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180.τ TO SOPHRONIUS, MAGISTER, ON BEHALF OF EUMATHIUS

180.1 Having encountered a worthy man who is subject to an intolerable circumstance, I was afflicted in my soul. For how could I, being a man, not suffer with a free man undeservedly entangled in troubles? And having considered how I might be of use to him, I found one solution to the difficulty that possesses him: if I might make him known to your propriety. It is your part, therefore, to provide to him also your zeal, which you have demonstrated to many, with us as witnesses. The matter will be made known by the petition presented by him to the Emperors, which I beg you to take into your hands and to assist the man as you are able. For you will be doing a favor for a Christian, and a man of noble birth, and one who commands respect from his great learning. And if we add that we too receive a great favor through your kindness to him, certainly, even if our part is otherwise small, yet to your gravity, which condescends always to hold our affairs in esteem, the favor granted to us will seem not small.

181.τ TO OTREIUS, BISHOP OF MELITENE

181.1 I know that the separation from the most God-beloved bishop Eusebius touches your piety as much as it does ourselves. Since, therefore, we both are in need of consolation, let us be a comfort to one another. And do you write to us the news from Samosata, and we will report whatever we learn from Thrace. For to me, to know of the people's steadfastness brings no small relief from present griefs, and to your goodness, to be taught where our common father is. Indeed, we do not have to signify this by letter now, but we have sent you the man himself who knows accurately and will report where he left him and how he is bearing what has befallen him. Pray, therefore, both for him and for us, that the Lord may bring a swift release from these terrible things.

182.τ TO PAULINUS THE PRESBYTER

182.1 As much as we are grieved when we consider the desolation of the Church, so much do we count you blessed for having reached this measure of struggle, which may the Lord grant you to pass through with long-suffering, so that for the faithful stewardship and the noble steadfastness which you have shown for the name of Christ you may receive the great reward.

183.τ TO THE MAGISTRATES OF SAMOSATA

183.1 When I consider that the trial has now been poured out over the whole world and the greatest of the cities in Syria have experienced sufferings equal to yours, but that nowhere is the council so approved and distinguished for good works as yours is now renowned for its zeal for good works, I am close to giving thanks for what has been ordained. For if this affliction had not occurred, your proven worth would not have been revealed. So it seems that what the furnace is to gold, this is the affliction for the sake of hope in God to those who lay claim to any virtue. Come then, O admirable men, see that you add deeds worthy of those already accomplished, and that you may be seen setting a more worthy crown upon a great foundation and stand around

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180.τ ΣΩΦΡΟΝΙΩ ΜΑΓΙΣΤΡΩ ΕΥΜΑΘΙΟΥ ΕΝΕΚΕΝ

180.1 Ἀνδρὶ ἀξιολόγῳ περιτυχὼν περιστάσει οὐκ ἀνεκτῇ κεχρη μένῳ ἔπαθον

τὴν ψυχήν. Τί γὰρ οὐκ ἔμελλον, ἄνθρωπος ὤν, ἀνθρώπῳ ἐλευθέρῳ παρ' ἀξίαν ἐμπεπλεγμένῳ πράγμασι συναλγεῖν; Καὶ βουλευσάμενος πῶς ἂν γενοίμην αὐτῷ χρήσιμος μίαν εὗρον λύσιν τῆς κατεχούσης αὐτὸν δυσχε ρείας, εἰ τῇ σῇ κοσμιότητι ποιήσαιμι γνώριμον. Σὸν οὖν τὸ ἐφεξῆς τὴν σαυτοῦ σπουδήν, ἣν εἰς πολλοὺς ὑφ' ἡμῖν μάρτυσιν ἐπιδέδειξαι, καὶ αὐτῷ παρασχέσθαι. Τὸ δὲ πρᾶγμα γνωρίσει ἡ ἐπιδοθεῖσα παρ' αὐτοῦ δέησις τοῖς Βασιλεῦσιν, ἣν καὶ λαβεῖν εἰς χεῖρας καὶ συμπράξαι τῷ ἀνδρὶ τὰ δυνατὰ παρακλήθητι. Καὶ γὰρ χριστιανῷ χαρίζῃ καὶ εὐγενεῖ καὶ ἀπὸ λόγου πολλοῦ τὸ αἰδέσιμον ἐπαγομένῳ. Ἐὰν δὲ προσθῶμεν ὅτι καὶ ἡμεῖς μεγάλην διὰ τῆς εἰς αὐ τὸν εὐποιίας ὑποδεχόμεθα χάριν, πάντως, κἂν μικρὸν ᾖ ἄλλως τὸ ἡμέτερον, ἀλλὰ τῇ σῇ σεμνότητι ἀεὶ ἐν λόγῳ ποιεῖσθαι τὰ καθ' ἡμᾶς ἀνεχομένῃ οὐ μικρὸν φανεῖται τὸ χαρισθὲν ἡμῖν.

181.τ ΟΤΡΗΙΩ ΕΠΙΣΚΟΠΩ ΜΕΛΙΤΙΝΗΣ

181.1 Οἶδα ὅτι καὶ τῆς σῆς εὐλαβείας τοσοῦτον ἅπτεται ὁ χωρισμὸς τοῦ

θεοφιλεστάτου ἐπισκόπου Εὐσεβίου ὅσον καὶ ἡμῶν αὐτῶν. Ἐπεὶ οὖν ἀμφότεροι χρῄζομεν παρακλήσεως, ἀλλήλοις γινόμεθα παραμυθία. Καὶ σύ τε ἡμῖν ἐπίστελλε τὰ ἐκ Σαμοσάτων, ἡμεῖς τε ἅπερ ἂν μάθωμεν ἀπὸ τῆς Θρᾴκης ἀπαγγελοῦμεν. Φέρει γὰρ ἐμοὶ μὲν τὸ γινώσκειν τοῦ λαοῦ τὴν ἔνστασιν οὐ μικρὰν ῥᾳστώνην ἐκ τῶν παρόν των λυπηρῶν, τῇ δὲ σῇ χρηστότητι τὸ διδάσκεσθαι ἐν οἷς ἐστιν ὁ κοινὸς ἡμῶν πατήρ. Ἀμέλει καὶ νῦν οὐ γράμματι σημαίνειν ἔχομεν, ἀλλ' αὐτὸν παρεστήσαμέν σοι τὸν ἀκριβῶς εἰδότα καὶ ἀπαγγέλλοντα ἐν οἷς αὐτὸν κατέλιπε καὶ ὅπως φέροντα τὰ συμπίπτοντα. Εὔχου τοίνυν καὶ ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ καὶ ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν, ἵνα ὁ Κύριος ταχεῖαν ἐπαγάγῃ τῶν δεινῶν τούτων τὴν λύσιν.

182.τ ΠΑΥΛΙΝΩ ΠΡΕΣΒΥΤΕΡΩ

182.1 Ὅσον λυπούμεθα ἐνθυμούμενοι τὴν ἐρημίαν τῆς Ἐκκλησίας, τοσοῦτον

μακαρίζομεν ὑμᾶς εἰς τοῦτο φθάσαντας τὸ μέτρον τῆς ἀθλήσεως, ὃ παράσχοι ὑμῖν ὁ Κύριος μακρο θύμως παρελθεῖν, ἵνα καὶ τῆς πιστῆς οἰκονομίας καὶ τῆς γενναίας ἐνστάσεως ἣν ὑπὲρ τοῦ ὀνόματος τοῦ Χριστοῦ ἐπεδείξασθε τὸν μέγαν μισθὸν ὑποδέξησθε.

183.τ ΠΟΛΙΤΕΥΟΜΕΝΟΙΣ ΣΑΜΟΣΑΤΩΝ

183.1 Ὅταν ἀπίδω ὅτι ὁ μὲν πειρασμὸς κατὰ πάσης ἤδη κέχυται τῆς

οἰκουμένης καὶ αἱ μέγισται τῶν ἐπὶ Συρίας πόλεων τῶν ἴσων ὑμῖν πεπείρανται παθημάτων, οὐ παντα χοῦ δὲ οὕτω δόκιμον καὶ διαπρεπὲς ἐπ' ἀγαθοῖς ἔργοις τὸ βουλευτήριον ὡς τὸ ὑμέτερον νῦν ἐπὶ τῇ σπουδῇ τῶν ἀγαθῶν ἔργων διαβεβόηται, ἐγγύς εἰμι καὶ χάριν ἔχειν ἐπὶ τοῖς οἰκονομηθεῖσιν. Εἰ γὰρ μὴ ἐγεγόνει ἡ θλίψις αὕτη, οὐκ ἂν ὑμῶν διεφάνη τὸ δόκιμον. Ὥστε ἔοικεν, ὅπερ ἐστὶ κάμινος χρυσῷ, τοῦτο εἶναι ἡ ὑπὲρ τῆς εἰς Θεὸν ἐλπίδος θλίψις τοῖς ἀντιποιουμένοις τινὸς ἀρετῆς. Ἄγε οὖν, ὦ θαυμάσιοι, ὅπως τοῖς προπεπονημένοις ἄξια ἐπαγάγητε τὰ ἑπόμενα καὶ φανῆτε μεγάλῃ κρηπῖδι ἀξιολογωτέραν ἐπιτιθέντες τὴν κορυφὴν καὶ περίστητε μὲν