Letter 154: Chrysostom greets the same bishops by letter because exile prevents bodily meeting.

We longed to see you with our bodily eyes. Since this is impossible while we are bound by exile, we do what is possible: we greet you by letter and embrace you with the affection of the soul. Do not think distance weakens love. We carry your zeal continually in mind, and we rejoice over the care you have shown for the churches. You have undertaken no ordinary work. To correct such troubles, to comfort those who suffer, and to stand firm when many are shaken is the work of people trained for heaven. Keep watch, then, and do not let your hands fall. The God who loves humankind will measure the reward not only by what is accomplished, but also by the zeal and intention with which you labor. Write to us and tell us of your health and of the affairs there.

ΡΝ∆ʹ. Τοῖς αὐτοῖς. Ἡμεῖς μὲν ἐποθοῦμεν καὶ ταῖς τοῦ σώματος ὄψεσιν ὑμᾶς θεάσασθαι· ἐπειδὴ δὲ τοῦτο οὐκ ἔνι, τῷ τῆς ἐξορίας δεσμῷ κατεχομένων ἡμῶν, τοῖς ὀφθαλμοῖς τῆς ἀγάπης ὑμᾶς καθ' ἑκάστην φανταζόμεθα τὴν ἡμέραν, καὶ περιπτυσσόμεθα, καὶ κροτοῦντες καὶ θαυμάζοντες οὐ διαλιμπάνομεν, ὅτι τοσαύτην προθυμίαν καὶ σπουδὴν ἐξ ἀρχῆς μέχρι νῦν μεμενήκατε ἐπιδεικνύμενοι ὑπὲρ τῶν τῆς Ἀνατολῆς Ἐκκλησιῶν· καὶ παρακαλοῦμεν ἄξιον τῶν προοιμίων ἐπιδείξασθαι τὸ τέλος. Εἰ γὰρ οἱ πάντα ταράξαντες, καὶ θορύβων ἐμπλήσαντες, τοσαύτῃ κέχρηνται τῇ φιλονεικίᾳ, πολλῷ μᾶλλον ὑμᾶς, τοὺς τὰ κακῶς γεγενημένα διορθοῦν ἐσπουδακότας, πολλῇ δίκαιον κεχρῆσθαι τῇ ὑπομονῇ, καὶ καρτερίᾳ τῇ περὶ τὴν τοιαύτην σπουδήν. Οὕτω γὰρ πλείων ὑμῖν ἔσται ὁ μισθὸς, καὶ μείζων ἡ ἀμοιβὴ, ὅταν καὶ πολλῶν κωλυμάτων γινομένων, μὴ ἀνακρούησθε, ἀλλὰ μένητε τὴν τῶν πραγμάτων δυσκολίαν τῇ παρ' ἑαυτῶν ἀποτειχίζοντες ἀγρυπνίᾳ τε καὶ σπουδῇ.