Biography John Chrysostom

1 biography

1.1 life , education
1.2 diaconate , service in antioch
1.3 archbishop of constantinople
1.4 exile , death
1.5 veneration , canonization

biography
early life , education

john born in antioch in 349 greek parents syria. different scholars describe mother anthusa pagan or christian, , father high-ranking military officer. john s father died after birth , raised mother. baptised in 368 or 373 , tonsured reader (one of minor orders of church).

as result of mother s influential connections in city, john began education under pagan teacher libanius. libanius, john acquired skills career in rhetoric, love of greek language , literature.

as grew older, however, john became more committed christianity , went on study theology under diodore of tarsus, founder of re-constituted school of antioch. according christian historian sozomen, libanius supposed have said on deathbed john have been successor if christians had not taken him .

john lived in extreme asceticism , became hermit in 375; spent next 2 years continually standing, scarcely sleeping, , committing bible memory. consequence of these practices, stomach , kidneys permanently damaged , poor health forced him return antioch.

diaconate , service in antioch

john ordained deacon in 381 saint meletius of antioch not in communion alexandria , rome. after death of meletius, john separated himself followers of meletius, without joining paulinus, rival of meletius bishopric of antioch. after death of paulinus ordained presbyter (priest) in 386 evagrius, successor of paulinus. destined later bring reconciliation between flavian of antioch, alexandria, , rome, bringing 3 sees communion first time in seventy years.

in antioch, on course of twelve years (386–397), john gained popularity because of eloquence of public speaking @ golden church, antioch s cathedral, insightful expositions of bible passages , moral teaching. valuable of works period homilies on various books of bible. emphasised charitable giving , concerned spiritual , temporal needs of poor. spoke against abuse of wealth , personal property:

do wish honour body of christ? not ignore him when naked. not pay him homage in temple clad in silk, neglect him outside cold , ill-clad. said: body same said: saw me hungry , gave me no food , , whatever did least of brothers did me ... if eucharistic table overloaded golden chalices when brother dying of hunger? start satisfying hunger , left may adorn altar well.

a sculpture of john chrysostom in saint patrick s cathedral, new york city

his straightforward understanding of scriptures – in contrast alexandrian tendency towards allegorical interpretation – meant themes of talks practical, explaining bible s application everyday life. such straightforward preaching helped chrysostom garner popular support. founded series of hospitals in constantinople care poor.

one incident happened during service in antioch illustrates influence of homilies. when chrysostom arrived in antioch, flavian, bishop of city, had intervene emperor theodosius on behalf of citizens had gone on rampage mutilating statues of emperor , family. during weeks of lent in 387, john preached more twenty homilies in entreated people see error of ways. these made lasting impression on general population of city: many pagans converted christianity result of homilies. result, theodosius vengeance not severe might have been.

archbishop of constantinople

john chrysostom confronting aelia eudoxia, in 19th-century painting jean-paul laurens.

in autumn of 397, john appointed archbishop of constantinople, after having been nominated without knowledge eunuch eutropius. had leave antioch in secret due fears departure of such popular figure cause civil unrest.

during time archbishop adamantly refused host lavish social gatherings, made him popular common people, unpopular wealthy citizens , clergy. reforms of clergy unpopular. told visiting regional preachers return churches meant serving—without payout.

his time in constantinople more tumultuous time in antioch. theophilus, patriarch of alexandria, wanted bring constantinople under sway , opposed john s appointment constantinople. theophilus had disciplined 4 egyptian monks (known tall brothers ) on support of origen s teachings. fled john , welcomed him. theophilus therefore accused john of being partial teaching of origen. made enemy in aelia eudoxia, wife of emperor arcadius, assumed john s denunciations of extravagance in feminine dress aimed @ herself. eudoxia, theophilus , other of enemies held synod in 403 (the synod of oak) charge john, in connection origen used against him. resulted in deposition , banishment. called arcadius immediately, people became tumultuous on departure, threatening burn royal palace. there earthquake night of arrest, eudoxia took sign of god s anger, prompting ask arcadius john s reinstatement.

peace short-lived. silver statue of eudoxia erected in augustaion, near cathedral. john denounced dedication ceremonies pagan , spoke against empress in harsh terms: again herodias raves; again troubled; dances again; , again desires receive john s head in charger , allusion events surrounding death of john baptist. once again banished, time caucasus in abkhazia.

around 405, john began lend moral , financial support christian monks enforcing emperors anti-pagan laws, destroying temples , shrines in phoenicia , nearby regions.

exile , death

the causes of john s exile not clear, though jennifer barry suggests have connections arianism. other historians, including wendy mayer , geoffrey dunn, have argued surplus of evidence reveals struggle between johannite , anti-johannite camps in constantinople after john s departure , few years after death . faced exile, john chrysostom wrote appeal 3 churchmen: pope innocent i, venerius bishop of milan, , third chromatius, bishop of aquileia. in 1872, church historian william stephens wrote:

the patriarch of eastern rome appeals great bishops of west, champions of ecclesiastical discipline confesses himself unable enforce, or see prospect of establishing. no jealousy entertained of patriarch of old rome patriarch of new rome. interference of innocent courted, primacy accorded him, @ same time not addressed supreme arbitrator; assistance , sympathy solicited him elder brother, , 2 other prelates of italy joint recipients him of appeal.

pope innocent protested john s banishment constantinople town of cucusus in cappadocia, no avail. innocent sent delegation intercede on behalf of john in 405. led gaudentius of brescia; gaudentius , companions, 2 bishops, encountered many difficulties , never reached goal of entering constantinople.

john wrote letters still held great influence in constantinople. result of this, further exiled cucusus (where stayed 404 407) pitiunt (pityus) (in modern abkhazia) tomb shrine pilgrims. never reached destination, died @ comana pontica on 14 september 407 during journey. last words said have been δόξα τῷ θεῷ πάντων ἕνεκεν (glory god things).

veneration , canonization

byzantine 11th-century soapstone relief of john chrysostom, louvre.



the return of relics of saint john chrysostom church of holy apostles in constantinople.

john came venerated saint after death. after, anonymous supporter of john (known pseudo-martyrius) wrote funeral oration reclaim john symbol of christian orthodoxy. 3 decades later, of adherents in constantinople remained in schism. saint proclus, patriarch of constantinople (434–446), hoping bring reconciliation of johannites, preached homily praising predecessor in church of hagia sophia. said, o john, life filled sorrow, death glorious. grave blessed , reward great, grace , mercy of our lord jesus christ o graced one, having conquered bounds of time , place! love has conquered space, unforgetting memory has annihilated limits, , place not hinder miracles of saint.

these homilies helped mobilize public opinion, , patriarch received permission emperor return chrysostom s relics constantinople, enshrined in church of holy apostles on 28 january 438. eastern orthodox church commemorates him great ecumenical teacher , basil great , gregory theologian. these 3 saints, in addition having own individual commemorations throughout year, commemorated on 30 january, feast known synaxis of 3 hierarchs.

there several feast days dedicated him:

27 january, translation of relics of saint john chrysostom comana constantinople
30 january, synaxis of 3 great hierarchs
14 september, repose of saint john chrysostom
13 november, saint john chrysostom archbishop of constantinople




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