and for these noble struggles, and we cease not to bless you for this noble zeal and diligence. For this reason, we have exhorted my lord, the most reverend and devout presbyter, to hasten unto you. Having received him, therefore, with the kindness that is fitting for you, we beseech you to bring the matter to a worthy conclusion. For although those who have wrought so many storms and wars against the Churches are for the time being sick with an incurable malady, it is necessary not only to lament and weep for them, but to be astonished at you and to proclaim you, because, even as evils increase, you manifest ever greater diligence in working for the correction of such things.
B
*CLX. To a bishop who came from the West.* When I consider the labors you have undergone, both at home and in undertaking so long a journey across the sea for the sake of the interests of the Churches, I do not cease, even before the end, to praise and proclaim you blessed. For whether or not something more is accomplished by your diligence, my most honorable master, or whether those who at the beginning cast these disturbances remain in the same contentiousness, sick with an incurable malady, your reward is already complete, based on your intention and the fact that you have contributed everything in your power. For this reason, we bless you, we admire you, and we cease not to render thanks to you. We desired to write more frequently, but because the solitude of this place where we are confined has deprived us of this, now that we have chanced upon my lord, the most honorable and devout presbyter, we both write and render the greeting owed to you. For in intention and disposition we have written often, but by paper and ink only now for the first time, since now for the first time we have found one arriving to you. Having received him, therefore, as is fitting for you, and having shown the kindness becoming to him, grant him encouragement from your disposition. For it will be no small comfort and consolation for such great toil, that of the journey, to enjoy your goodwill. For that you will need no reminding from others to use the most robust zeal for the interests of the Churches, you have demonstrated by your deeds themselves.
*CLXI. To the Roman presbyters who came with the bishops.* You have undergone much labor, having undertaken so long a journey across the sea, and much sweat, but not on behalf of worldly and perishable matters, C but on behalf of what is profitable for the Churches, for which you shall receive from the loving God awards far greater than your toils. Your labor and zeal, therefore, will be no small consolation to both you and us: to you, because this noble struggle of yours is on behalf of the peace of so many Churches, and the recompense will be in much greater crowns; to us, because we have enjoyed such love from you, and have met with much zeal from such great and important men, and, though separated to such a degree in body, you have bound us to yourselves with the chain of love with great exactitude. For these things we render you many thanks, and we cease not to proclaim your great goodwill. For the very voice of events cries it out, and we do not cease to echo it through our own tongue. And if we have written to you now for the first time, we have suffered this not from sloth, but from the solitude of the place. Now, therefore, having taken hold of the lord most honorable and devout presbyter, who is passing through where you are, we both render the greeting owed to you and beseech you to receive him with the love that is fitting for you, and, upon his return, to inform us concerning your health, about which it is very important for us to learn. As for manifesting the proper zeal for the matter at hand, to which you are come, I do not think your reverence has any need of reminding from elsewhere; and this you have made clear by the zeal which you have manifested throughout all this time.
*CLXII. To Anysius, bishop of Thessalonica.* We have written to your love late and tardily; but this long silence of ours has not occurred willingly, but through the solitude of the place in which we are confined, not through sloth regarding your love. Now, therefore, having taken hold of my lord the most honorable and devout presbyter, we have rendered the greeting long owed to your honor, rendering many thanks to your devoutness for your steadfastness and bravery on behalf of the Churches. Having received him, therefore, my most honorable master, as is fitting for you, and having manifested the kindness becoming to him, do not grow weary of acting and managing those things that contribute to the common correction of the Churches. For you know the magnitude of the success, and on behalf of how many Churches you have undertaken this noble struggle, and D how many crowns are laid up for you by the loving God for having wrought this for the common peace.
*CLXIII. To Anysius, Numerius, Theodosius, Eutropius, Eustathius, Marcellus, Eusebius, Maximian, Eugenius, Gerontius, and Thyrsus, and to all the orthodox bishops in Macedonia.* Great indeed was your former zeal for love, and we render thanks for these things, because throughout so long a period you stood with the bravery fitting to you, yielding to none of those who attempt to snatch away; but we beseech you also to bring to pass the end as is fitting. For the more your toils, the greater will be the recompenses.