Letter 51: Chrysostom asks Diogenes to redirect support through Aphraates for church work in Phoenicia.

After writing the previous letter, I saw that the most honored and devout Aphraates was devoted to us, would not endure leaving this place, and threatened not to take letters from us unless I accepted back what had been sent. So I have given the matter a shape that should be very pleasing to your nobility and should set your careful mind at rest. When you have learned the arrangement from him, appoint him as the servant of this good administration. You know how great the gain will be, both from his presence in Phoenicia and from the generosity of your magnificence. You yourself will receive the reward for both, since you show such liberality toward those in Phoenicia who are instructing the non-Christian Greeks and laboring for the building up of the churches. You have raised up such a man and sent him for their encouragement, especially now, when they are in such difficulty and are being attacked by many. Consider the greatness of the good work. Do not let him delay even a little, but prepare him to take up this journey without hesitation, laying up in advance for yourself a great reward with the God who loves humankind, my most admirable master.

ΝΑʹ. Τῷ αὐτῷ. Μετὰ τὸ γράψαι τὴν προτέραν ἐπιστολὴν, ἰδὼν τὸν τιμιώτατον καὶ εὐλαβέστατον Ἀφραάτην προσηλωμένον ἡμῖν, καὶ οὐκ ἀνεχόμενον οὔτε ἀπᾶραι ἐντεῦθεν, καὶ ἀπειλοῦντα μήτε γράμματα δέχεσθαι παρ' ἡμῶν, εἰ μὴ ἀπολάβοιμι τὰ ἀποσταλέντα, ἐπέθηκα τύπον τῷ πράγματι σφόδρα κεχαρισμένον τῇ εὐγενείᾳ σου, καὶ ἀναπαύοντά σου τὴν ἐμμέλειαν, ὃν παρ' αὐτοῦ μαθὼν, κέλευσον διάκονον γενέσθαι τῆς καλῆς ταύτης οἰκονομίας. Οἶσθα γὰρ ἡλίκον ἔσται τοῦ πράγματος τὸ κέρδος καὶ διὰ τῆς παρουσίας τούτου τῆς εἰς τὴν Φοινίκην, καὶ διὰ τῆς φιλοτιμίας τῆς σῆς μεγαλοπρεπείας. Καὶ ἀμφοτέρων τούτων αὐτὸς λήψῃ τὸν μισθὸν, ἅτε τοσαύτην δαψίλειαν ἐπιδεικνύμενος περὶ τοὺς ἐν Φοινίκῃ κατηχοῦντας τοὺς Ἕλληνας, καὶ περὶ τὴν οἰκοδομὴν τῶν ἐκκλησιῶν ἐσπουδακότας, καὶ ἄνδρα τοιοῦτον ἀναστήσας, καὶ πέμψας εἰς παράκλησιν αὐτῶν, καὶ μάλιστα νῦν ἐν τοσαύτῃ δυσκολίᾳ καθεστηκότων, καὶ παρὰ πολλῶν πολεμουμένων. Ἐννοήσας τοίνυν τοῦ κατορθώματος τὸν ὄγκον, μὴ ἀφῇς μηδὲ μικρὸν αὐτὸν ἀναβάλλεσθαι, ἀλλ' ἀμελλητὶ τῆς ὁδοῦ ταύτης ἅψασθαι παρασκεύασον, πολλὴν σαυτῷ διὰ τῆς καλῆς ταύτης σπουδῆς, δέσποτά μου θαυμασιώτατε, προαποτιθέμενος παρὰ τῷ φιλανθρώπῳ Θεῷ τὴν ἀμοιβήν.