Letter 152: Chrysostom thanks a group of bishops for fatherly concern toward the suffering eastern churches.

We owe thanks to each of you individually and to all of you together. We are not the only ones who owe it: so do all the bishops in the East, the clergy of many cities, and the peoples being driven about in many ways. You have shown a father's heart. You shared in our pain, stood nobly, and brought forward everything in your power. For this reason everyone proclaims you, crowns you, and keeps your achievements on their lips. If your efforts bring the hoped-for correction, the gain will belong to the whole world. If obstacles prevent the full result, the reward for your intention and labor remains complete with God. Do not relax your care. Keep helping the churches that are in distress, and write to us whenever possible. News of your health and zeal will be a great comfort in exile.

ΡΝΒʹ. Ἐπισκόποις. Καὶ ἰδίᾳ ἑκάστῳ, καὶ κοινῇ πᾶσιν ὑμῖν ὀφείλομεν χάριτας, οὐχ ἡμεῖς δὲ μόνον, ἀλλὰ καὶ πάντες οἱ κατὰ τὴν Ἀνατολὴν ἐπίσκοποι, κληρικοὶ διαφόρων πόλεων, λαοὶ ποικίλως ἐλαυνόμενοι, ὅτι πατρικὰ σπλάγχνα ἐπιδειξάμενοι, συνηλγήσατε, ἔστητε γενναίως, τὰ παρ' ὑμῶν αὐτῶν πάντα εἰσηνέγκατε. ∆ιὰ ταῦτα πάντες ὑμᾶς ἀνακηρύττουσι, στεφανοῦσιν, ἐπὶ στόματος φέρουσιν ὑμῶν τὰ κατορθώματα. Εἰ δὲ παρὰ ἀνθρώπων τοιαῦται αἱ τιμαὶ, ἐννοήσατε παρὰ τοῦ φιλανθρώπου Θεοῦ πόσαι ὑμῖν αἱ ἀντιδόσεις. Ταῦτ' οὖν εἰδότες, τιμιώτατοι δέσποταί μου καὶ εὐλαβέστατοι, κἂν οἱ θορυβοῦντες τὰς Ἐκκλησίας ἀνίατα νοσῶσι, μὴ παύσησθε τὴν παρ' ὑμῶν αὐτῶν εἰσφέροντες θεραπείαν. Ὅσῳ γὰρ ἂν πλείονα τὰ κωλύματα ᾖ καὶ πλείων ἡ δυσκολία, τοσούτῳ καὶ μείζων ὑμῖν ὁ μισθός. Εἰ γὰρ ποτόν τις ψυχρὸν ἐπιδοὺς, οὐκ ἄμισθον ἕξει τὴν βραχεῖαν φιλοφροσύνην· οἱ τοσαῦτα καὶ ποιῆσαι καὶ παθεῖν ἑλόμενοι ὑπὲρ Ἐκκλησιῶν ταρασσομένων, ἐννοήσατε ἡλίκην λήψεσθε τὴν ἀμοιβὴν, καὶ πόσα ὑμᾶς ἀναμένει τῶν καλῶν πόνων τὰ βραβεῖα.