Letter 148: Chrysostom praises four bishops for laboring for church peace and commends John and Paul to them.

Blessed, three times blessed, and more than that are you for these noble sweats and contests, the labors, pains, and dangers you have endured for the churches throughout the world. Through them you have become radiant on earth and radiant in heaven. All people with understanding proclaim and crown you, amazed at your strength, courage, endurance, and steadfastness. And the God who loves humankind, who always sets rewards greater than the labors by far, will repay you with such good things as it is fitting for God to give to those who contend so nobly for peace throughout the whole world. For this reason we never stop calling you blessed, delighting continually in your memory and carrying you in mind, though we are separated by a great distance. The most honored deacon Cyriacus could not sail now because he has been worn down by much labor. But my lords, the most reverent presbyter John and the most honored deacon Paul, driven everywhere and unable to stand or hide anywhere, thought it necessary to come to your love and remain there with you. Receive them with love and show them the goodwill fitting to you.

ΡΜΗʹ. Κυριακῷ, ∆ημητρίῳ, Παλλαδίῳ, Εὐλυσίῳ, ἐπισκόποις. Μακάριοι καὶ τρισμακάριοι, καὶ πολλάκις τοῦτο ὑμεῖς τῶν καλῶν τούτων ἱδρώτων καὶ ἀγώνων, τῶν μόχθων, καὶ πόνων, καὶ τῶν κινδύνων, οὓς ὑπὲρ τῶν Ἐκκλησιῶν τῶν κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην κειμένων ὑπομεμενήκατε, λαμπροὶ μὲν ἐν γῇ, λαμπροὶ δὲ ἐν οὐρανοῖς διὰ τούτων γενόμενοι. Καὶ γὰρ ἄνθρωποι πάντες οἱ νοῦν ἔχοντες ἀνακηρύττουσιν ὑμᾶς, καὶ στεφανοῦσιν, ἐκπληττόμενοι τὴν εὐτονίαν ὑμῶν, τὴν ἀνδρείαν, τὴν καρτερίαν, τὴν προσεδρείαν. Ὅ τε φιλάνθρωπος Θεὸς, ὁ μείζονας ἐκ πολλοῦ τοῦ περιόντος τιθεὶς ἀεὶ τῶν πόνων τὰς ἀμοιβὰς, τοσούτοις ἀμείψεται ἀγαθοῖς, ὅσοις ἀμείβεσθαι Θεῷ πρέπον τοὺς οὕτω γενναίως ἀγωνιζομένους ὑπὲρ τῆς κατὰ τὴν οἰκουμένην ἅπασαν εἰρήνης. ∆ιὰ τοῦτο καὶ ἡμεῖς οὐ παυόμεθα μακαρίζοντες ὑμᾶς, ἐντρυφῶντες ὑμῶν τῇ μνήμῃ διηνεκῶς, ἐπὶ διανοίας περιφέροντες, εἰ καὶ πολλῷ διῳκίσμεθα τῷ τῆς ὁδοῦ μήκει. Ὁ μὲν οὖν τιμιώτατος Κυριακὸς ὁ διάκονος οὐκ ἠδυνήθη νῦν ἐκπλεῦσαι, διὰ τὸ πολλῷ κατειργάσθαι πόνῳ. Οἱ μέντοι κύριοί μου, ὁ εὐλαβέστατος πρεσβύτερος Ἰωάννης, καὶ ὁ τιμιώτατος Παῦλος ὁ διάκονος, ἐλαυνόμενοι πανταχόθεν, καὶ μηδαμοῦ στῆναι, μηδὲ λαθεῖν ἔχοντες, ἀναγκαῖον ἐνόμισαν καταλαβεῖν ὑμῶν τὴν ἀγάπην, καὶ αὐτόθι μεθ' ὑμῶν εἶναι. ∆εξάμενοι τοίνυν αὐτοὺς μετὰ ἀγάπης, τὴν πρέπουσαν ὑμῖν εὔνοιαν περὶ αὐτοὺς ἐπιδείξασθε.