Letter 31: The death is still with us, and I am therefore compelled to remain where I am, partly by the duty of distribution, and partly out of sympathy for the distressed. Even now, therefore, I have not been able to accompany our reverend brother Hypatius, whom I am able to style brother, not in mere conventional language, but on account of relationship...
The famine is still with us, and I am therefore compelled to stay where I am — partly by the duty of distributing relief, and partly out of sympathy for those who are suffering. So even now I have not been able to travel with our reverend brother Hypatius, whom I can call "brother" not as a mere formality but because of actual kinship — we share the same blood.
You know how ill he is. It grieves me to think that all hope of recovery is being cut off for him, since those who possess the gifts of healing have not been permitted to apply their usual treatments in his case. He therefore once again implores the help of your prayers.
I ask that you give him your customary care — both for your own sake, since you are always kind to the sick, and for mine, since I am petitioning on his behalf. If possible, summon the holy brothers to your side so that he can be treated under your own supervision. If that is not possible, please send him on with a letter of recommendation to friends further along the way.
Human translation — New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
[Πρός: Εὐσεβίῳ ἐπισκόπῳ Σαμοσάτων]
Οὔπω ἡμᾶς ὁ λιμὸς ἀνῆκε, διόπερ ἀναγκαία ἡμῖν ἐστὶν ἡ ἐπὶτῆς πόλεως διαγωγή, ἢ οἰκονομίας ἕνεκεν, ἢ συμπαθείας τῶν θλιβομένων. ὅθεν οὐδὲ νῦν ἠδυνήθην κοινωνῆσαι τῆς ὁδοῦ τῷ αἰδεσιμωτάτῳ ἀδελφῷ Ὑπατίῳ, ὃν οὐκ αὐτὸ δὴ τοῦτο εὐφημίας ἕνεκεν ἀδελφὸν ἔχω προσαγορεύειν, ἀλλὰ διὰ τὴν προσοῦσαν ἡμῖν ἐκ φύσεως οἰκειότητα· αἵματος γάρ ἐσμεν τοῦ αὐτοῦ.
Ὃς ὁποῖα μὲν κάμνει, οὐδὲ τὴν σὴν ἔλαθε τιμιότητα. λυπεῖ δὲ ἡμᾶς ὅτι πᾶσα παραμυθίας ἐλπὶς ἐπʼ αὐτῷ περικέκοπται, τῶν ἐχόντων τὰ τῆς ἰάσεως χαρίσματα οὐδὲν ἐπʼ αὐτοῦ τῶν συνήθων ἐνεργῆσαι συγχωρηθέντων. διὸ πάλιν τῶν σῶν προσευχῶν τὴν βοήθειαν ἐπικαλεῖται. σὺ δὲ τὰ συνήθη προστῆναι, καὶ διὰ τὴν σεαυτοῦ περὶ τοὺς κάμνοντας εὐσπλαγχνίαν, καὶ δι’ ἡμᾶς τοὺς ὑπὲρ αὐτοῦ πρεσβεύοντας, παρακλήθητι, καί, εἰ μὲν οἷόν τε, πρὸς ἑαυτὸν μεταστεῖλαι τοὺς εὐλαβεστάτους τῶν ἀδελφῶν, ὥστε ὑπὸ ταῖς σαῖς ὄψεσι προσαχθῆναι αὐτῷ τὴν ἐπιμέλειαν· εἰ δὲ τοῦτο ἀδύνατον, μετὰ γραμμάτων αὐτὸν προπέμψαι καὶ συστῆσαι τοῖς ἔμπροσθεν καταξίωσον.
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