1

Epistulae ad Olympiadem

FIRST LETTER To my most revered and most God-beloved mistress, the deaconess Olympias

John the bishop, greeting in the Lord. 1.1 The more the trials increase, the more our comfort grows, and we have better hopes for the future; and now all things are carried along for us as if with the stream, and we are sailing with a fair wind. Who has seen? Who has heard? Reefs and rocks, whirlwinds and storms break loose; a moonless night, deep darkness, cliffs and crags; and sailing through such a sea we are no worse off than those who are tossed about in harbor. Therefore, considering these things yourself, my most God-beloved mistress, rise above these tumults and billows and deign to inform me concerning your health; for we are living in health and good cheer. For our body has become stronger and we breathe pure air, and the provincial officials traveling with us serve us so well that they do not even leave us in need of servants, doing the work of servants themselves—for they seized this command out of their love for us—and there are escorts everywhere, with everyone calling them blessed for this service. One thing grieves us: not being confident that you too are living in good cheer. Make this known, then, so that we may enjoy the gladness from it, and to my master our most beloved 1.1 child Pergamios we will be very grateful. And if you wish to write to us, make use of him for this, for he is a true friend and exceedingly devoted to us, and one who greatly reveres your propriety and piety.

2.t SECOND LETTER 2.1 But let this fear of yours concerning our journey also be dispelled. For, as I have already written, our body has gained in health and greater strength, as we have enjoyed good air, and our escorts have made every effort, beyond what we desire, to give us rest, making this their task. As I was about to depart from Nicaea I sent this letter, on the third of the month of July. Therefore, write to us continually about your health. For my master Pergamios, in whom I have great confidence, will serve you in this. Inform us not only of your health, but also that the cloud of despondency has been scattered for you. For if we should learn this from your letters, we will also write more frequently, as achieving something more through what we write. If, therefore, you desire to enjoy a frequency of letters, inform us clearly that something more is gained from the frequency, and you will see us providing this with abundance. Since even now, though many have passed from here who could carry letters, having received no letter from your honor, I was greatly grieved.

3.t THIRD LETTER 3.1 Whenever I see crowds of men and women along the roads, at the stations, in the cities pouring forth and seeing us and weeping, I consider what state your affairs are in. If

1

Epistulae ad Olympiadem

ΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΗ Αʹ Τῇ δεσποίνῃ μου τῇ αἰδεσιμωτάτῃ καὶ θεοφιλεστάτῃ διακόνῳ Ὀλυμπιάδι

Ἰωάννης ἐπίσκοπος ἐν Κυρίῳ χαίρειν. 1.1 Ὅσῳ τὰ τῶν πειρασμῶν ἐπιτείνεται, τοσούτῳ καὶ τὰ τῆς παρακλήσεως ἡμῖν αὔξεται καὶ χρηστοτέρας ἔχομεν περὶ τῶν μελλόντων τὰς ἐλπίδας· καὶ νῦν δὲ κατὰ ῥοῦν ἡμῖν ἅπαντα φέρεται καὶ ἐξ οὐρίας πλέομεν. Τίς εἶδεν; Τίς ἤκουσεν; Ὕφαλοι καὶ σπιλάδες, στρόβιλοι καὶ καταιγίδες καταρρήγνυνται· νὺξ ἀσέληνος, ζόφος βαθύς, κρημνοὶ καὶ σκόπελοι· καὶ διὰ τοιούτου πλέοντες πελάγους τῶν ἐν λιμένι σαλευόντων οὐδὲν χεῖρον διακείμεθα. Ταῦτ' οὖν καὶ αὐτὴ λογιζομένη, δέσποινά μου θεοφιλεστάτη, ὑψηλοτέρα γίνου τῶν θορύβων τούτων καὶ τῶν κλυδώνων καὶ δηλῶσαί μοι καταξίωσον τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγιείας τῆς σῆς· ἡμεῖς γὰρ ἐν ὑγιείᾳ καὶ ἐν εὐθυμίᾳ διάγομεν. Καὶ γὰρ καὶ τὸ σῶμα ἡμῖν ἐρρωμενέστερον γέγονε καὶ καθαρὸν ἀναπνέομεν ἀέρα, οἵ τε συναποδημοῦντες ἡμῖν ἐπαρχικοὶ οὕτω θεραπεύουσιν ὅτι οὐδὲ οἰκετῶν ἡμᾶς ἀφιᾶσι δεῖσθαι τὰ οἰκετῶν ποιοῦντες-καὶ γὰρ ἥρπασαν τὸ ἐπίταγμα τοῦτο διὰ τὸν περὶ ἡμᾶς ἔρωτα-καὶ δορυφορίαι πανταχοῦ, ἑκάστου αὐτοὺς μακαρίζοντος διὰ τὴν διακονίαν ταύτην. Ἕν ἐστιν ἡμᾶς τὸ λυποῦν τὸ μὴ θαρρεῖν ὅτι καὶ αὐτὴ ἐν εὐθυμίᾳ διάγεις. ∆ήλωσον δὴ τοῦτο, ἵνα καὶ τῆς ἐντεῦθεν ἀπολαύσωμεν εὐφροσύνης καὶ τῷ κυρίῳ μου δὲ τῷ ποθεινοτάτῳ 1.1 τέκνῳ ἡμῶν Περγαμίῳ πολλὰς χάριτας εἰσώμεθα. Κἂν ἐθέλῃς ἡμῖν ἐπιστέλλειν, αὐτῷ πρὸς τοῦτο χρῆσαι, γνησίῳ τε ὄντι καὶ σφόδρα ἡμῖν ἀνακειμένῳ καὶ πάνυ αἰδουμένῳ τὴν κοσμιότητά σου καὶ τὴν εὐλάβειαν.

2.t ΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΗ Βʹ 2.1 Ἀλλὰ καὶ τοῦτό σοι λελύσθω τὸ δέος τὸ τῆς ὁδοιπορίας τῆς ἡμετέρας. Καὶ γάρ, ὅπερ ἔφθην ἐπιστείλας, τὸ σῶμα ἡμῖν εἰς ὑγίειαν καὶ πλείονα ῥῶσιν ἐπέδωκε, τοῦ τε ἀέρος καλῶς ἡμῖν κεχρημένου, τῶν τε ἀπαγόντων ἡμᾶς πᾶσαν ποιουμένων σπουδήν, ὑπὲρ ὃ βουλόμεθα, ἀναπαύειν ἡμᾶς καὶ ἔργον τοῦτο ποιουμένων. Μέλλων δὲ ἀπὸ τῆς Νικαίας ἐξιέναι ταύτην διεπεμψάμην τὴν ἐπιστολήν, τρίτῃ μηνὸς τοῦ Ἰουλίου. Γράφε οὖν ἡμῖν συνεχῶς περὶ τῆς ὑγιείας τῆς σῆς. ∆ιακονήσεται γάρ σοι πρὸς τοῦτο ὁ δεσπότης μου Περγάμιος ᾧ σφόδρα τεθάρρηκα. Μὴ περὶ τῆς ὑγιείας μόνον ἡμῖν δήλου τῆς σῆς, ἀλλὰ καὶ περὶ τοῦ ἐσκεδάσθαι σοι τῆς ἀθυμίας τὸ νέφος. Εἰ γὰρ μάθοιμεν διὰ τῶν γραμμάτων τῶν σῶν τοῦτο, καὶ συνεχέστερον ἐπιστελοῦμεν, ὡς ἀνύοντές τι πλέον δι' ὧν γράφομεν. Εἰ τοίνυν ἐπιθυμεῖς πυκνότητος ἀπολαύειν ἐπιστολῶν, δήλου σαφῶς ἡμῖν ὅτι γίνεταί τι πλέον ἀπὸ τῆς πυκνότητος καὶ ὄψει μετὰ δαψιλείας τοῦτο παρέχοντας. Ἐπεὶ καὶ νῦν, πολλῶν παρελθόντων ἐντεῦθεν τῶν δυναμένων γράμματα κομίσαι, μὴ δεξάμενος παρὰ τῆς σῆς τιμιότητος ἐπιστολὴν σφόδρα ἤλγησα.

3.t ΕΠΙΣΤΟΛΗ Γʹ 3.1 Ὅταν ἴδω δήμους ἀνδρῶν καὶ γυναικῶν κατὰ τὰς ὁδούς, κατὰ τοὺς σταθμούς, κατὰ τὰς πόλεις ἐκχεομένους καὶ ὁρῶντας ἡμᾶς καὶ δακρύοντας, ἐννοῶ ἐν τίσι τὰ ὑμέτερα. Εἰ