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being spread abroad brilliantly, bearing your achievements. For all proclaim you, admire you, crown you, bless you for your courage, for the steadfastness which you have shown through your deeds, fulfilling that scriptural word, "Strive for the truth unto death, and the Lord will fight for you." Behold, then, though so many waves 52.746 have rushed upon you, though so great a storm has arisen, no one has had the power to disturb you, nor to harm you in any way, but even those who wished to do you harm have unwillingly become the cause of greater praises for you. For these reasons, rejoice, I beseech you, and be glad, and do not cease beseeching God, who makes and remakes. For He will soon do exceedingly abundantly above what we ask or think, because of His own goodness. 240. From the same to Castus the presbyter. How clearly a soul that has fervent love shines forth and cannot be hidden! which is what has happened in the case of your honor. For not even knowing that we had written to your reverence—although indeed we had written—you nevertheless have done your part, both by writing to us, and by showing in this your genuine disposition, and filling us with much joy and comfort. In order that, then, we may continually enjoy this pleasure and be gladdened, be so kind as to do this continually, whenever it is possible. For we know that the matter is difficult, because people do not easily come here; for this is the most desolate spot in the world; but nevertheless for those who love, even difficult things become easy. For if you would be willing to make inquiries and be busy about it, you will find those who come from there for their own needs, and there will be no lack at all for one seeking a way. Knowing these things, therefore, my most honored master, send us continuous letters. For the matter has no difficulty, nor trouble, but the joy from it makes us take wing, and becomes a source of much consolation. 241. From the same to Cyriacus the presbyter. And in this I marveled at your fervent, and genuine, and unwavering love, through which you showed that you make much account of us not only when we are present, but also when we are absent. For you yourself said that we had not even written to your honor, and this was not enough to impose silence upon you, but although you thought we were silent, you sent three letters to us. But we have written once, and twice, and three times, and many times. And both were shown well: both your love, not needing our letters, and our own good will. Since, then, you know how we are disposed towards your honor, that you abound in the chief of good things, in the bond of perfection, lavish this joy upon us. For however many letters we may receive, even if they are many in number, we do not get our fill, because of how strongly we are disposed toward your honor. 242. From Chrysostom to Chalcidia and Asyncritia. You need no apology for not having come; for you have come to me in spirit, and you have no less from us than those who have arrived here. Therefore I have much gratitude for you, knowing your genuine disposition, and I have much pardon for your absence, both because of the weakness of your body and the season of the year and the fear of robbers. Do not hesitate, then, to write to us continually, bringing the good news about your 52.747 health. For even though sitting far off, we are anxious about your affairs; and if we learn that you are free from disturbances and trouble, and about your health, we reap no ordinary joy. 52.748 Knowing these things, then, continually bring us the good news of these things which we desire to learn, so that even while living in a desert we may reap much comfort from this.

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διαδίδοσθαι λαμπρὰν, κομίζουσαν ὑμῶν τὰ κατορθώματα. Πάντες γὰρ ὑμᾶς ἀνακηρύττουσι, θαυμάζουσι, στεφανοῦσι, μακαρίζουσι τῆς ἀνδρείας, τῆς στεῤῥότητος, ἣν διὰ τῶν ἔργων ἐπεδείξασθε, τὸ γραφικὸν ἐκεῖνο πληροῦντες, Ἕως θανάτου ἀγώνισαι ὑπὲρ τῆς ἀληθείας, καὶ Κύριος πολεμήσει ὑπὲρ σοῦ. Ἰδοὺ γοῦν τοσούτων κυμάτων 52.746 ἐπενεχθέντων, τοσαύτης ζάλης διαναστάσης, οὔτε θορυβῆσαί τις ὑμᾶς ἴσχυσεν, οὔτε εἰς ὁτιοῦν παραβλάψαι, ἀλλὰ καὶ μειζόνων ὑμῖν ἐγκωμίων ἄκοντες γεγόνασιν οἱ κακῶς ὑμᾶς ποιῆσαι βουλόμενοι αἴτιοι. ∆ιὰ ταῦτα χαίρετε, παρακαλῶ, καὶ εὐφραίνεσθε, καὶ τὸν Θεὸν ἱκετεύοντες μὴ διαλίπητε, τὸν ποιοῦντα καὶ μετασκευάζοντα. Ποιήσει γὰρ ταχέως ὑπὲρ ἐκπερισσοῦ ὧν αἰτούμεθα ἢ νοοῦμεν, διὰ τὴν οἰκείαν ἀγαθότητα. ΣΜʹ. Τοῦ αὐτοῦ πρὸς Κάστον πρεσβύτερον. Πῶς διαλάμπει σαφῶς, καὶ λαθεῖν οὐ δύναται ἡ ψυχὴ θερμὴν ἀγάπην ἔχουσα! ὅπερ ἐπὶ τῆς σῆς γέγονε τιμιότητος. Οὐδὲ γὰρ εἰδὼς ὅτι ἐπεστάλκαμέν σου τῇ εὐλαβείᾳ καίτοι γε ἐπεστάλκαμεν, ὅμως αὐτὸς τὰ παρὰ σαυτοῦ πεποίηκας, γράψας τε ἡμῖν, καὶ τὴν διάθεσίν σου τὴν γνησίαν καὶ ἐν τούτῳ ἐπιδειξάμενος, καὶ πολλῆς ἡμᾶς ἐμπλήσας τῆς εὐφροσύνης καὶ τῆς παρακλήσεως. Ἵν' οὖν συνεχῶς ταύτης ἀπολαύωμεν τῆς ἡδονῆς καὶ εὐφραινώμεθα, συνεχῶς τοῦτο ποιεῖν παρακέκλησο, ἡνίκα ἂν ἐξῇ. Οἴδαμεν γὰρ ὅτι τὸ πρᾶγμα δύσκολον, τῷ μὴ ῥᾳδίως τινὰς ἐνταῦθα παραγίνεσθαι· καὶ γὰρ τὸ τῆς οἰκουμένης ἐρημότατον χωρίον τοῦτό ἐστιν· ἀλλ' ὅμως τοῖς ἀγαπῶσι καὶ τὰ δύσκολα εὔκολα γίνεται. Εἰ γὰρ βουληθείης περιεργάζεσθαι καὶ πολυπραγμονεῖν, τοὺς ἐκεῖθεν κατὰ χρείας ἰδίας ἀφικνουμένους εὑρήσεις, καὶ ὅλως οὐδὲν ἐπιλείψει τῷ ζητεῖν καθ' ὁδοῦ. Ταῦτ' οὖν εἰδὼς, δέσποτά μου τιμιώτατε, συνεχεῖς ἡμῖν πέμπε ἐπιστολάς. Τό τε γὰρ πρᾶγμα δυσκολίαν οὐδεμίαν ἔχει, οὔτε πόνον, ἡ δὲ ἐξ αὐτοῦ εὐφροσύνη πτεροῦσθαι ἡμᾶς ποιεῖ, καὶ πολλῆς παραμυθίας ὑπόθεσις γίνεται. ΣΜΑʹ. Τοῦ αὐτοῦ πρὸς Κυριακὸν πρεσβύτερον. Καὶ ἐν τούτῳ ἐθαύμασά σου τὴν ἀγάπην τὴν θερμὴν, καὶ γνησίαν, καὶ ἀκλινῆ, δι' ἧς ἔδειξας, ὅτι οὐ παρόντων ἡμῶν, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἀπόντων πολὺν ποιῇ λόγον. Αὐτὸς μὲν γὰρ ἔφης μηδὲ ἐπεσταλκέναι ἡμᾶς τῇ τιμιότητί σου, καὶ οὐκ ἐγένετο τοῦτο ἱκανὸν ἐμποιῆσαί σοι σιγὴν, ἀλλὰ καίτοι νομίσας ἡμᾶς σεσιγηκέναι, τρεῖς ἐπιστολὰς ἔπεμψας πρὸς ἡμᾶς. Ἡμεῖς δὲ καὶ ἅπαξ, καὶ δὶς, καὶ τρὶς, καὶ πολλάκις ἐπεστάλκαμεν. Καὶ ἀμφότερα ἐδείχθη καλῶς, ἥ τε ἀγάπη ἡ σὴ, μὴ δεηθεῖσα τῶν γραμμάτων ἡμῶν, ἥ τε εὐγνωμοσύνη ἡ ἡμετέρα. Ἐπεὶ οὖν οἶσθα, ὅπως διακείμεθα περὶ τὴν τιμιότητά σου, ὅτι τῷ κεφαλαίῳ τῶν ἀγαθῶν βρύεις, τῷ συνδέσμῳ τῆς τελειότητος, ἐπιδαψιλεύου ταύτην ἡμῖν τὴν εὐφροσύνην. Ὅσας γὰρ ἂν λάβωμεν ἐπιστολὰς, κἂν πολλαὶ ὦσι τῷ ἀριθμῷ, οὐ λαμβάνομεν κόρον, διὰ τὸ σφόδρα διακεῖσθαί σου περὶ τὴν τιμιότητα. ΣΜΒʹ. Τοῦ Χρυσοστόμου Χαλκιδίᾳ καὶ Ἀσυγκριτίᾳ. Οὐδὲν ὑμῖν ἀπολογίας δεῖ πρὸς τὸ μὴ παραγενέσθαι· ἐμοὶ γὰρ ἀπὸ τῆς γνώμης παραγεγόνατε, καὶ οὐδὲν ἕλαττον ἔχετε παρ' ἡμῖν τῶν ἀφικομένων ἐνταῦθα. ∆ιὸ καὶ χάριν ὑμῖν ἔχω πολλὴν, τὴν γνησίαν ὑμῶν εἰδὼς διάθεσιν, καὶ ὑπὲρ τῆς ἀπουσίας πολλὴν ἔχω συγγνώμην, διά τε τὴν τοῦ σώματος ἀῤῥωστίαν καὶ τὴν τοῦ ἔτους ὥραν καὶ τὸν τῶν λῃστῶν φόβον Γράφειν δὴ μὴ κατοκνεῖτε συνεχῶς ἡμῖν τὰ περὶ τῆς 52.747 ὑγείας ὑμῶν εὐαγγελιζόμεναι. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ πόῤῥω καθήμενοι μεριμνῶμεν τὰ ὑμέτερα· κἂν μάθωμεν, ὅτι θορύβων ἐκτός ἐστε καὶ ταραχῆς καὶ τὰ περὶ τῆς ῥώσεως ὑμῶν, οὐ τὴν τυχοῦσαν καρπούμεθα εὐφρο52.748 σύνην. Ταῦτ' οὖν εἰδυῖαι, συνεχῶς ἡμᾶς εὐαγγελίζεσθε ταῦτα, ἅπερ ἐπιθυμοῦμεν μανθάνειν, ἵνα καὶ ἐν ἐρημίᾳ διατρίβοντες πολλὴν ἐντεῦθεν καρπωσώμεθα τὴν παράκλησιν.