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the reward, and the crowns laid up from this, be exhorted to this very thing, to show fitting courage, and to remember us who love you continually, granting us the greatest favors. 2. To Moses, the bishop. I think, indeed, that you do not even need a letter from us in order to show fitting courage, and to turn away from those who have worked so many evils against the Churches, and have filled the world with disturbances; for you have shown this through what you have done. But since it is very important to me to address your Reverence continually and on every occasion, now too I exhort you to the same things, that you yourself employ fitting courage in turning away from them, and that you anoint all the others for this purpose. For no small reward will be laid up for you, if you turn away from those who have kindled so great a storm, and filled everything with countless scandals, as is fitting. For from this, affairs will receive the greatest correction. And we ask you to remember us who love you very much continually. For you know how we have been and are always disposed toward your Reverence. 1. To Romanus, the presbyter. This also is characteristic of you, and of your great and lofty and philosophical mind, not to forget our love even in a storm of so many affairs, but to maintain your friendship toward us, keeping it unshaken and flourishing. For I learned this clearly from those who came from there, and I knew it even before 52.656 I learned it from others. For I know the steadfast and unswerving character of your mind, the fixed and unshaken nature of your judgment. Therefore I have many thanks for your piety, and I beseech your Reverence, and I ask it as a very great favor, to write to us continually, whenever it is possible. For you know how much comfort we receive, even while living in a foreign land, when we receive letters bringing us the good news of your health. For we greatly desire that your piety be strong and healthy, since your health is a support and a harbor and a staff for many, and the foundation of countless good deeds. 2. To Moses, the presbyter. The excess of praises contained in the letter of your honor, greatly surpasses our nothingness. Therefore, leaving these things aside, do not cease praying for the common good of the Churches, and for our lowliness, and beseeching the man-loving God to grant a release from the evils that have befallen the world. For the present affairs need prayers alone, and especially your prayers, which possess great boldness before God. Do not cease, then, doing this earnestly; and do not hesitate to write to us continually, whenever it is possible; for the length of the journey is not great. For we greatly desire to learn about your health, since your health is a support and comfort to many. For there is always a need of your life, but especially now in so great a storm and darkness, so that appearing like pure lights, you may shine for those who are storm-tossed and buffeted by waves. Therefore, so that we too may be cheerful, send us frequent letters, bringing the good news of your health, and we shall reap no small comfort, if we continually learn these things about your honor. 3. To Aphthonius, Theodotus, Chaereas, presbyters and monks, and to all in your community. The physical presence of those who are loved indeed brings something more for the sake of comfort to those who love. Since even the blessed Paul, continually, or rather, unceasingly, carrying the whole world of the faithful in his mind, and not enduring to put them aside even in chains, or in bonds, and in his defense; which he also declared, saying: Because I have you in my heart, both in my bonds, and in the defense and confirmation of the Gospel; with much eagerness he also sought their bodily presence, saying thus: But we, being taken from you for a short time, in presence, not in heart, were all the more eager to see your face

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τὴν ἀντίδοσιν, καὶ τοὺς ἐντεῦθεν κειμένους στεφάνους, τὴν προσήκουσαν ἀνδρείαν ἐπιδείξασθαι παρακλήθητι εἰς τοῦτο αὐτὸ, καὶ ἡμῶν τῶν ἀγαπώντων σε μεμνῆσθαι διηνεκῶς, τὰ μέγιστα ἡμῖν χαριζόμενος. ʹ. Μωϋσῇ ἐπισκόπῳ. Οἶμαι μὲν μηδὲ γραμμάτων σε δεῖσθαι τῶν ἡμετέρων εἰς τὸ τὴν προσήκουσαν ἀνδρείαν ἐπιδείξασθαι, καὶ ἀποστραφῆναι τοὺς τοσαῦτα κακὰ ἐργασαμένους ταῖς Ἐκκλησίαις, καὶ τὴν οἰκουμένην ταραχῶν ἐμπλήσαντας· διὰ γὰρ ὧν ἐποίησας, ἐδήλωσας. Ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ συνεχῶς, καὶ δι' ἑκάστης προφάσεως προσφθέγγεσθαί σου τὴν εὐλάβειαν ἐμοὶ περισπούδαστον, καὶ νῦν τὰ αὐτὰ παρακαλῶ, ὥστε αὐτόν τε τῇ προσηκούσῃ ἀνδρείᾳ χρήσασθαι εἰς τὸ ἀποστρέφεσθαι ἐκείνους, τούς τε ἄλλους ἅπαντας εἰς τοῦτο ἀλείφειν. Οὐ γὰρ μικρὸς ὑμῖν κείσεται ὁ μισθὸς, εἰ τοὺς χειμῶνα τοσοῦτον ἀνάψαντας, καὶ τὸ πᾶν ἐμπλήσαντας μυρίων σκανδάλων, μέλλοιτε ἀποστρέφεσθαι ὡς προσῆκόν ἐστι. Καὶ γὰρ μεγίστην ἐντεῦθεν τὰ πράγματα λήψεται διόρθωσιν. Καὶ ἡμῶν δὲ τῶν ἀγαπώντων σε σφόδρα διηνεκῶς μεμνῆσθαι παρακαλοῦμεν. Οἶσθα γὰρ ὅπως διετέθημέν τε καὶ διακείμεθα ἀεὶ περὶ τὴν σὴν εὐλάβειαν. Αʹ. Ῥωμανῷ πρεσβυτέρῳ. Καὶ τοῦτο σὸν, καὶ τῆς μεγάλης σου καὶ ὑψηλῆς καὶ φιλοσόφου γνώμης, τὸ μηδὲ ἐν χειμῶνι τοσούτων πραγμάτων ἐπιλαθέσθαι τῆς ἡμετέρας ἀγάπης, ἀλλὰ μένειν ἀκίνητον καὶ ἀκμάζουσαν διατηροῦντα τὴν πρὸς ἡμᾶς φιλίαν. Τοῦτο γὰρ ἔγνων μὲν καὶ παρὰ τῶν ἐκεῖθεν ἀφικνουμένων σαφῶς, ᾔδειν δὲ καὶ πρὶν 52.656 ἢ παρ' ἑτέρων μάθω. Οἶδα γάρ σου τὸ στεῤῥὸν καὶ ἀπερίτρεπτον τῆς διανοίας, τὸ πεπηγὸς καὶ ἀκίνητον τῆς γνώμης. ∆ιὸ καὶ πολλὰς ἔχω χάριτας τῇ θεοσεβείᾳ τῇ σῇ, καὶ παρακαλῶ σου τὴν εὐλάβειαν, καὶ ἐν μεγίστης αἰτῶ χάριτος μέρει, τὸ συνεχῶς ἡμῖν ἐπιστέλλειν, ἡνίκα ἂν ἐξῇ. Οἶσθα γὰρ ὅσην δεχόμεθα παράκλησιν καὶ ἐν ἀλλοτρίᾳ διατρίβοντες, ὅταν καὶ γράμματα δεξώμεθα τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς σῆς ἡμᾶς εὐαγγελιζόμενα. Σφόδρα γὰρ ἐπιθυμοῦμεν καὶ ἐῤῥῶσθαι καὶ ὑγιαίνειν τὴν σὴν θεοσέβειαν, ἐπειδήπερ ἡ ὑγεία ἡ σὴ πολλοῖς στηριγμὸς καὶ λιμὴν καὶ βακτηρία τυγχάνει, καὶ μυρίων κατορθωμάτων ὑπόθεσις. Βʹ. Μωϋσῇ πρεσβυτέρῳ. Ἡ μὲν ὑπερβολὴ τῶν ἐγκωμίων τῶν τοῖς γράμμασιν ἐγκειμένων τῆς σῆς τιμιότητος, σφόδρα ἡμῶν ὑπερβαίνει τὴν οὐθένειαν. ∆ιὸ τούτων ἀφέμενος, μὴ διαλίπῃς εὐχόμενος ὑπέρ τε τοῦ κοινοῦ τῶν Ἐκκλησιῶν, ὑπέρ τε τῆς ταπεινώσεως τῆς ἡμετέρας, καὶ τὸν φιλάνθρωπον παρακαλῶν Θεὸν δοῦναι λύσιν τοῖς καταλαβοῦσι τὴν οἰκουμένην κακοῖς. Εὐχῶν γὰρ μόνων τὰ παρόντα δεῖται πράγματα, καὶ εὐχῶν μάλιστα τῶν ὑμετέρων, τῶν πολλὴν πρὸς τὸν Θεὸν παῤῥησίαν κεκτημένων. Μὴ δὴ διαλίπητε τοῦτο ἐκτενῶς ποιοῦντες· καὶ ἡμῖν δὲ, ἡνίκα ἂν ἐξῇ, συνεχῶς ἐπιστέλλειν μὴ κατοκνεῖτε· οὐ γὰρ πολὺ τῆς ὁδοῦ τὸ μῆκος. Σφόδρα γὰρ ἐπιθυμοῦμεν μανθάνειν περὶ τῆς ὑμετέρας ὑγείας, ἐπείπερ ὑμῶν ἡ ὑγεία πολλοῖς στηριγμὸς καὶ παράκλησις γίνεται. Ἀεὶ μὲν γὰρ ὑμῶν χρεία τῆς ζωῆς, μάλιστα δὲ νῦν ἐν τοσούτῳ χειμῶνι καὶ ζόφῳ, ἵν' ὥσπερ καθαροὶ φωστῆρες φαινόμενοι, λάμπητε τοῖς χειμαζομένοις καὶ κλυδωνιζομένοις. Ἵν' οὖν καὶ ἡμεῖς εὐθυμῶμεν, πυκνὰ πέμπετε ἡμῖν γράμματα, περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς ὑμετέρας εὐαγγελιζόμενα, καὶ οὐ μικρὰν καρπωσόμεθα παράκλησιν, ἂν ταῦτα συνεχῶς μανθάνωμεν περὶ τῆς τιμιότητος τῆς ὑμετέρας. Γʹ. Ἀφθονίῳ, Θεοδότῳ, Χαιρέᾳ, πρεσβυτέροις καὶ μονάζουσι, καὶ πᾶσι τοῖς τῆς συνοικίας ὑμῶν. Φέρει μέν τι πλέον εἰς παραμυθίας λόγον τοῖς ἀγαπῶσι καὶ ἡ σωματικὴ παρουσία τῶν ἀγαπωμένων. Ἐπεὶ καὶ ὁ μακάριος Παῦλος συνεχῶς, μᾶλλον δὲ διηνεκῶς, τὴν οἰκουμένην ἅπασαν τῶν πιστῶν ἐπὶ τῆς αὐτοῦ διανοίας περιφέρων, καὶ οὐδὲ ἐν ταῖς ἁλύσεσιν, οὐδὲ ἐν τοῖς δεσμοῖς, καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀπολογίᾳ ἀνεχόμενος αὐτοὺς ἀποθέσθαι· ὃ καὶ δηλῶν, ἔλεγε· ∆ιὰ τὸ ἔχειν με ἐν τῇ καρδίᾳ ὑμᾶς, ἔν τε τοῖς δεσμοῖς μου, καὶ ἐν τῇ ἀπολογίᾳ καὶ βεβαιώσει τοῦ Εὐαγγελίου· μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς σπουδῆς καὶ τὴν τοῦ σώματος ἐπεζήτει παρουσίαν, οὕτω λέγων· Ἡμεῖς δὲ ἀπορφανισθέντες ἀφ' ὑμῶν πρὸς καιρὸν ὥρας, προσώπῳ, οὐ καρδίᾳ, περισσοτέρως ἐσπουδάσαμεν τὸ πρόσωπον