Letter 150: Chrysostom thanks Maximus for long labor and watchfulness in correcting the church crisis.

When I think of your labors and the long effort you have spent, I draw no small consolation, but a very great one. I have suffered lawlessly, yet your warm and genuine love, your sincere care, and your intense watchfulness for the correction of what has happened have become a great comfort to me. This is not a small gift. In such a storm, when so many shrink back, you have stood alert and eager. Continue in the same purpose. The more difficult the struggle becomes, the brighter the crowns prepared for you will be. God sees both the work done and the will that drives it. Write to us when you can and tell us about your health and your continued care for the churches. From this wilderness, even a brief letter from your Reverence will give us great consolation.

ΡΝʹ. Μαξίμῳ ἐπισκόπῳ. Ὅταν ἐννοήσω τοὺς πόνους ὑμῶν, καὶ τοὺς ἱδρῶτας, τοὺς ἐπὶ μακρῷ χρόνῳ γεγενημένους, οὐ τὴν τυχοῦσαν, ἀλλὰ καὶ μεγίστην καρποῦμαι παράκλησιν, ἐφ' οἷς αὐτὸς πέπονθα παρανόμως, τὴν ὑμετέραν ἀγάπην τὴν οὕτω θερμὴν καὶ γνησίαν, τὴν πρόνοιαν τὴν εἰλικρινῆ, τὴν ἀγρυπνίαν τὴν ὑπὲρ τῆς διορθώσεως τῶν γεγενημένων, τὴν ἐπιτεταμένην, μεγίστην ἔχων παραμυθίαν. Καὶ γὰρ οὐχ ἡ τυχοῦσα γέγονέ μοι παραψυχὴ, τὸ λογίζεσθαι ὅτι ἐκ τοσούτου καθήμενοι διαστήματος, οὐχ ἑωρακότες ἡμᾶς ποτε, οὐκ ὀφθέντες παρ' ἡμῶν, οὐ λόγων ἡμῖν κοινωνήσαντες, ἀθρόον ὑπὸ τῆς παρανομίας τῶν τολμηθέντων κινηθέντες, τοσαύτην ἐπεδείξασθε περὶ ἡμᾶς ἀγάπην, ὅσην πατέρες περὶ παῖδας, μᾶλλον δὲ καὶ πατέρας ἀπεκρύψατε τῇ τοσαύτῃ κηδεμονίᾳ. ∆ιὰ ταῦτα χάριτας ὑμῶν ἴσμεν τῇ εὐλαβείᾳ, θαυμάζομεν, μακαρίζομεν, παρακαλοῦμεν ὑμᾶς αὐτοὺς τὰ ἑαυτῶν μιμήσασθαι, καὶ ἣν ἐξ ἀρχῆς ἐπεδείξασθε προθυμίαν, ταύτην εἰς τέλος ἀγαγεῖν. Κἂν γὰρ μηδὲν γίνηται πλέον εἰς διόρθωσιν τῶν γεγενημένων, οὐ μικρὰ παράκλησις ἡμῖν, ὅπερ ἔφθην εἰπὼν, τοσαύτης ἀπολελαυκόσι καὶ ἀπολαύουσι παρὰ τῆς τιμιότητος τῆς ὑμετέρας ἀγάπης.