Letter 188: Chrysostom writes from Cucusus that friendship makes him rich even in the wilderness.

We have been taken to the most desolate place of all, to Cucusus. Yet when we think of the love of those who love us, and of your love in particular, we receive the greatest comfort and become rich even in the wilderness. It is no ordinary treasure to meet people who know how to love genuinely. For this reason, though we are not present in body, we are bound to you in spirit by the chain of love. From such a distance we write and send the greeting owed to you. You know yourself, my admirable master, that we have enrolled you among the first of our friends. Grant us this favor: write often and bring us good news of your health. In writing and receiving such letters, we will enjoy much gladness and, even while living in the wilderness, a very great consolation.

ΡΠΗʹ. Μαρκελλίνῳ. Εἰς μὲν αὐτὸ τὸ πάντων ἐρημότατον χωρίον ἀπήχθημεν, τὴν Κουκουσόν· πλὴν ὅταν τὴν ἀγάπην ὑμῶν τῶν φιλούντων ἡμᾶς ἐννοήσωμεν, μεγίστην καρπούμεθα παράκλησιν, ἐν ἐρημίᾳ πλουτοῦντες. Οὐδὲ γὰρ ὁ τυχὼν θησαυρὸς, ἀνδρῶν ἐπιτυγχάνειν γνησίως φιλεῖν εἰδότων. ∆ιὰ δὴ τοῦτο κἂν μὴ τῷ σώματι παρῶμεν, ὑμῖν τῇ ψυχῇ συνδεδέμεθα, τῇ τῆς ἀγάπης ἁλύσει σφιγγόμενοι. Ὅθεν καὶ ἐπιστέλλομεν ἐκ τοσούτου διαστήματος, καὶ τὴν ὀφειλομένην ἀποδιδόαμεν πρόσρησιν. Ὅτι γὰρ εἰς τοὺς πρώτους σε τῶν ἐραστῶν ἐγράψαμεν τῶν ἡμετέρων, οὐδὲ αὐτὸς ἀγνοεῖς, δέσποτά μου θαυμασιώτατε. ∆ίδου δὴ καὶ αὐτὸς ταύτην ἡμῖν τὴν χάριν, καὶ συνεχῶς ἡμῖν ἐπίστελλε, τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς σῆς εὐαγγελιζόμενος, ἵνα καὶ τῷ γράφειν, καὶ τῷ δέχεσθαι τοιαύτας ἐπιστολὰς, πολλὴν καρπωσώμεθα τὴν παραμυθίαν καὶ εὐφροσύνην, καὶ μεγίστης, καὶ ἐν ἐρημίᾳ διατρίβοντες, ἀπολαύσωμεν παρακλήσεως.