗʹ. Ἐπισκόποις καὶ πρεσβυτέροις τοῖς ἐν τῇ φυλακῇ. ∆εσμωτήριον οἰκεῖτε, καὶ ἄλυσιν περίκεισθε, καὶ μετὰ τῶν αὐχμώντων καὶ ῥυπώντων ἐστὲ κατακεκλεισμένοι· καὶ τί ἂν γένοιτο μακαριώτερον ὑμῶν τούτων