Letter 236: Chrysostom thanks Carterius for restraining disturbances and describes Cucusus as quiet harbor.

Cucusus is an extraordinarily desolate place. Yet the solitude does not grieve us as much as the quiet gladdens us, and as much as the fact that no one here creates trouble for us. We have come to this wilderness as if to a harbor, recovering from the evils of the road and using the quiet to heal what remains of illness and of the other troubles we endured. I say this to your Splendor because I know how greatly you rejoice in our relief. We can never forget what you did there, restraining those rash and unreasonable disturbances, doing everything to place us in safety, and fulfilling your own duty. Wherever we go, we proclaim these things to everyone and thank you for such care. And so that we may enjoy not only being loved by you but also your letters about your health, please write often. You know how much cheer a word from you brings us.

ΣΛʹ. Καρτερίῳ ἡγεμόνι. Ἐρημότατον μὲν χωρίον μεθ' ὑπερβολῆς ἡ Κουκουσός· πλὴν ἀλλ' οὐχ οὕτως ἡμᾶς τῇ ἐρημίᾳ λυπεῖ, ὡς εὐφραίνει τῇ ἡσυχίᾳ, καὶ τῷ μηδαμόθεν ἡμῖν πράγματα παρέχειν. ∆ιὸ καθάπερ εἰς λιμένα τινὰ τὴν ἐρημίαν ταύτην ἀπηντηκότες, οὕτω καθήμεθα ἀπὸ τῶν κατὰ τὴν ὁδὸν κακῶν ἀναπνέοντες, καὶ τῇ ἡσυχίᾳ ταύτῃ τῆς ἀῤῥωστίας καὶ τῶν ἄλλων κακῶν, ὧν ὑπεμείναμεν, τὰ λείψανα διορθοῦντες. Καὶ ταῦτα εἰρήκαμεν πρὸς τὴν σὴν λαμπρότητα, ἐπειδὴ σφόδρα ἴσμεν χαίροντά σε τῇ ἀνέσει τῇ ἡμετέρᾳ, ἐπεὶ καὶ ἃ αὐτόθι πεποίηκας οὐδέποτε ἐπιλαθέσθαι δυνάμεθα, τοὺς προπετεῖς ἐκείνους καὶ ἀλογίστους ἀναστέλλων θορύβους, καὶ πάντα ποιῶν, ὥστε ἡμᾶς ἐν ἀδείᾳ καταστῆσαι, καὶ τὰ σαυτοῦ πληρῶν. Καὶ ταῦτα πρὸς ἅπαντας ὅπουπερ ἂν ἀφικώμεθα ἀνακηρύττομεν, πολλάς σοι χάριτας εἰδότες, δέσποτά μου θαυμασιώτατε, τῆς τοσαύτης κηδεμονίας. Ἵνα δὲ μὴ μόνον ἐκ τοῦ φιλεῖσθαι παρὰ σοῦ, ἀλλὰ καὶ ἐκ τῶν γραμμάτων ἀπολαύειν τῶν σῶν περὶ τῆς ὑγείας τῆς σῆς σημαινόντων πολλὴν καρπωσώμεθα τὴν εὐφροσύνην, δίδου ταύτην ἡμῖν τὴν χάριν. Οὐ γὰρ τὴν τυχοῦσαν δεξόμεθα καὶ ἐν ἀλλοτρίᾳ γῇ διατρίβοντες παράκλησιν, εἰ τοιαῦτα γράμματα δεξαίμεθα παρὰ τῆς θαυμασιότητός σου.