John Chrysostom, Letters

always being with you in disposition, and wherever we may be, carrying you in our mind. 112. To Theodore the bishop. If it were possible both to come, and to embrace your reverence, and to delight in your love through your very presence, we would have done this with much eagerness and speed; but since this is not in our power now, we fulfill this very thing through letters. 52.669 For even if we were carried off to the very ends of the world, we could not forget your love, the genuine, and warm, and sincere, and guileless love, both from of old, and from the beginning, which you have also shown now. For it has not escaped our notice how much you have been zealous to say and 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 zeal and readiness, and your reward is complete. And we do not cease giving thanks to your holiness, and proclaiming your reverence to all, and exhorting you to preserve the same love flourishing for ever. For it is no ordinary consolation that we enjoy, even sitting in a desert, 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 our own affairs we need no consolation; for the cause of what has happened is sufficient consolation for us. But we lament the common winter of the Churches, and the shipwreck that has overtaken the world, and we exhort you all to help with prayers, so that this utter ruin may at some time be brought to an end, and all things change into a bright calm. Do not cease doing this. For living in concealment and hiding, you now have more leisure to persevere in prayers, and with an afflicted mind. And this is no small thing, to fall down before the merciful God. Therefore do not cease doing this, and whenever it is possible, also write to us continually. For though we have been settled far away from your diligence, yet we do not cease each day to be anxious about your affairs, and to question and inquire of those who arrive from there, even if we meet with them but rarely. Therefore, so that we may know all things more clearly, whenever it is possible, grant us this favor, sending us the good news of your health, so that even while living in the desert we may enjoy much consolation. 114. To Elpidius the bishop. This too is your work, this is the work of a sober and watchful pilot, not to fall back even when the storm has risen to such a height, but still to persevere in being anxious and concerned, and contributing everything in your power as far as is possible, running everywhere by means of letters, 52.670 rallying those near and those far away, stirring them up, exhorting that no one be carried away by the surge, but stand fast, and be sober, even if ten thousand more grievous waves than these should come on, and while established in one place, to fly everywhere by means of exhortation. For nothing of yours has escaped our notice, although we are situated at so great a distance. Wherefore we both count you blessed and admire your reverence, and your roused soul, and your unswerving judgment, and your youthful zeal in so great an old age; and it is not unreasonable. For when the tasks at hand require bodily strength, old age becomes a hindrance; but when it demands the soul's philosophy, gray hair is not wont to cast a shadow on right actions; therefore it has not cast a shadow, but all things have been contributed by your reverence. That this labor and so great a vigilance will also yield the fitting fruit, I think there is no need to doubt. And since along with the whole world you have also undertaken anxiety for us, because of your great and warm love, and you desire to learn where we are living, and in what state our affairs are, and who are with us, and to learn not simply, but so as also to give them thanks; we on our part, for so great a love, will not cease proclaiming you, crowning you, declaring you before all, acknowledging our gratitude before those who meet and associate with us. But you the

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 οὐχ ἁπλῶς, ἀλλ' ὥστε καὶ χάριν αὐτοῖς εἰδέναι· ἡμεῖς μὲν ὑπὲρ τῆς τοσαύτης ἀγάπης οὐ παυσόμεθά σε ἀνακηρύττοντες, στεφανοῦντες, παρὰ πᾶσιν ἀναγορεύοντες, χάριτας ὁμολογοῦντες παρὰ τοῖς ἐντυγχάνουσι καὶ συγγινομένοις ἡμῖν. Αὐτὸς δὲ τὰς