Letter 164: Chrysostom writes to Alexander of Corinth as a beloved ally in the church crisis.

You know the love we have shown for your Honor and how, though we spent only a little time with you, we became bound to you by affection. The distance of the road has not loosened that bond. We remember your wisdom, your gentleness, and your care for the churches. For this reason we write and ask you not to grow weary in the present troubles. The storm has risen high, but a pilot is needed most when the sea is rough. Stand with those who suffer and help the correction of what has been done wrongly. Write to us, most reverend master, about your health and about the affairs there. Even from far away, your letter will give us the joy of your presence.

ΡΞ∆ʹ. Ἀλεξάνδρῳ ἐπισκόπῳ Κορίνθου. Οἶσθα τὴν ἀγάπην, ἣν ἐπεδειξάμεθα περὶ τὴν σὴν τιμιότητα, καὶ πῶς ὀλίγα σοι συγγενόμενοι, συνεδέθημέν σου τῷ πόθῳ. ∆ιὸ καὶ σφόδρα ἐθαυμάσαμεν, ὅτι ἐν οὕτω χρόνῳ μακρῷ οὐδὲ ἅπαξ ἡμῖν ἐπιστεῖλαι κατεδέξω. Καὶ οἶδα μὲν ὅτι γραμματηφόρων προβαλῇ σπάνιν, καὶ οὐδὲν ἀπεικός. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ πολλοὶ οἱ ἐκεῖθεν ἀφικνούμενοι, ἀλλ' ἔνθα καθήμεθα νῦν οὐδεὶς ἂν ταχέως παραγένοιτο τῶν ἐκεῖθεν ἐρχομένων. Πλὴν ἀλλ' οὐκ ἀρκεῖ τοῦτο ἡμῖν εἰς τὸ μηδὲ ἅπαξ δέξασθαι γράμματα. Ἐπεὶ καὶ ἡμεῖς εἰς ταύτην ἔχοντες ἀναχωρῆσαι τὴν πρόφασιν, οὐδὲ οὕτως ἐσιγήσαμεν, ἀλλὰ τὸν κύριόν μου τὸν τιμιώτατον καὶ εὐλαβέστατον πρεσβύτερον ἀναστήσαντες, ἐντεῦθεν ἐπέμψαμεν, ὥστε καὶ τῇ σῇ συντυχεῖν τιμιότητι, καὶ ταύτην ἡμῶν τὴν προσηγορίαν ἀποκομίσαι, καὶ μαθεῖν περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς σῆς, περὶ ἧς σφόδρα περισπούδαστον ἡμῖν μανθάνειν. Ἰδὼν τοίνυν αὐτὸν μετ' εὐνοίας, καὶ ἀγάπης, καὶ τῆς προσηκούσης φιλοφροσύνης, ὡς μέλος ἡμέτερον, ἡνίκα ἂν ἐπανίῃ, τὰ περὶ τῆς ῥώσεώς σου δηλῶσαι ἡμῖν μὴ κατοκνήσῃς. Μεγίστην γὰρ ἡμῖν ἀπὸ τῶν γραμμάτων, καὶ ἐν ἐρημίᾳ καθεζομένοις, παρέξεις τὴν παράκλησιν.