John Chrysostom, Letters

should show courage, when will we need him so? When there is calm and peace? I beseech you, therefore, doing what is fitting for you, stir up both him and everyone to diligence and the assistance of the storm-tossed people, which even before our letters I know well that you do of your own accord and from yourself. 211. To Timothy the presbyter. We wrote to you before and to my lord the most honorable tribune Marcian; but you have neither arranged for letters to be sent to us from him, nor have you written to us yourself. But nevertheless, imitating ourselves, we do not cease continually remembering you and writing, whenever it is possible; which indeed we have now done, confessing countless thanks to you for the zeal which you show, and the dangers which you endure, and calling you blessed. For you are not storing up for yourselves small crowns from this, being afflicted for a little while, but preparing for yourselves eternal rewards in heaven, and much greater than these labors. For the sufferings of this present 52.729 time are not worthy to be compared with the glory that will be revealed in us. 212. To Theophilus the presbyter. I was greatly pained to hear that both you and Sallustius the presbyter do not constantly attend the assembly, and this has grieved me in no ordinary way. I beseech you, therefore, if this is false, make haste to inform me, that you have been slandered in vain; but if it is true, correct such negligence. For just as your reward is greatest, especially in the present time for showing fitting courage; so the judgment will be no small one for those who hesitate, and hold back, and do not contribute their part. For you know what happened to the one who buried the one talent, who, being accused of nothing else, was punished for this alone, and paid an inexorable penalty. Make haste therefore to free me from this care. For just as it brings me great comfort and consolation when I hear that with zeal you are holding together all the storm-tossed people; so when I learn that some are negligent, I grieve in no ordinary way for those who are negligent. For the grace of God gathers together that most beautiful flock each day, as you also have known through their very works; but those who through negligence fail in their part, gather for themselves no small judgment through this negligence. 213. To Philip the presbyter. I was surprised how in so long a time you have not written to us, but you show great love for us even when we are absent, yet you have not shared your letters with us. Now at least do not hesitate to write to us, reporting on your health; for we, even when you do not write, make inquiries about your affairs, and we have learned that you were even cast out of the school, having shown the boldness that was fitting for you. This is your reward, this is a heavenly enterprise, this is an unfading crown, this is a multitude of prizes. Taking all these things into account, therefore, bear nobly what happens. For God is able to both put an end to these trials, and to make a very swift calm, and to give you a great reward for this endurance, also in the age to come. 214. To Sebastianus the presbyter. Although we are separated from your honor in body, yet in love we are bound to you, and wherever we may be, we carry your affection in our memory, even if we should be carried off to the very ends of the inhabited world. And that you yourself also have an unforgetting memory of us, I think there is no need to doubt. For I know 52.730 the genuineness of your affection, the steadfastness of your love, the unswervingness of your mind. Wherefore we also ask you to write to us continually, and to announce the good news concerning your health. For it is a matter of great concern to us to learn about this; and we will reap much consolation from such letters, even while living in a deserted place. 215. To Pelagius the presbyter. I know your gentleness, your fairness, your goodness, your sweetness, the warmth of your love, the genuineness of your affection for us. Wherefore I also greet your honor with much eagerness, and it is clear

ἐπιδείξαιτο ἀνδρείαν, πότε αὐτοῦ δεηθησόμεθα οὕτως; ὅταν γαλήνη γένηται καὶ εἰρήνη; Παρακαλῶ τοίνυν, τὰ σαυτῷ πρέποντα ποιῶν καὶ αὐτὸν καὶ πάντας διέγειρον εἰς τὴν σπουδὴν καὶ τὴν ἀντίληψιν τοῦ χειμαζομένου λαοῦ, ὃ καὶ πρὸ τῶν ἡμετέρων γραμμάτων εὖ οἶδ' ὅτι οἴκοθεν καὶ παρὰ σαυτοῦ ποιεῖς. ΣΙΑʹ. Τιμοθέῳ πρεσβυτέρῳ. Ἡμεῖς μὲν σοὶ καὶ πρώην ἐπεστάλκαμεν καὶ τῷ κυρίῳ μου τῷ τιμιωτάτῳ τριβούνῳ Μαρκιανῷ· αὐτὸς δὲ οὔτε παρ' ἐκείνου γράμματα ἡμῖν πεμφθῆναι παρεσκεύασας, οὔτε αὐτὸς ἡμῖν ἐπέσταλκας. Ἀλλ' ὅμως ἡμεῖς ἑαυτοὺς μιμούμενοι, οὐ παυόμεθα διηνεκῶς ὑμῶν μεμνημένοι καὶ ἐπιστέλλοντες, ἡνίκα ἂν ἐξῇ· ὃ δὴ καὶ νῦν πεποιήκαμεν, χάριτας ὑμῖν ὁμολογοῦντες μυρίας ὑπὲρ τῆς σπουδῆς ἧς ἐπιδείκνυσθε, καὶ τῶν κινδύνων οὓς ὑπομένετε, καὶ μακαρίζοντες ὑμᾶς. Οὐ γὰρ μικροὺς ἐντεῦθεν ὑμῖν προαποτίθεσθε στεφάνους, πρὸς ὀλίγον μὲν θλιβόμενοι, διηνεκεῖς δὲ ἀμοιβὰς ἐν τοῖς οὐρανοῖς προπαρασκευάζοντες ὑμῖν, καὶ πολλῷ μείζους τῶν ἱδρώτων τούτων. Οὐ γὰρ ἄξια τὰ παθήματα τοῦ νῦν 52.729 καιροῦ πρὸς τὴν μέλλουσαν δόξαν ἀποκαλυφθῆναι εἰς ἡμᾶς. ΣΙΒʹ. Θεοφίλῳ πρεσβυτέρῳ. Σφόδρα ἤλγησα ἀκούσας ὅτι καὶ σὺ καὶ Σαλούστιος ὁ πρεσβύτερος οὐ συνεχῶς πρὸς τὴν σύναξιν παραβάλλετε, καὶ οὐχ ὡς ἔτυχέ με τοῦτο ἐλύπησε. Παρακαλῶ τοίνυν, εἰ μὲν ψεῦδος τοῦτο, δηλῶσαί μοι σπουδάσατε, ὅτι μάτην ἐσυκοφαντήθητε· εἰ δὲ ἀληθὲς, διορθώσασθε τὴν τοιαύτην ῥᾳθυμίαν. Ὥσπερ γὰρ μέγιστος ὑμῖν ἐστιν ὁ μισθὸς, μάλιστα ἐν τῷ παρόντι καιρῷ τὴν προσήκουσαν ἀνδρείαν ἐπιδεικνυμένοις· οὕτως οὐ τὸ τυχὸν ἕσται κρῖμα ὀκνοῦσι, καὶ ἀναδυομένοις, καὶ τὰ παρ' ἑαυτῶν οὐκ εἰσφέρουσιν. Ἴστε γὰρ τί πέπονθεν ὁ τὸ τάλαντον καταχώσας τὸ ἓν, ὃς οὐδὲν ἕτερον ἐγκαλούμενος, διὰ τοῦτο μόνον ἐκολάζετο, καὶ ἀπαραίτητον ἐδίδου δίκην. Σπουδάσατε οὖν διὰ τάχους ἐλευθερῶσαί με τῆς φροντίδος. Ὥσπερ γὰρ πολλήν μοι φέρει παράκλησιν καὶ παραμυθίαν, ἐπειδὰν ἀκούσω, ὅτι μετὰ προθυμίας ἅπαντα τὸν χειμαζόμενον λαὸν συγκροτεῖτε· οὕτως ἐπειδὰν μάθω, ὅτι τινὲς ῥᾳθυμοῦσιν, οὐχ ὡς ἔτυχεν ἀλγῶ ὑπὲρ αὐτῶν τῶν ῥᾳθυμούντων. Τὴν μὲν γὰρ καλλίστην ἀγέλην ἐκείνην ἡ τοῦ Θεοῦ χάρις καθ' ἑκάστην συγκροτεῖ ἡμέραν, καθάπερ καὶ ὑμεῖς διὰ τῶν ἔργων αὐτῶν ἔγνωτε· οἱ δὲ ῥᾳθυμίᾳ τὰ παρ' ἑαυτῶν ἐλλιμπάνοντες, οὐ μικρὸν ἑαυτοῖς διὰ τῆς ῥᾳθυμίας ταύτης συνάγουσι κρῖμα. ΣΙΓʹ. Φιλίππῳ πρεσβυτέρῳ. Ἐθαύμασα, πῶς ἐν οὕτω χρόνῳ μακρῷ ἡμῖν οὐκ ἐπέσταλκας, ἀλλ' ἀγάπην μὲν περὶ ἡμᾶς ἐπιδείκνυσαι καὶ ἀπόντας πολλὴν, γραμμάτων δὲ ἡμῖν οὐ μετέδωκας τῶν σῶν. Νῦν γοῦν ἡμῖν γράφειν μὴ κατοκνήσῃς, τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς σῆς δηλῶν· ὡς ἡμεῖς γε, καὶ μὴ γράφοντός σου, τὰ σὰ περιεργαζόμεθα, καὶ ἔγνωμεν, ὅτι καὶ τῆς σχολῆς ἐξεβλήθητε, τὴν ὑμῖν πρέπουσαν παῤῥησίαν ἐπιδειξάμενοι. Τοῦτο ὑμῖν μισθὸς, τοῦτο πραγματεία οὐράνιος, τοῦτο στέφανος ἀκήρατος, τοῦτο βραβείων πλῆθος. Ταῦτ' οὖν ἅπαντα λογιζόμενοι, γενναίως φέρετε τὰ συμπίπτοντα. Ἱκανὸς γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς καὶ τοὺς πειρασμοὺς λῦσαι τούτους, καὶ ταχίστην ποιῆσαι γαλήνην, καὶ τῆς ὑπομονῆς ὑμῖν ταύτης πολὺν καὶ ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι αἰῶνι δοῦναι τὸν μισθόν. ΣΙ∆ʹ. Σεβαστιανῷ πρεσβυτέρῳ. Εἰ καὶ τῷ σώματι κεχωρίσμεθά σου τῆς τιμιότητος, ἀλλὰ καὶ τῇ ἀγάπῃ σοι συνδεδέμεθα, καὶ ὅπουπερ ἂν ὦμεν, περιφέρομέν σου τὴν διάθεσιν ἐπὶ τῆς μνήμης, κἂν εἰς αὐτὰ τῆς οἰκουμένης ἀπενεχθῶμεν τὰ τέρματα. Ὅτι δὲ καὶ αὐτὸς ἄληστον ἔχεις τὴν μνήμην ἡμῶν, οὐδὲν οἶμαι δεῖν ἀμφιβάλλειν. Οἶδα 52.730 γάρ σου τὸ γνήσιον τῆς διαθέσεως, τῆς ἀγάπης τὸ στεῤῥὸν, τὸ ἀπερίτρεπτον τῆς γνώμης. ∆ιὸ καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν συνεχῶς ἡμῖν ἐπιστέλλειν, καὶ τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς σῆς εὐαγγελίζεσθαι. Σφόδρα γὰρ ἡμῖν περισπούδαστον περὶ ταύτης μανθάνειν· καὶ πολλὴν καὶ ἐν ἐρημίᾳ διατρίβοντες ἀπὸ τῶν τοιούτων γραμμάτων καρπωσόμεθα τὴν παράκλησιν. ΣΙΕʹ. Πελαγίῳ πρεσβυτέρῳ. Οἶδά σου τὸ πρᾶον, τὸ ἐπιεικὲς, τὸ χρηστὸν, τὸ γλυκὺ, τὸ θερμὸν τῆς ἀγάπης, τὸ γνήσιον τῆς διαθέσεως τῆς περὶ ἡμᾶς. ∆ιὸ καὶ προσαγορεύω σου τὴν τιμιότητα μετὰ πολλῆς τῆς προθυμίας, καὶ δῆλον