St John Chrysostom (350-407) bishop and doctor of the Church
John was a bishop and an eloquent preacher (His nickname Chrysostomos means
"golden-mouthed") who became patriarch of Constantinople. He fell foul
of the empress Eudoxia, possibly for his denunciation of her wealth and
she had him deposed and exiled.
The Eastern Church still celebrates the
form of the liturgy of the Eucharist he gave it.
Early life
Born in Antioch in Syria John was
brought up by his Christian mother after the early death of his soldier
father. He studied under the distinguished pagan rhetorician Libanius in
the expectation he might be a lawyer, but he also studied theology and
joined a group of hermits in the mountains, where he lived in extreme
asceticism.
Ministry at Antioch
After seven years he returned
to Antioch because of ill-health. He was ordained a deacon and priest
and from 386 to 398 had a reputation as a great preacher. His
straightforward understanding of scripture meant his talks were
practical. One series of sermons he preached here were directed against
Christians who were inclined to celebrate Jewish festivals.
He held Jews
responsible for Jesus' death and this has led to his being charged with
anti-semitism.
But following an incident during which the citizens of Antioch
disrespected the statues of the emperor and his family, he preached
twenty one sermons during Lent which brought the citizens to repentence
and served also to pacify the emperor.
Controversy at Constantinople
Appointed
archbishop of Constantinople, John spoke against the misuse of riches
and against women wearing expensive garments. The empress Eudoxia took
his criticisms personally and contrived with Patriarch Theophilus of the
rival see of Alexandria to convene a synod to indict John on a number
of charges, many of them trivial. John refused to attend, so the synod
deposed him. The emperor, Arcadius, banished him to Armenia. Pope
Innocent I tried to intervene, but was unsuccessful.
Exile
During this time, John was supported by a
group of deaconesses led by Olympias. John wrote many letters and
exercised considerable influence at Constantinople even from exile.
Seventeen of his letters to Olympias survive, but none of hers. To
pre-empt further publicity, his captors forced him to Pontus. The
journey on foot in bad weather led to his death on 14th September 407.
Seven years later he was posthumously rehabilitated.
His legacy
John's eloquence as a preacher earned him the name Chrysostomos (=
"the golden-mouthed"). He lived, suffered and died for ideals that were
opposed to the ruling society of his day. The themes of his homilies
urge greater care of the poor and giving up popular pagan amusements.
He revised the prayers and ritual of the liturgy of the Eucharist.
The Eastern Church today still celebrates the form of the Eucharist he
gave it, The Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom.