John Chrysostom, Letters

knowing, my most modest and most noble lady, whether we are writing, or are silent, that you feel the same way about the disposition which we have always shown towards you. 100. To Marcianus and Marcellinus. This is the cause of our long silence, which is also for your nobility; but a silence not of the mind, but of the tongue. For in our thoughts we both write and speak to you continuously, or rather perpetually, to your most noble and most harmonious soul, and having engraved you on our conscience, we carry you everywhere; for such is it to love genuinely. Knowing these things, therefore, my most longed for and most honored lords, write when it is possible, making known the things concerning your health. But be of good courage, that even when you are silent we will cast the same vote concerning your love as when you write, voting these things from your own mind. 101. To Severus the presbyter. We indeed, although dwelling in a most desolate place, have both written many times to your harmony, and we do not cease to continually ask those who arrive from there about your health. But I do not know why you, being such a frenzied lover of us, and having much ease of those who convey letters here, are silent with so long a silence. But we, considering your warmth and genuineness, the sincerity of your disposition, which you always showed towards us, reap the greatest comfort even in your long silence. Nevertheless, we wish also to enjoy your letters continually, reporting to us about your health, and what we learn from others, we wished to learn these things from your tongue, and from your hand. Do this now at least, my most honored master; for you know what a great favor you will grant us. For we, both writing and not writing, do not cease to remember, and to preserve the love which we have always shown towards 52.662 your reverence, wherever we may be. For by doing this we will grant the greatest favors to ourselves. 102. To Theodotus the reader. What are you saying? Have the waves risen up against you now more than were expected, and because of this you are in pain? For this very reason, therefore, one must rejoice and leap. Since the blessed Paul also did so, at one time saying, "Not only so, but we glory in tribulations also;" and at another, "I rejoice in my sufferings." For the greater and harsher the storm becomes, the greater the profit, the brighter the crowns of endurance, the many the prizes. Since I myself am confident on your account; for I know your steadfastness, and unswervingness, and firmness; but on account of those who plot, I grieve and weep, because those who ought to be in the rank of healers, display the actions of enemies. One thing alone grieves me, the weakness of your eyes, for which I very much expect you to take great account, both by consulting with physicians, and contributing what you can from your own resources. As for the tribulations brought upon you, as I said before, I expect you to rejoice, and I rejoice with you. For I know how great the fruit of endurance is born for you from this. Therefore let none of the things that befall you disturb you, nor trouble you. For one thing only is grievous: sin. As for all other things, for you who are watchful and sober, they will be an occasion for the greatest gains, and will bring you those ineffable good things in the heavens with great abundance. Engaging, therefore, in such a business each day, rejoice and be glad, and do not hesitate to write to us continually. For we wish you to be with us; but since not only the winter season, but also that of summer is equally burdensome, we were afraid to cast you into an intemperance of airs, especially on account of the affliction of your eyes. Therefore, making it your work to give much care to these things, and concerning these things, when you write to us continually, make it clear if you have been even a little better disposed, so that sitting at such a distance, we may from this reap much gladness. 103. To Amproucla the deaconess and those with her. I have been separated by a great length of road from your honor, but your brave deeds and the

εἰδυῖα, κυρία μου κοσμιωτάτη καὶ εὐγενεστάτη, καὶ γραφόντων ἡμῶν, καὶ σιγώντων, ὁμοίως διάκεισο περὶ τῆς διαθέσεως, ἣν ἀεὶ περὶ ὑμᾶς ἐπεδειξάμεθα. Ρʹ. Μαρκιανῷ καὶ Μαρκελλίνῳ. Τοῦτο καὶ ἡμῖν τῆς μακρᾶς σιγῆς αἴτιον γίνεται, ὃ καὶ τῇ εὐγενείᾳ τῇ ὑμετέρᾳ· ἀλλὰ σιγῆς οὐ τῆς κατὰ τὴν γνώμην, ἀλλὰ τῆς κατὰ τὴν γλῶτταν. Ὡς τῇ διανοίᾳ καὶ ἐπιστέλλομεν, καὶ προσφθεγγόμεθα συνεχῶς, μᾶλλον δὲ διηνεκῶς, τὴν εὐγενεστάτην καὶ ἐμμελεστάτην ὑμῶν ψυχὴν, καὶ ἐγκολάψαντες ὑμᾶς τῷ συνειδότι, πανταχοῦ περιφέρομεν· τοιοῦτον γὰρ τὸ φιλεῖν γνησίως. Ταῦτ' οὖν εἰδότες, κύριοί μου ποθεινότατοι καὶ τιμιώτατοι, ἐπιστέλλετε μὲν, ἡνίκα ἂν ἐξῇ, τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγιείας τῆς ὑμετέρας δηλοῦντες. Θαῤῥεῖτε δὲ, ὅτι καὶ σιγώντων ὑμῶν τὴν αὐτὴν περὶ τῆς ἀγάπης ὑμῶν ψῆφον οἴσομεν, ἣν καὶ γραφόντων, ἀπὸ τῆς γνώμης ταῦτα ψηφιζόμενοι τῆς ὑμετέρας. ΡΑʹ. Σευήρῳ πρεσβυτέρῳ. Ἡμεῖς μὲν καίτοι χωρίον ἐρημότατον οἰκοῦντες, καὶ ἐπεστάλκαμεν πολλάκις πρὸς τὴν σὴν ἐμμέλειαν, καὶ τοὺς ἐκεῖθεν ἀφικνουμένους οὐ παυόμεθα συνεχῶς ἐρωτῶντες περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς σῆς. Αὐτὸς δὲ οὐκ οἶδα, ἀνθ' ὅτου μανικὸς ἡμῶν οὕτως ἐραστὴς ὢν, καὶ πολλὴν εὐκολίαν ἔχων τῶν ἐνταῦθα διακομιζόντων τὰ γράμματα, σιγᾷς οὕτω μακρὰν σιγήν. Ἀλλ' ἡμεῖς τὸ θερμόν σου καὶ γνήσιον, τὸ εἰλικρινὲς τῆς διαθέσεως, ὃ περὶ ἡμᾶς ἀεὶ ἐπεδείξω, ἐννοοῦντες, καὶ ἐν τῇ σιγῇ τῇ μακρᾷ μεγίστην καρπούμεθα παράκλησιν. Πλὴν ἀλλὰ βουλόμεθα καὶ γραμμάτων συνεχῶς ἀπολαύειν τῶν σῶν, τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγιείας τῆς σῆς ἡμῖν ἀπαγγελλόντων, καὶ ἃ παρ' ἑτέρων μανθάνομεν, ταῦτα παρὰ τῆς γλώττης τῆς σῆς, καὶ τῆς χειρὸς ἐβουλόμεθα μανθάνειν. Ποίει δὴ τοῦτο νῦν γοῦν, δέσποτά μου τιμιώτατε· οἶσθα γὰρ ἡλίκα ἡμῖν χαριῇ. Ὡς ἡμεῖς καὶ γράφοντες, καὶ μὴ γράφοντες, οὐ παυόμεθα μεμνημένοι, καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην, ἣν ἀεὶ περὶ 52.662 τὴν σὴν ἐπεδειξάμεθα εὐλάβειαν, διατηροῦντες, ὅπουπερ ἂν ὦμεν. Ἡμῖν γὰρ αὐτοῖς τὰ μέγιστα χαριούμεθα τοῦτο ποιοῦντες. ΡΒʹ. Θεοδότῳ ἀναγνώστῃ. Τί φής; Πλείονά σοι τῶν προσδοκηθέντων τὰ κύματα ἐναπέστη νῦν, καὶ διὰ τοῦτο ἀλγεῖς; ∆ιὰ τοῦτο μὲν οὖν αὐτὸ χαίρειν χρὴ καὶ σκιρτᾷν. Ἐπεὶ καὶ ὁ μακάριος Παῦλος οὕτως ἐποίει, νῦν μὲν λέγων· Οὐ μόνον δὲ, ἀλλὰ καὶ καυχώμεθα ἐν ταῖς θλίψεσι· νῦν δὲ, ὅτι Χαίρω ἐν τοῖς παθήμασί μου. Ὅσῳ γὰρ ἂν μείζων καὶ τραχύτερος ὁ χειμὼν γένηται, τοσούτῳ πλείων ἡ ἐμπορία, λαμπρότεροι τῆς ὑπομονῆς οἱ στέφανοι, πολλὰ τὰ βραβεῖα. Ἐπεὶ καὶ αὐτὸς σοῦ μὲν ἕνεκεν θαῤῥῶ· οἶδα γάρ σου τὸ ἀπερίτρεπτον, καὶ ἀκλινὲς, καὶ στεῤῥόν· τῶν δὲ ἐπιβουλευόντων ἕνεκεν ἀλγῶ καὶ δακρύω, ὅτι οὓς χρὴ ἐν τάξει εἶναι τῶν θεραπευόντων, τὰ τῶν ἐχθρῶν ἐπιδείκνυνται. Ἕν με λυπεῖ μόνον, τὸ τῆς τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν σου ἀσθενείας, ὧν καὶ σφόδρα ἀξιῶ πολύν σε ποιεῖσθαι λόγον, ἰατροῖς τε διαλεγόμενον, καὶ τὰ παρὰ σαυτοῦ συνεισφέροντα. Ὡς τῶν γε θλίψεων τῶν ἐπαγομένων σοι ὅπερ καὶ ἔμπροσθεν εἶπον, αὐτόν τε χαίρειν ἀξιῶ, καὶ ἐγὼ δέ σοι συνήδομαι. Οἶδα γὰρ ὅσος ἐκ τούτου τίκτεταί σοι τῆς ὑπομονῆς ὁ καρπός. Μηδὲν οὖν σε θορυβείτω, μηδὲ ταραττέτω τῶν παρεμπιπτόντων. Ἓν γάρ ἐστι χαλεπὸν ἁμαρτία μόνον. Ὡς τά γε ἄλλα πάντα ἀγρυπνοῦντί σοι καὶ νήφοντι καὶ κερδῶν ὑπόθεσις ἔσται μεγίστη, καὶ τὰ ἀπόῤῥητα ἐκεῖνα ἀγαθὰ, τὰ ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς, μετὰ πολλῆς οἴσει σοι τῆς δαψιλείας. Τοιαύτην τοίνυν καθ' ἑκάστην ἡμέραν πραγματευόμενος πραγματείαν, χαῖρε καὶ εὐφραίνου, καὶ συνεχῶς ἡμῖν ἐπιστέλλειν μὴ κατόκνει. Ἡμεῖς μὲν γάρ σε βουλόμεθα καὶ μεθ' ἡμῶν εἶναι· ἀλλ' ἐπειδὴ οὐχ ἡ τοῦ χειμῶνος ὥρα μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἡ τοῦ θέρους ὁμοίως ἐστὶν ἐπαχθὴς, ἐδείσαμεν εἰς ἀέρων σε δυσκρασίαν ἐμβαλεῖν, μάλιστα διὰ τὸ τῶν ὀφθαλμῶν πάθος. Ἔργον τοίνυν ποιησάμενος τὸ πολλὴν τούτοις προσάγειν τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν, καὶ περὶ τούτων, ἡνίκα ἂν συνεχῶς ἡμῖν ἐπιστέλλῃς, δήλου, εἴγε κἂν μικρὸν ἄμεινόν σοι διατεθείειν, ἵνα καὶ ἐκ τοσούτου καθήμενοι διαστήματος, πολλὴν καὶ ἐντεῦθεν καρπωσώμεθα τὴν εὐφροσύνην. ΡΓʹ. Ἀμπρούκλῃ διακόνῳ καὶ ταῖς σὺν αὐτῇ. Μακρῷ μὲν διῴκισμαι τῷ μήκει τῆς ὁδοῦ τῆς ὑμετέρας τιμιότητος, τὰς δὲ ἀνδραγαθίας ὑμῶν καὶ τὰς