Letter 39: Chrysostom remembers Chalcidia's constant love and asks for letters about her health.

I know the love you have had for us from the first and from the beginning. I know that you keep it flourishing, that you add to it, and that our separation and so much time have not made it dimmer; rather, you kindle it more. I know that you receive our letters with much gladness, and that whether you write or keep silent, you are disposed toward us in the same way. We have long experience of this. So we urge your honor to remain so disposed toward us. We have many pledges and many reminders of your genuine love. For this reason we continually carry you in our soul, engraved on our mind, and we keep an unforgettable memory of you even when we do not write continually, since the scarcity of letter-carriers prevents us. Knowing this, my most modest and devout lady, write to us continually about your health. Even when we do not receive letters, we continually ask those who come from there about it. Still, we also wish to receive letters continually from your modesty, bringing us the good news that you are well.

ΛΘʹ. Χαλκιδίᾳ. Οἶδα τὴν ἀγάπην ἣν ἔσχες περὶ ἡμᾶς ἄνωθεν καὶ ἐξ ἀρχῆς, καὶ ὅτι ἀκμάζουσαν αὐτὴν διατηρεῖς, καὶ ὅτι αὐτῇ καὶ προσθήκας ἐργάζῃ, καὶ οὐ μόνον οὐδὲν αὐτὴν εἴασας ἀμαυροτέραν γενέσθαι ἀπὸ τοῦ χωρισμοῦ, καὶ τοῦ τοσούτου χρόνου, ἀλλὰ καὶ μᾶλλον αὐτὴν ἀνάπτεις. Οἶδ' ὅτι καὶ μετὰ πολλῆς δέχῃ τῆς εὐφροσύνης τὰ παρ' ἡμῶν γράμματα, καὶ ὅτι καὶ γράφουσα καὶ σιγῶσα ὁμοίως περὶ ἡμᾶς διάκεισαι, πολλὴν τοῦ πράγματος καὶ ἐν πολλῷ τῷ χρόνῳ τὴν πεῖραν εἰληφώς. ∆ιὸ δὴ παρακαλοῦμεν τὴν τιμιότητά σου καὶ περὶ ἡμᾶς οὕτω διακεῖσθαι· πολλὰ γὰρ ἐνέχυρά σου τῆς γνησίας ἀγάπης ἔχομεν, πολλὰ ὑπομνήματα. ∆ιὸ καὶ ἐν τῇ ψυχῇ σε διηνεκῶς περιφέρομεν, ἐγκολάψαντες ἡμῶν τῇ διανοίᾳ, καὶ τὴν μνήμην σου ἄληστον ἔχομεν, κἂν μὴ διηνεκῶς γράφωμεν, διὰ τὴν σπάνιν τῶν γραμματηφόρων ἐγκοπτόμενοι. Ταῦτ' οὖν εἰδυῖα, κυρία μου κοσμιωτάτη καὶ εὐλαβεστάτη, γράφε καὶ αὐτὴ συνεχῶς ἡμῖν τὰ περὶ τῆς ὑγιείας τῆς σῆς. Ἡμεῖς μὲν γὰρ κἂν μὴ δεξώμεθα γράμματα, τοὺς ἐκεῖθεν ἐρχομένους συνεχῶς ἐρωτῶμεν τοῦτο· βουλόμεθα δὲ καὶ παρὰ τῆς κοσμιότητος τῆς σῆς συνεχῶς δέχεσθαι ἐπιστολὰς, εὐαγγελιζομένας ἡμᾶς τὰ περὶ τῆς ῥώσεως τῆς σῆς.