Letter 168: Chrysostom tells Proba that distance cannot hide her warm love and zeal.

Though the distance between us is great, we see your genuine and warm love as if we were present with you and watching everything you do. Neither road, sea, nor exile can hide from us the nobility of your disposition. We thank you for the zeal you have shown and for the honor you give to those who suffer for the churches. Continue to hold the same courage. Present circumstances are unstable, but the reward for virtue is firm and cannot be taken away. Do not let grief or the confusion of events cast you down. Lift your mind above them and keep showing the generosity and faithfulness for which we bless you. Write to us about your health, and let us receive from your letters the comfort of your presence.

ΡΞΗʹ. Πρόβῃ ἐλευθέρᾳ, ἐν Ῥώμῃ. Εἰ καὶ πολλῷ διῳκίσμεθα τῷ μέσῳ τῆς ὁδοῦ, ἀλλὰ τῆς γνησίας σου καὶ θερμῆς ἀγάπης, ὡς παρόντες, καὶ πάντα τὰ σὰ ὁρῶντες, οὕτως ἀκριβῆ πεῖραν εἰλήφαμεν, τῶν ἐκεῖθεν ἀφικνουμένων πρὸς ἡμᾶς ἀπαγγελλόντων περὶ τῆς σῆς ἐμμελείας ταῦτα, ἅπερ ἐπεθυμοῦμεν μανθάνειν. ∆ιὰ τοῦτό σοι χάριτας ἴσμεν πολλὰς καὶ μεγάλας, καὶ ἐναβρυνόμεθα, καὶ καλλωπιζόμεθα ἐπὶ τῇ διαθέσει τῆς εὐγενείας σου· καὶ τοὺς ἀγαπητοὺς, τὸν εὐλαβέστατον πρεσβύτερον Ἰωάννην, καὶ τὸν τιμιώτατον διάκονον Παῦλον παρακατατιθέμεθά σου τῇ κοσμιότητι, ὡς εἰς λιμένα τὰς σὰς αὐτοὺς παραπέμποντες χεῖρας. Ἰδεῖν τοίνυν αὐτοὺς ὥς σοι πρέπον ἐστὶ, δέσποινά μου τιμιωτάτη καὶ εὐγενεστάτη, παρακλήθητι. Οἶσθα γὰρ, ὅσος ἔσται σοι τῆς φιλοφροσύνης ταύτης ὁ μισθός. Καὶ ἡνίκα ἂν ἐξῇ, συνεχέστερον ἡμῖν δήλου τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς σῆς, περὶ ἧς σφόδρα περισπούδαστον ἡμῖν μανθάνειν, ἐπειδήπερ σφόδρα αὐτῆς ἀντεχόμεθα.