Legacy and influence John Chrysostom

1 legacy , influence

1.1 influence on catechism of catholic church , clergy
1.2 music , literature
1.3 legend of penance of saint john chrysostom
1.4 relics

legacy , influence

during time when city clergy subject criticism high lifestyle, john determined reform clergy in constantinople. these efforts met resistance , limited success. excellent preacher homilies , writings still studied , quoted. theologian, has been , continues important in eastern christianity, , considered among 3 holy hierarchs of greek church, has been less important western christianity. writings have survived present day more of other greek fathers.

influence on catechism of catholic church , clergy

john s influence on church teachings interwoven throughout current catechism of catholic church (revised 1992). catechism cites him in eighteen sections, particularly reflections on purpose of prayer , meaning of lord s prayer:

consider how [jesus christ] teaches humble, making see our virtue not depend on our work alone on grace on high. commands each of faithful prays universally, whole world. did not thy done in me or in , on earth , whole earth, error may banished it, truth take root in it, vice destroyed on it, virtue flourish on it, , earth no longer differ heaven.

christian clerics, such r. s. storr, refer him 1 of eloquent preachers ever since apostolic times have brought men divine tidings of truth , love , , 19th-century john henry newman described john bright, cheerful, gentle soul; sensitive heart.

music , literature

john s liturgical legacy has inspired several musical compositions. particularly noteworthy sergei rachmaninoff s liturgy of st. john chrysostom, op. 31, composed in 1910, 1 of 2 major unaccompanied choral works; pyotr tchaikovsky s liturgy of st. john chrysostom, op. 41; , ukrainian composer kyrylo stetsenko s liturgy of st. john chrysostom. arvo pärt s litany sets chrysostom s twenty-four prayers, 1 each hour of day, soli, mixed choir , orchestra. , compositions of alexander grechaninovs liturgy of johannes chrysostomos no. 1, op. 13 (1897) , liturgy of johannes chrysostomos no. 2, op.29 (1902) , liturgia domestica (liturgy johannes chrysostomos no. 3), op. 79 (1917) , liturgy of johannes chrysostomos no. 4, op. 177 (1943) noteworthy.

james joyce s novel ulysses includes character named mulligan brings chrysostomos character (stephen dedalus) s mind because mulligan s gold-stopped teeth , gift of gab earn him title st. john chrysostom s preaching earned him, golden-mouthed : [mulligan] peered sideways , gave long low whistle of call, paused awhile in rapt attention, white teeth glistening here , there gold points. chrysostomos.

the legend of penance of saint john chrysostom

the penance of st. john chrysostom. engraving lucas cranach elder, 1509. saint can seen in background on fours, whilst princess , baby dominate foreground.

a late medieval legend (not included in golden legend) relates that, when john chrysostom hermit in desert, approached royal princess in distress. saint, thinking demon, @ first refused her, princess convinced him christian , devoured wild beasts if not allowed enter cave. therefore admitted her, dividing cave in 2 parts, 1 each of them. in spite of these precautions, sin of fornication committed, , in attempt hide distraught saint took princess , threw on precipice. went rome beg absolution, refused. realising appalling nature of crimes, chrysostom made vow never rise ground until sins expiated, , years lived beast, crawling on fours , feeding on wild grasses , roots. subsequently, princess reappeared, alive, , suckling saint s baby, miraculously pronounced sins forgiven. last scene popular late 15th century onwards subject engravers , artists. theme depicted albrecht dürer around 1496, hans sebald beham , lucas cranach elder, among others. martin luther mocked same legend in die lügend von s. johanne chrysostomo (1537). legend recorded in croatia in 16th century.

relics

john chrysostom died in city of comana in year 407 on way place of exile. there relics remained until 438 when, thirty years after death, transferred constantinople during reign of empress eudoxia s son, emperor theodosius ii (408–450), under guidance of john s disciple, st. proclus, time had become archbishop of constantinople (434–447).

most of john s relics looted constantinople crusaders in 1204 , taken rome, of bones returned orthodox church on 27 november 2004 pope john paul ii. enshrined in church of st. george, istanbul.

the skull, however, having been kept @ monastery @ vatopedi on mount athos in northern greece, not among relics taken crusaders in 13th century. in 1655, @ request of tsar alexei mikhailovich, skull taken russia, monastery compensated in sum of 2000 rubles. in 1693, having received request vatopedi monastery return of saint john s skull, tsar peter great ordered skull remain in russia monastery paid 500 rubles every 4 years. russian state archives document these payments until 1735. skull kept @ moscow kremlin, in cathedral of dormition of mother of god, until 1920, when confiscated soviets , placed in museum of silver antiquities. in 1988, in connection 1000th anniversary of baptism of russia, head, along other important relics, returned russian orthodox church , kept @ epiphany cathedral, until being moved cathedral of christ saviour after restoration.

today, monastery @ vatopedi posits rival claim possessing skull of john chrysostom, , there skull venerated pilgrims monastery of saint john. 2 sites in italy claim have saint s skull: basilica di santa maria del fiore in florence , dal pozzo chapel in pisa. right hand of saint john preserved on mount athos, , numerous smaller relics scattered throughout world.