Letter 193: Chrysostom praises Paianius for saying 'Glory to God for all things' amid painful news.

You have lifted me up and made me leap for joy, because after reporting painful events you added the words that should be said over everything that happens: "Glory to God for all things." That sentence is a fatal blow to the devil. It is a great source of safety and gladness for anyone who says it in danger. As soon as it is spoken, the cloud of despondency is scattered. Do not stop saying it, and teach others to say it. In this way even the storm that has seized us, if it grows harsher, will turn into calm, and those tossed by it will receive a greater reward as well as deliverance from their troubles. As for this place, let no one trouble us about it any longer. Cucusus is desolate, but here we have quiet, and by staying still we have corrected much of the weakness that came from the journey. Do not make us move again with winter at the door. Instead, write often about your health, your life there, your reputation, and your cheerfulness.

ΡΓʹ. Παιανίῳ. Σφόδρα με ἀνεπτέρωσας, καὶ σκιρτᾷν ἐποίησας, ὅτι, τὰ λυπηρὰ ἀπαγγείλας, ἐπέθηκας τὸ ῥῆμα, ὃ πᾶσι τοῖς συμβαίνουσιν ἐπιλέγειν χρὴ, εἰπών· ∆όξα δὴ τῷ Θεῷ πάντων ἕνεκα. Τοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμα καιρία τῷ διαβόλῳ πληγή· τοῦτο μεγίστη τῷ λέγοντι ἐν παντὶ κινδύνῳ ἀσφαλείας καὶ ἡδονῆς ὑπόθεσις. Ἅμα τε γάρ τις ἐφθέγξατο τοῦτο, καὶ σκεδάννυται εὐθέως τῆς ἀθυμίας τὸ νέφος. Μὴ δὴ παύσῃ τοῦτό τε λέγων, καὶ τοὺς ἅλλους παιδεύων. Οὕτω καὶ ὁ χειμὼν ὁ καταλαβὼν, κἂν τραχύτερος γένηται, εἰς γαλήνην μεταστήσεται· οὕτω καὶ οἱ χειμαζόμενοι πλείονα καρπώσονται τὴν ἀμοιβὴν μετὰ τοῦ καὶ τῶν δεινῶν ἀπαλλαγῆναι. Τοῦτο τὸν Ἰὼβ ἐστεφάνωσε, τοῦτο τὸ ῥῆμα τὸν διάβολον ἐτρέψατο, καὶ ἐγκαλυψάμενον ἀναχωρῆσαι πεποίηκεν, τοῦτο θορύβου παντὸς ἀναίρεσις. Μένε δὴ τοῦτο ἐπᾴδων τοῖς γινομένοις ἅπασι. Τοῦ τόπου δὲ ἕνεκεν, μηκέτι λοιπὸν μηδεὶς ἐνοχλείτω. Εἰ γὰρ καὶ ἔρημον τὸ χωρίον ἡ Κουκουσὸς, ἀλλ' ὅμως καὶ ἡσυχίας ἀπολαύομεν ἐνταῦθα, καὶ οὐ τὸ τυχὸν ἐκ τῆς ἀσθενείας τῆς κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν γενομένης ἡμῖν, διὰ τῆς οἴκοι καθέδρας τῆς διηνεκοῦς, διορθῶσαι ἰσχύσαμεν. Ἂν δὲ μέλλητε πάλιν ἡμᾶς ἀναγκάζειν τόπους ἐκ τόπων ἀμείβειν, τὰ ἔσχατα πεισόμεθα, καὶ μάλιστα τοῦ χειμῶνος ἐπὶ θύραις ὄντος. Μηδενὶ τοίνυν φορτικὸς μηδεὶς, μηδὲ ἐπαχθὴς γενέσθω ταύτης ἕνεκεν τῆς ὑποθέσεως. Ἀλλὰ γράφε ἡμῖν συνεχῶς τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς σῆς, καὶ τῆς διατριβῆς τῆς αὐτόθι, καὶ τῆς εὐδοκιμήσεως, καὶ τῆς εὐθυμίας. Οὐ γὰρ τὴν τυχοῦσαν, καὶ ἐν ἐρημίᾳ τοιαύτῃ διατρίβοντες, καρπωσόμεθα παράκλησιν, τοιαῦτα παρὰ τῆς σῆς τιμιότητος δεχόμενοι γράμματα.