Ep. LXXIV.

Although I am at home, my love is expatriated with you, for affection makes us have all things common.  Trusting in the mercy of God, and in your prayers, I have great hopes that all will turn out according to your mind, and that the hurricane will be turned into a gentle breeze, and that God will give you this reward for your orthodoxy, that you will overcome your opponents.  Most of all I long to see you shortly, and to have a good time with you, as I pray.  But if you delay owing to the pressure of affairs, at any rate cheer me by a letter, and do not disdain to tell me all about your circumstances, and to pray for me, as you are accustomed to do.  May God grant you health and good spirits in all circumstances,—you who are the common prop of the whole Church.

[74] ΤΩΙ ΑΥΤΩΙ

Καὶ μένων συνεκδημῶ διὰ τῆς ἀγάπης ὑμῖν: πάντα γὰρ ὁ πόθος κοινοποιεῖ τὰ ἡμέτερα. Καὶ πολλὰς ἐλπίδας ἔχω, τῇ τοῦ Θεοῦ φιλανθρωπίᾳ θαρρῶν καὶ ταῖς ὑμετέραις εὐχαῖς, ὅτι πάντα κατὰ νοῦν ὑμῖν ἐκβήσεται καὶ ἡ καταιγὶς εἰς αὔραν λυθήσεται καὶ τοῦτον ὑμῖν ὁ Θεὸς τῆς ὀρθοδοξίας δώσει μισθὸν τὸ τοὺς ἐπηρεάζοντας ὑπερσχεῖν. Μάλιστα μὲν οὖν ἴδοιμεν ὑμᾶς ἐν τάχει καὶ ἀπολάβοιμεν ὡς εὐχόμεθα. Εἰ δὲ χρονίζοιτε, τῶν πραγμάτων οὕτω τυπούντων, γράμμασι γοῦν εὐφραίνειν ἡμᾶς μὴ ἀπαξιοῦτε δηλοῦσι τὰ ὑμέτερα καὶ προσεύχεσθαι τὰ συνήθη περὶ ἡμῶν. Ἐρρωμένους ὑμᾶς καὶ τοῖς πᾶσιν εὐθύμους ὁ ἀγαθὸς Θεὸς χαρίσαιτο, τῆς Ἐκκλησίας τὸ κοινὸν ἔρεισμα.