Letter 170: Chrysostom tells Italica that women and men share the same contests and crowns in virtue.

In outward affairs, nature and custom divide the tasks of men and women. In the contests of virtue, however, this division has no force. There the race is common, the prizes are common, and the crown is offered to every soul that shows courage. You have proved this by your own conduct. Your zeal, endurance, and generosity have shown a strength that no bodily distinction can limit. For this reason we bless you and call you admirable. Continue in the same freedom of soul. Present troubles are brief, but the reward for noble endurance is lasting. Write to us about your health and your household, and let us know that your courage remains bright amid the storm.

ΡΟʹ. Ἰταλικῇ. Ἐπὶ μὲν τῶν ἔξωθεν πραγμάτων, ὥσπερ τῇ φύσει, οὕτω καὶ τῇ πράξει καὶ τῇ μεταχειρίσει διῄρηται ταῦτα τὰ γένη, ἀνὴρ λέγω καὶ γυνή. Τῇ μὲν γὰρ οἰκουρεῖν νενόμισται, τῷ δὲ τῶν πολιτικῶν καὶ τῶν ἐν ἀγορᾷ πραγμάτων ἅπτεσθαι. Ἐπὶ δὲ τῶν τοῦ Θεοῦ ἀγώνων, καὶ τῶν ὑπὲρ τῆς Ἐκκλησίας πόνων οὐκ ἔνι τοῦτο, ἀλλ' ἔστι καὶ γυναῖκα ἀνδρὸς ἐῤῥωμενέστερον τῶν καλῶν τούτων ἀντέχεσθαι ἀγώνων καὶ πόνων. Καὶ τοῦτο δηλῶν ὁ Παῦλος ἐν τῇ πρὸς τὴν πατρίδα τὴν ὑμετέραν ἐπιστολῇ, πολλὰς ἀνακηρύττει γυναῖκας, λέγων αὐτὰς οὐ μικρὰ πεπονηκέναι ἐν τῷ ἄνδρας διορθοῦν, καὶ ἐνάγειν ἐπὶ τὰ προσήκοντα. Τίνος ἕνεκεν ταῦτά φημι; Ἵνα μὴ νομίσητε ἀλλότριον ὑμῶν εἶναι τὸ τῆς σπουδῆς ἅπτεσθαι, καὶ τῶν πόνων τῶν εἰς τὴν ἐκκλησιαστικὴν διόρθωσιν συντελούντων, ἀλλ' ὡς πρέπον ὑμῖν ἐστι, καὶ δι' ἑαυτῶν, καὶ δι' ἑτέρων, ὧν ἂν οἷόν τε ᾖ, τὴν προσήκουσαν εἰσενέγκητε σπουδὴν, εἰς τὸ λῦσαι τὴν κοινὴν ζάλην καὶ ταραχὴν τὴν τὰς Ἐκκλησίας τῆς Ἀνατολῆς καταλαβοῦσαν, Ὅσῳ γὰρ χαλεπωτέρα γέγονεν ἡ ζάλη, καὶ βαρύτερος ὁ χειμὼν, τοσούτῳ καὶ ὑμῖν πλείων ἔσται ὁ μισθὸς, ταῖς πάντα πρᾶξαι καὶ παθεῖν αἱρουμέναις, ὑπὲρ τοῦ τὴν διαταραχθεῖσαν εἰρήνην ἐπαναγαγεῖν, καὶ ἐν καταστάσει τῇ προσηκούσῃ σπουδάσαι καταστῆσαι διαταραχθέντα ἅπαντα.