Letter 180: Chrysostom blesses Hypatius for endurance in persecution and asks for news of his health.

I will never stop calling you blessed for the patience, courage, and deep endurance you have shown, and are still showing, in your trials. I said the same in my earlier letter: a double and triple reward is stored up for you, both because you stand firm yourself and because you draw others into the same zeal, even in old age, on behalf of people under persecution. I would gladly write to you constantly, but winter, fear of robbers, and the loneliness of this place make that difficult. Whenever we can, we send you our greeting and ask you to write often with news of your health. We also bless the honored deacons Eusebius and Lamprotatus, who have shared these persecutions with you. You know what crowns and recompense are prepared for such endurance. Remain steady and immovable. God will reward your patience richly and will soon bring these troubles to an end.

ΡΠʹ. Ὑπατίῳ πρεσβυτέρῳ. Οὐ παύσομαι μακαρίζων σου τὴν τιμιότητα τῆς ὑπομονῆς, τῆς ἀνδρείας, τῆς καρτερίας τῆς πολλῆς, ἣν ἐπεδείξω, καὶ ἐπιδείκνυσαι ἐν τοῖς πειρασμοῖς. Καὶ τοῦτο καὶ διὰ τῆς προτέρας ἐπιστολῆς ἐδήλωσα, ὅτι διπλοῦς καὶ τριπλοῦς σοι ὁ μισθὸς ὑπὲρ τούτων ἀπόκειται, ὑπέρ τε ὧν αὐτὸς τοσαύτην στεῤῥότητα ἐπιδείκνυσαι, καὶ ἑτέρους εἰς τὸν αὐτὸν ἄγεις ζῆλον, ἐν γήρᾳ οὕτω βαθεῖ τοσαύτην προθυμίαν ἐπιδεικνύμενος ὑπὲρ τοῦ διωκομένου λαοῦ. Καὶ ἐβουλόμην μὲν συνεχῶς ἐπιστέλλειν σου τῇ τιμιότητι· ἐπειδὴ δὲ τοῦτο οὐκ εὔκολον, διά τε τὴν τοῦ χειμῶνος ὥραν καὶ τὸν τῶν λῃστῶν φόβον, καὶ τὴν τοῦ χωρίου ἐρημίαν ἐν ᾧ καθήμεθα, ἡνίκα ἂν ἐξῇ, καὶ προσαγορεύομέν σου τὴν εὐλάβειαν, καὶ αἰτοῦμεν συνεχῶς ἡμῖν ἐπιστέλλειν, καὶ τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγιείας τῆς σῆς εὐαγγελίζεσθαι· σφόδρα γὰρ ἐπιθυμοῦμεν τὰ περὶ ταύτης μανθάνειν. Μακαρίζομεν δὲ καὶ τοὺς τιμιωτάτους διακόνους Εὐσέβιον καὶ Λαμπρότατον, τοὺς κοινωνήσαντάς σοι τῶν διωγμῶν. Ἴστε γὰρ ἡλίκοι στέφανοι τούτων ὑμῖν ἀπόκεινται, καὶ ὅσος ὁ μισθὸς, καὶ ὅση ἡ ἀνταπόδοσις. Ταῦτ' οὖν εἰδότες, μένετε ἑδραίοι, ἀμετακίνητοι· τῆς τε γὰρ ὑπομονῆς δαψιλῆ τὸν μισθὸν ὁ Θεὸς ὑμῖν ἀποδώσει, καὶ τὰ παρόντα ταχέως λύσει δεινά. Γράφετε δὲ ἡμῖν συνεχῶς, τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς ὑμετέρας ἡμῖν εὐαγγελιζόμενοι, περὶ ἧς σφόδρα περισπούδαστον ἡμῖν μανθάνειν.