Letter 172: Chrysostom says a brief meeting with Helladius proved his genuine love.

Our time with you was brief, but from that brief meeting we received strong proof of your genuine and warm love. Noble souls do not need long acquaintance to reveal themselves. In a short time they show everything clearly. Because we remember your affection, we now write from far away and send the greeting we owe. Do not let the distance make you slower to write. Letters can cross where bodies cannot, and they give great comfort to those separated by such roads. Tell us about your health, most admirable master, and about the affairs around you. We will count the news as a great favor while we remain in exile.

ΡΟΒʹ. Ἑλλαδίῳ. Ὀλίγα μέν σοι συνεγενόμεθα, πολλὴν δὲ τὴν πειράν σου τῆς γνησίας καὶ θερμῆς εἰλήφαμεν ἀγάπης. Καὶ γὰρ αἱ γενναῖαι ψυχαὶ ἐν βραχεῖ καιρῷ τοὺς ἐντυγχάνοντας χειροῦνται. Ὃ δὴ καὶ αὐτὸς πεποίηκας ἐν ὀλίγῳ σφοδροὺς ἡμᾶς ποιήσας ἐραστὰς τῆς εὐγενείας τῆς σῆς. ∆ιὸ καὶ ἐπιστέλλομεν, καὶ τὰ καθ' ἡμᾶς αὐτοὺς δηλοῦμεν, ὅτι ἐν ἡσυχίᾳ καὶ ἀπραγμοσύνῃ διάγομεν πολλῇ, πάντων ἡμᾶς ἐνταῦθα θεραπευόντων μετὰ σπουδῆς, καὶ μετὰ πολλῆς ὁρώντων τῆς εὐνοίας. Ἵν' οὖν καὶ τὰ ὑμέτερα μανθάνοντες εὐφραινώμεθα, συνεχῶς ἡμῖν ἐπιστέλλειν μὴ κατόκνει, καὶ τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς σῆς εὐαγγελίζεσθαι, ἵνα καὶ ἐκ τούτου πολλὴν καρπωσώμεθα τὴν παράκλησιν, τοιαῦτα παρὰ τῆς σῆς εὐγενείας δεχόμενοι γράμματα.