John Chrysostom, Letters

considering, bear bravely what has happened, and give thanks to the man-loving God. For if the blow has become more grievous, in overtaking the previous one while it was still fresh, yet the crown of your endurance will be more glorious, and the rewards greater, for you who bear the suffering with thanksgiving and glorification. Therefore, so that we too may not grieve exceedingly, but may know clearly that some benefit has come to you from our letters, do not hesitate to write this very thing to us, making it clear that the cloud of your despondency has been scattered, and much of the pain of the wound has been cut away. For if we learn these things, we will not cease sending you snowstorms of letters; for we do not hold to your nobility in a casual way, having always enjoyed genuine and sincere honor, and reverence, and love from your modesty. Constantly remembering these things, we keep our affection for you flourishing, even if we should arrive at the very ends of the inhabited world. 103. To Paeanius. You have greatly uplifted me and made me leap for joy, because, having reported the sorrowful things, you added the saying, which one must say over all that happens, saying: Glory then to God for all things. This saying is a fatal blow to the devil; this is a very great source of security and pleasure for the one who says it in every danger. For as soon as one utters this, the cloud of despondency is immediately scattered. Do not then cease saying this, 52.720 and teaching others. Thus also the storm that has seized us, even if it becomes harsher, will change to a calm; thus also those who are storm-tossed will reap a greater reward, along with being delivered from their troubles. This crowned Job, this saying turned the devil to flight, and made him depart with his head covered in shame, this is the destruction of all disturbance. Remain then chanting this over all that happens. But on account of the place, let no one bother us any longer. For even if Cucusus is a desolate place, nevertheless we enjoy quiet here, and we have been able to correct no small part of the weakness that came upon us during the journey, through constant sitting at home. But if you are going to compel us again to change from place to place, we shall suffer the worst, and especially with winter at the doors. Therefore let no one be burdensome to anyone, nor vexatious on account of this matter. But write to us constantly about your health, and your life there, and your good reputation, and your cheerfulness. For not a little consolation shall we reap, even living in such a desert, receiving such letters from your honor. 104. To Gemellus. We inhabit a desolate place, Cucusus, and the most desolate in all our inhabited world. Yet even if we were carried off to the very ends of the earth, we cannot forget your love; but even living in a foreign land and in a desert, and still carrying about the remains of illness, and being besieged by the fear of bandits (for the Isaurians do not cease from walling off the roads and filling everything with blood), we carry you continually in our thoughts, forming in our minds your courage, your boldness, your sweet and genuine disposition, and delighting in the memory of these thoughts. But you yourself write to us continually, most wonderful master, about your health, and how the hot baths have treated you, and in what your affairs now stand; so that even being far away, we may have no less than those who are always with you, in clearly knowing your affairs. For you know how very earnest we are to learn about your health, because we love you exceedingly, and are bound with precision to your magnificence. 105. To Claudianus. What is this? Our ardent lover, the frenzied one, who has enjoyed so much love from us, who is continually bound to us, have you not deemed us worthy even of a letter in so long a time, but have you endured to keep silent for so long a silence? What then can be the reason? Have you cast us out of your mind after your departure, and have you become more neglectful concerning our 52.721 love? I for my part do not think so; for may this never happen, from so friendly a

λογιζομένη, φέρε γενναίως τὸ συμβὰν, καὶ εὐχαρίστει τῷ φιλανθρώπῳ Θεῷ. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ χαλεπωτέρα ἡ πληγὴ γέγονε, πρὸς τὸ νεαρὰν οὖσαν τὴν προτέραν καταλαβεῖν, ἀλλὰ καὶ λαμπρότερός σοι ὁ στέφανος τῆς ὑπομονῆς, καὶ μείζω τὰ βραβεῖα, μετ' εὐχαριστίας καὶ δοξολογίας φερούσῃ τὸ πάθος. Ἵν' οὖν καὶ ἡμεῖς μὴ σφόδρα ἀλγῶμεν, ἀλλ' εἰδῶμεν σαφῶς ὅτι γέγονέ σοί τι πλέον ἀπὸ τῶν γραμμάτων τῶν ἡμετέρων, μὴ κατοκνήσῃς ἡμῖν γράψαι τοῦτο αὐτὸ, δηλοῦσα ὅτι σοι τῆς ἀθυμίας διεσκεδάσθη τὸ νέφος, καὶ τὸ πολὺ τῆς ὀδύνης τοῦ ἕλκους ὑποτέτμηται. Εἰ γὰρ ταῦτα μάθοιμεν, οὐ παυσόμεθα νιφάδας ἐπιστολῶν πέμπειν σοι· καὶ γὰρ οὐχ ὡς ἔτυχεν ἀντεχόμεθά σου τῆς εὐγενείας, γνησίας ἀεὶ καὶ εἰλικρινοῦς καὶ τιμῆς, καὶ αἰδοῦς, καὶ ἀγάπης ἀπολαύσαντες παρὰ τῆς σῆς κοσμιότητος. Ὧν συνεχῶς μεμνημένοι, ἀκμάζουσαν τὴν περὶ σὲ διάθεσιν τηροῦμεν, κἂν πρὸς αὐτὰς ἀφικώμεθα τῆς οἰκουμένης τὰς ἐσχατιάς. ΡΓʹ. Παιανίῳ. Σφόδρα με ἀνεπτέρωσας, καὶ σκιρτᾷν ἐποίησας, ὅτι, τὰ λυπηρὰ ἀπαγγείλας, ἐπέθηκας τὸ ῥῆμα, ὃ πᾶσι τοῖς συμβαίνουσιν ἐπιλέγειν χρὴ, εἰπών· ∆όξα δὴ τῷ Θεῷ πάντων ἕνεκα. Τοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμα καιρία τῷ διαβόλῳ πληγή· τοῦτο μεγίστη τῷ λέγοντι ἐν παντὶ κινδύνῳ ἀσφαλείας καὶ ἡδονῆς ὑπόθεσις. Ἅμα τε γάρ τις ἐφθέγξατο τοῦτο, καὶ σκεδάννυται εὐθέως τῆς ἀθυμίας τὸ νέφος. Μὴ δὴ παύσῃ τοῦτό τε λέγων, 52.720 καὶ τοὺς ἅλλους παιδεύων. Οὕτω καὶ ὁ χειμὼν ὁ καταλαβὼν, κἂν τραχύτερος γένηται, εἰς γαλήνην μεταστήσεται· οὕτω καὶ οἱ χειμαζόμενοι πλείονα καρπώσονται τὴν ἀμοιβὴν μετὰ τοῦ καὶ τῶν δεινῶν ἀπαλλαγῆναι. Τοῦτο τὸν Ἰὼβ ἐστεφάνωσε, τοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμα τὸν διάβολον ἐτρέψατο, καὶ ἐγκαλυψάμενον ἀναχωρῆσαι πεποίηκεν, τοῦτο θορύβου παντὸς ἀναίρεσις. Μένε δὴ τοῦτο ἐπᾴδων τοῖς γινομένοις ἅπασι. Τοῦ τόπου δὲ ἕνεκεν, μηκέτι λοιπὸν μηδεὶς ἐνοχλείτω. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ ἔρημον τὸ χωρίον ἡ Κουκουσὸς, ἀλλ' ὅμως καὶ ἡσυχίας ἀπολαύομεν ἐνταῦθα, καὶ οὐ τὸ τυχὸν ἐκ τῆς ἀσθενείας τῆς κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν γενομένης ἡμῖν, διὰ τῆς οἴκοι καθέδρας τῆς διηνεκοῦς, διορθῶσαι ἰσχύσαμεν. Ἂν δὲ μέλλητε πάλιν ἡμᾶς ἀναγκάζειν τόπους ἐκ τόπων ἀμείβειν, τὰ ἔσχατα πεισόμεθα, καὶ μάλιστα τοῦ χειμῶνος ἐπὶ θύραις ὄντος. Μηδενὶ τοίνυν φορτικὸς μηδεὶς, μηδὲ ἐπαχθὴς γενέσθω ταύτης ἕνεκεν τῆς ὑποθέσεως. Ἀλλὰ γράφε ἡμῖν συνεχῶς τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς σῆς, καὶ τῆς διατριβῆς τῆς αὐτόθι, καὶ τῆς εὐδοκιμήσεως, καὶ τῆς εὐθυμίας. Οὐ γὰρ τὴν τυχοῦσαν, καὶ ἐν ἐρημίᾳ τοιαύτῃ διατρίβοντες, καρπωσόμεθα παράκλησιν, τοιαῦτα παρὰ τῆς σῆς τιμιότητος δεχόμενοι γράμματα. Ρ∆ʹ. Γεμέλλῳ. Ἔρημον μὲν οἰκοῦμεν χωρίον τὴν Κουκουσὸν, καὶ πάσης τῆς καθ' ἡμᾶς οἰκουμένης ἐρημότατον. Πλὴν κἂν πρὸς αὐτὰ τῆς οἰκουμένης τὰ πέρατα ἀπενεχθῶμεν, ἐπιλαθέσθαι σου τῆς ἀγάπης οὐ δυνάμεθα· ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐν ἀλλοτρίᾳ καὶ ἐν ἐρημίᾳ διατρίβοντες, καὶ ἔτι λείψανα ἀῤῥωστίας περιφέροντες, καὶ φόβῳ λῃστῶν πολιορκούμενοι οὐ γὰρ ἀφίστανται τὰς ὁδοὺς ἀποτειχίζοντες καὶ πάντα αἱμάτων πληροῦντες οἱ Ἰσαῦροι, διηνεκῶς σε ἐπὶ διανοίας περιφέρομεν, τὴν ἀνδρείαν σου, τὴν παῤῥησίαν, τὴν γλυκεῖαν καὶ γνησίαν διάθεσιν παρ' αὐτοῖς ἀναπλάττοντες, καὶ τούτων τῶν λογισμῶν ἐντρυφῶντες τῇ μνήμῃ. Γράφε δὲ αὐτὸς ἡμῖν συνεχῶς, δέσποτα θαυμασιώτατε, τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς σῆς, καὶ πῶς σοι τὰ θερμὰ ἐχρήσατο, καὶ ἐν τίσιν ὁρμᾷ τὰ σὰ νῦν· ἵνα καὶ πόῤῥωθεν ὄντες, μηδὲν ἔλαττον ἔχωμεν τῶν ἀεί σοι συγγινομένων, εἰς τὸ σαφῶς εἰδέναι τὰ σά. Οἶσθα γὰρ ὅπως ἡμῖν περισπούδαστον περὶ τῆς ῥώσεως τῆς σῆς μανθάνειν, διὰ τὸ σφόδρα σου ἐρᾷν, καὶ συνδεδέσθαι μετὰ ἀκριβείας τῇ μεγαλοπρεπείᾳ τῇ σῇ. ΡΕʹ. Κλαυδιανῷ. Τί τοῦτο; Ὁ θερμὸς ἡμῶν ἐραστὴς, ὁ μανικὸς, τοσαύτης παρ' ἡμῶν ἀπολαύσας ἀγάπης, ὁ διηνεκῶς ἡμῖν συνδεδεμένος, οὐδὲ γραμμάτων ἡμᾶς ἐν οὕτω χρόνῳ μακρῷ ἠξίωσας, ἀλλ' ἠνέσχου σιγῆσαι σιγὴν οὕτω μακράν; Τί ποτε ἄρα τὸ αἴτιον; Ἆρα μετὰ τὴν ἀποδημίαν ἐξέβαλες ἡμᾶς τῆς διανοίας τῆς σῆς, καὶ ῥᾳθυμότερος περὶ τὴν ἡμετέραν γέγονας 52.721 ἀγάπην; Οὐκ ἔγωγε οἶμαι· μὴ γάρ ποτε τοῦτο γένηται, ἀπὸ φιλικῆς οὕτω