John Chrysostom, Letters

of disposition, of genuine and sincere love, and of a free and lofty mind, of a soul full of confidence? For even if we should go to the very ends of the world, we shall go bearing you with us everywhere, our fervent lover, 52.718 and one bound very closely to us by the law of love. For which reason, though settled in the very wilderness of our part of the world, I mean Cucusus, and not being able easily to find those who carry letters, we have made great haste both to seek and to find the one carrying this letter of ours, so as to greet your wonderfulness, and to give the due salutation to your magnificence. That you yourself also, from what you have already done, will not need reminding by us to write to us continually, and to announce the good news of your health, I think there is no need to doubt. For we shall reap no ordinary consolation when we receive letters from you who love us so very much, declaring your well-being, and continually renewing your love through your letters, and causing us to imagine the presence of your love. For a frequency of letters is sufficient, when they are brought from genuine friends, to artfully create the pleasure of their presence. 100. To Brison. What is this? While we were there you were zealous to do and say countless things, and to the whole city, or rather to the whole world, you have become conspicuous for the affection which you show towards us, not being able to contain it in silence, but showing it everywhere through your deeds, through your words; yet you have not deigned to write to us even once, and this when we are very thirsty for your epistles, and desire your letters? Do you not know how much consolation we were about to reap, receiving letters, the offspring of so genuine a soul, of so fervent a friendship? And I say these things not in accusation—for I know that whether writing or silent, you maintain a flourishing disposition towards us—but because I greatly desire your letters. And even when you do not write, we do not cease to ask those who arrive from there about your well-being and your cheerfulness, and we greatly rejoice to hear the things we desire; but we wish to learn these things also from your tongue and from your right hand. If, then, we ask for nothing burdensome or grievous, grant us at least now this favour, which is very great and most pleasant, and brings us much pleasure. 101. To the deaconess Amprocla. I received a second letter, though you said you had sent a former one, my most honoured and most esteemed lady. And I say the same things again: do not call it boldness to be the first to leap to writing to us, nor consider that a sin which is the greatest praise. For we take this as a proof of a fervent and warm love, and of your genuine and sincere disposition, which is warmer than a flame. 52.719 Knowing these things, therefore, lavish this favour on us continually, informing us of your health, and send us snowstorms of letters, announcing this. For if we are confident concerning those who love us, that you are in good spirits and in health and in safety, we shall receive no small consolation for our sojourn in a strange land, but shall also reap the greatest comfort, although we dwell in the remotest wilderness. Considering, therefore, how great a festival you will create for us, do not begrudge us this most beautiful gladness, but as far as it is possible and practicable, constantly announce to us the good news of your well-being. 102. To Onesicratia. We too were greatly pained to hear about your blessed daughter. But nevertheless, knowing the philosophical quality of your mind and the loftiness of your spirit, we are very confident that you will stand superior to such waves. For while it is impossible not to grieve, we exhort you to do this in moderation, knowing the ephemeral nature of human affairs, and that these sufferings are common to all, and that it is a common law of nature, and the decree of God, the Master of us all. For this is indeed not death, but a journey abroad and a removal from worse things to better. All these things, therefore,

διαθέσεως, τῆς γνησίας καὶ εἰλικρινοῦς ἀγάπης, καὶ ἐλευθέρας γνώμης καὶ ὑψηλῆς, τῆς πεπαῤῥησιασμένης ψυχῆς; Κἂν γὰρ πρὸς αὐτὰς ἀπέλθωμεν τὰς ἐσχατιὰς τῆς οἰκουμένης, πανταχοῦ σε περιφέροντες ἄπιμεν, τὸν θερμὸν ἡμῶν ἐραστὴν, 52.718 καὶ σφόδρα ἡμῖν τῷ τῆς ἀγάπης νόμῳ συνδεδεμένον. ∆ιὸ καὶ πρὸς αὐτὴν τὴν ἐρημίαν τῆς καθ' ἡμᾶς οἰκουμένης ἀπῳκισμένοι, τὴν Κουκουσὸν λέγω, καὶ οὐ ῥᾳδίως ἐπιτυχεῖν τῶν τὰ γράμματα διακομιζόντων δυνάμενοι, πολλὴν ἐποιησάμεθα σπουδὴν ἐπιζητῆσαί τε καὶ εὑρεῖν τὸν ταύτην ἡμῶν τὴν ἐπιστολὴν διακομίζοντα, ὥστε σου προσειπεῖν τὴν θαυμασιότητα, καὶ τὴν ὀφειλομένην πρόσρησιν ἀποδοῦναι τῇ μεγαλοπρεπείᾳ τῇ σῇ. Ὅτι δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς, ἐξ ὧν ἤδη πεποίηκας, οὐ δεήσῃ τῆς παρ' ἡμῶν ὑπομνήσεως εἰς τὸ συνεχῶς ἡμῖν ἐπιστέλλειν, καὶ τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς σῆς εὐαγγελίζεσθαι, οὐδὲν οἶμαι δεῖν ἀμφιβάλλειν. Καὶ γὰρ οὐ τὴν τυχοῦσαν καρπωσόμεθα παράκλησιν, ὅταν παρ' ὑμῶν τῶν σφόδρα ἡμᾶς ἀγαπώντων δεχώμεθα γράμματα, περὶ τῆς ῥώσεως τῆς ὑμετέρας δηλοῦντα, καὶ τὴν ἀγάπην διὰ τῶν ἐπιστολῶν συνεχῶς ἀνανεοῦντα, καὶ τὴν παρουσίαν τῆς ὑμετέρας ἀγάπης ποιοῦντα φαντάζεσθαι. Ἀρκεῖ γὰρ πυκνότης ἐπιστολῶν, ὅταν παρὰ φίλων γνησίων φέρηται, καὶ τῆς παρουσίας σοφίσασθαι τὴν ἡδονήν. Ρʹ. Βρίσωνι. Τί τοῦτο; Αὐτόθι μὲν ὄντων ἡμῶν μυρία καὶ ποιεῖν καὶ λέγειν ἐσπούδακας, καὶ τῇ πόλει πάσῃ, μᾶλλον δὲ τῇ οἰκουμένῃ κατάδηλος γέγονας ἐπὶ τῷ φίλτρῳ, ᾧ περὶ ἡμᾶς ἐπιδείκνυσαι, μὴ στέγων αὐτὸ σιγῇ κατέχειν, ἀλλὰ διὰ τῶν ἔργων, διὰ τῶν ῥημάτων πανταχοῦ ἐπιδεικνύμενος, ἐπιστεῖλαι δὲ ἡμῖν οὐδὲ ἅπαξ κατεδέξω, καὶ ταῦτα σφόδρα διψῶσι τῶν ἐπιστολῶν τῶν σῶν, καὶ τῶν γραμμάτων ἐπιθυμοῦσιν; Οὐκ οἶσθα ὅσην ἐμέλλομεν καρποῦσθαι παράκλησιν τῆς οὕτω γνησίας ψυχῆς, τῆς οὕτω θερμῆς φιλίας ἔγγονα δεχόμενοι γράμματα; Καὶ ταῦτα οὐκ ἐγκαλῶν λέγω οἶδα γὰρ ὅτι καὶ γράφων, καὶ σιγῶν, ἀκμάζουσαν διατηρεῖς τὴν περὶ ἡμᾶς διάθεσιν, ἀλλὰ σφόδρα ἐπιθυμῶν σου τῶν ἐπιστολῶν. Καὶ μὴ γράφοντος μέν σου, οὐ παυόμεθα τοὺς ἐκεῖθεν ἀφικνουμένους ἐρωτῶντες περὶ τῆς ῥώσεώς σου καὶ τῆς εὐθυμίας, καὶ σφόδρα χαίρομεν ἀκούοντες ἅπερ ἐπιθυμοῦμεν· ἀλλὰ βουλόμεθα καὶ παρὰ τῆς γλώττης τῆς σῆς, καὶ παρὰ τῆς δεξιᾶς τῆς σῆς ταῦτα μανθάνειν. Εἰ τοίνυν μὴ βαρὺ μηδὲ ἐπαχθὲς ζητοῦμεν, νῦν γοῦν ταύτην ἡμῖν παράσχου τὴν χάριν, μεγίστην οὖσαν καὶ ἡδίστην, καὶ πολλὴν ἡμῖν φέρουσαν τὴν ἡδονήν. ΡΑʹ. Ἀμπρούκλῃ διακόνῳ. Ἐδεξάμην δευτέραν, ἣν ἔφης προτέραν ἐπιστολὴν ἐπεσταλκέναι, δέσποινά μου τιμιωτάτη καὶ κοσμιωτάτη. Καὶ τὰ αὐτὰ πάλιν λέγω, μὴ κάλει τόλμαν τὸ προτέραν τοῖς πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἐπιπηδῆσαι γράμμασι, μηδὲ ἁμάρτημα νόμιζε τὸ μέγιστον ἐγκώμιον. Ἀγάπης γὰρ ζεούσης καὶ θερμῆς τοῦτο δεῖγμα ποιούμεθα, καὶ τῆς γνησίας καὶ εἰλικρινοῦς σου διαθέσεως τῆς φλο52.719 γὸς θερμοτέρας. Ταῦτ' οὖν εἰδυῖα ἐπιδαψίλευε ταύτην ἡμῖν τὴν χάριν συνεχῶς, περὶ τῆς ὑγείας ἡμῖν δηλοῦσα τῆς σῆς, καὶ πέμπε νιφάδας ἡμῖν γραμμάτων, τοῦτο ἀπαγγελλούσας. Ἐὰν γὰρ θαῤῥῶμεν περὶ τῶν ἀγαπώντων ἡμᾶς, ὅτι ἐν ἐπιθυμίᾳ καὶ ἐν ὑγείᾳ καὶ ἐν ἀσφαλείᾳ καθεστήκατε, οὐ μικρὰν δεξόμεθα τῆς ἐν ἀλλοτρίᾳ διατριβῆς παράκλησιν, ἀλλὰ καὶ μεγίστην καρπωσόμεθα παραμυθίαν, καίτοι γε ἐσχάτην ἐρημίαν οἰκοῦντες. Λογισαμένη τοίνυν ὅσην ἡμῖν ἐργάσῃ τὴν ἑορτὴν, μὴ φθονήσῃς ἡμῖν τῆς καλλίστης ταύτης εὐφροσύνης, ἀλλ' ὡς ἂν ἐγχωρῇ, καὶ οἷόν τε ᾖ, εὐαγγελίζου διηνεκῶς ἡμῖν τὰ περὶ τῆς ῥώσεως τῆς σῆς. ΡΒʹ. Ὀνησικρατίᾳ. Σφόδρα ἠλγήσαμεν καὶ ἡμεῖς ἀκούσαντες περὶ τῆς μακαρίας θυγατρός σου. Ἀλλ' ὅμως εἰδότες τὸ φιλόσοφόν σου τῆς διανοίας, καὶ τὸ ὑψηλὸν τῆς γνώμης, πάνυ θαῤῥοῦμεν ὡς ἀνωτέρα στήσῃ τῶν τοιούτων κυμάτων. Μὴ λυπεῖσθαι μὲν γὰρ ἀμήχανον, παρακαλοῦμεν δὲ συμμέτρως τοῦτο ποιεῖν εἰδυῖαν τὸ ἐπίκηρον τῶν ἀνθρωπίνων πραγμάτων, καὶ ὡς κοινὰ ταῦτα πᾶσι τὰ πάθη, καὶ ὡς φύσεως νόμος κοινὸς, καὶ τοῦ πάντων ἡμῶν ∆εσπότου Θεοῦ ἀπόφασις. Οὐ γὰρ δὴ θάνατος τοῦτο, ἀλλ' ἀποδημία καὶ μετάστασις ἀπὸ τῶν χειρόνων πρὸς τὰ βελτίω. Ταῦτ' οὖν ἅπαντα