Letter 213: Chrysostom praises Philip after expulsion from the school and asks for news of his health.

I am amazed that you have not written to us for so long. You show great love toward us even in our absence, yet you have not shared your letters with us. Do not hesitate now to write and tell us about your health. Even when you do not write, we ask after you. We have learned that you were expelled from the school because you showed the boldness that became you. Count that as your reward, your heavenly business, your pure crown, your abundance of prizes. Keeping all this in mind, bear what has happened nobly. God is able to end these trials, bring a swift calm, and give you a great reward for this endurance in the age to come.

ΣΙΓʹ. Φιλίππῳ πρεσβυτέρῳ. Ἐθαύμασα, πῶς ἐν οὕτω χρόνῳ μακρῷ ἡμῖν οὐκ ἐπέσταλκας, ἀλλ' ἀγάπην μὲν περὶ ἡμᾶς ἐπιδείκνυσαι καὶ ἀπόντας πολλὴν, γραμμάτων δὲ ἡμῖν οὐ μετέδωκας τῶν σῶν. Νῦν γοῦν ἡμῖν γράφειν μὴ κατοκνήσῃς, τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς σῆς δηλῶν· ὡς ἡμεῖς γε, καὶ μὴ γράφοντός σου, τὰ σὰ περιεργαζόμεθα, καὶ ἔγνωμεν, ὅτι καὶ τῆς σχολῆς ἐξεβλήθητε, τὴν ὑμῖν πρέπουσαν παῤῥησίαν ἐπιδειξάμενοι. Τοῦτο ὑμῖν μισθὸς, τοῦτο πραγματεία οὐράνιος, τοῦτο στέφανος ἀκήρατος, τοῦτο βραβείων πλῆθος. Ταῦτ' οὖν ἅπαντα λογιζόμενοι, γενναίως φέρετε τὰ συμπίπτοντα. Ἱκανὸς γὰρ ὁ Θεὸς καὶ τοὺς πειρασμοὺς λῦσαι τούτους, καὶ ταχίστην ποιῆσαι γαλήνην, καὶ τῆς ὑπομονῆς ὑμῖν ταύτης πολὺν καὶ ἐν τῷ μέλλοντι αἰῶνι δοῦναι τὸν μισθόν.