Letter 29: Chrysostom consoles Chalcidia and Asyncritia through afflictions and asks for news of their health.

Do not let any sorrowful event disturb you, and do not let the successive waves of affairs trouble your mind. This is the narrow and afflicted way: it has much difficulty, many sweats, and many labors. But these things pass by and come to an end with the present life. Though the way is narrow, it is still a way; the prizes for bearing such things gently and nobly are everlasting and immortal, and far greater than the sweats. Consider, then, both the perishable and temporary nature of affliction and the everlasting and immortal nature of the rewards. Bear everything nobly, disturbed by none of the difficulties that befall you. Sin alone is truly grievous. Everything else, exile, confiscation, abduction, plots, and all such things, is shadow, smoke, spider's web, or something even more worthless. Since in the past you have practiced bearing many trials, show now as well the patience that belongs to you. It can establish you in security, fearlessness, and great calm, and make you more tested and approved. Write to us constantly about your health, if you find anyone who has come here for his own need. You know how tightly we cling to news of it and how much we want to learn it more often.

ΚΘʹ. Χαλκιδίᾳ καὶ Ἀσυγκριτίᾳ. Μηδὲν ὑμᾶς ταραττέτω τῶν συμβαινόντων λυπηρῶν, μηδὲ τὰ ἐπάλληλα τῶν πραγμάτων κύματα θορυβείτω ὑμῶν τὴν διάνοιαν. Τοιαύτη γὰρ ἡ στενὴ καὶ τεθλιμμένη ὁδὸς, πολλὴν ἔχουσα τὴν δυσκολίαν, πολλοὺς τοὺς ἱδρῶτας καὶ τοὺς πόνους. Ἀλλὰ ταῦτα μὲν παροδεύεται καὶ τῷ παρόντι συγκαταλύεται βίῳ. Κἂν γὰρ στενὴ ἡ ὁδὸς, ἀλλ' ὁδός ἐστιν· τὰ δὲ ἐκ τοῦ ταῦτα φέρειν πράως καὶ γενναίως βραβεῖα διηνεκῆ καὶ ἀθάνατα, καὶ πολλῷ μείζονα τῶν ἱδρώτων. Ἐννοοῦσαι τοίνυν καὶ τὸ ἐπίκηρον καὶ τὸ πρόσκαιρον τῆς θλίψεως, καὶ τὸ διηνεκὲς καὶ ἀθάνατον τῶν ἀμοιβῶν, φέρετε πάντα γενναίως, μηδενὶ τῶν συμπιπτόντων δυσχερῶν ταραττόμεναι. Ἓν γάρ ἐστι λυπηρὸν ἁμαρτία μόνον· τὰ δὲ ἄλλα πάντα, ἐξορίαι, δημεύσεις, ἀπαγωγαὶ, ἐπιβουλαὶ, καὶ ὅσα τοιαῦτα, σκιά τίς ἐστιν καὶ καπνὸς καὶ ἀράχνη, καὶ εἴ τι τούτων εὐτελέστερον. Ἅτε οὖν καὶ κατὰ τὸν ἔμπροσθεν χρόνον πολλοὺς μελετήσασαι φέρειν πειρασμοὺς, καὶ νῦν τὴν ἁρμόττουσαν ὑμῖν ἐπιδείκνυσθε ὑπομονήν. Αὕτη γὰρ ἐν ἀσφαλείᾳ καὶ ἀδείᾳ καὶ γαλήνῃ πολλῇ καταστῆσαι ὑμᾶς δυνήσεται, καὶ δοκιμωτέρας ποιῆσαι. Καὶ γράφετε συνεχῶς ἡμῖν τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς ὑμετέρας, ἄν τινας εὕρητε δι' ἰδίαν χρείαν παραγενομένους ἐνταῦθα. Ἴστε γὰρ ὅπως αὐτῆς ἀντεχόμεθα, καὶ ὅπως βουλόμεθα πυκνότερον περὶ ταύτης μανθάνειν.