Letter 77: One good thing we have certainly gained from the government of the great Therasius and that is that you have frequently paid us a visit. Now, alas! We have lost our governor, and we are deprived of this good thing too.
If there's one good thing that came from Therasius's time as governor, it's that you visited us so often. Now that he's left office, we've lost that too.
But the bonds God gave us don't break just because we're apart. We carry each other in memory. So let's keep writing — let's stay in touch and share what's happening in our lives. Now seems like a good time, since the storm has briefly died down.
[The "storm" likely refers to political or ecclesiastical turmoil — possibly the tensions under Emperor Julian, who had just taken power in 361 and was reversing pro-Christian policies.]
I hope you'll stay close to Therasius. He's carrying heavy burdens right now, and I think it's right to stand with him through them. Besides, it gives you the chance to see your friends — and them to see you.
There's much more I want to say, but I'll save it for when we meet in person. Some things are too important to trust to a letter.
Human translation — New Advent (NPNF / ANF series)
Latin / Greek Original
[Πρός: Ἀνεπίγραφος περὶ Θηρασίου]
Ἕν καὶ τοῦτο τῆς ἀγαθῆς ἀρχῆς τοῦ μεγάλου ἀπηλαύσαμεν Θηρασίου, τῆς σῆς λογιότητος τὴν ἐπιδημίαν συνεχῶς ἡμῖν γινομένην. τὸ αὐτὸ δὲ τοῦτο ἐζημιώθημεν στερηθέντες τοῦ ἄρχοντος. ἀλλʼ ἐπειδὴ τὰ ἅπαξ ἡμῖν παρὰ τοῦ Θεοῦ χαρισθέντα μένει βέβαια καὶ ταῖς ψυχαῖς ἀλλήλων ἐνοικούμενα διὰ τῆς μνήμης, εἰ καὶ τοῖς σώμασι διωρίσμεθα, γράφωμεν γοῦν συνεχῶς καὶ φθεγγώμεθα πρὸς ἀλλήλους τὰ ἀναγκαῖα, καὶ μάλιστα νῦν, ὅτε ὁ χειμὼν τὴν ὀλιγοχρόνιον ταύτην ἐκεχειρίαν ἐσπείσατο.
Ἐλπίζομεν δὲ μὴ ἀπολείψεσθαί σε τοῦ θαυμασιωτάτου ἀνδρὸς Θηρασίου, πρέπον εἶναι κρίναντα κοινωνεῖν τῷ ἀνδρὶ τοιούτων φροντίδων, ἤ γ’ οὐ μὲν οὖν καὶ μάτην πρόφασιν ἀσμενίζοντα παρέχουσάν σοι ἰδεῖν τε τοὺς φίλους, καὶ παρʼ αὐτῶν θεαθῆναι. πολλὰ δὲ ἔχων εἰπεῖν καὶ περὶ πολλῶν, εἰς τὴν συντυχίαν ὑπερεθέμην, οὐκ ἀσφαλὲς εἶναι ἡγούμενος ἐπιστολαῖς τὰ τοιαῦτα καταπιστεύειν.
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