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I think a more recognizable icon of St. John should be the first image
[[Image:John Chrysostom Russianenthroned.jpg|right|framethumb|250px|Russian icon of St. John Chrysostomenthroned]]Our father among the saints '''John Chrysostom''' (347-407), [[Archbishop]] of Constantinople, was a notable Christian [[bishop]] and preacher from the fourth and fifth centuries in Syria and Constantinople. He is famous for eloquence in public speaking and , his denunciation of abuse of authority in the Church and in the [[Roman Empire]] of the time, and for a [[Divine Liturgy]] attributed to him. He had notable [[asceticism|ascetic]] sensibilities. After his death he was named '''Chrysostom''', which comes from the Greek Χρυσόστομος, "golden-mouthed." The [[Orthodox Church]] honors him as a [[saint]] ([[feast day]], [[November 13]]) and counts him among the [[Three Holy Hierarchs]] (feast day, [[January 30]]), together with Saints [[Basil the Great]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]]. He Another feast day associated with him is [[January 27]], which commemorates the event in 437, thirty years after the saint's repose, when his [[relics]] were brought back to Constantinople from the place of his death. John Chrysostom is also recognized by the [[Roman Catholic Church]], which considers him a saint and Doctor of the Church, and by the [[Church of England]], both of whom commemorate him on [[September 13]]. His [[relics]] were stolen from Constantinople by Crusaders crusaders in 1204 (commemorated on [[January 27]]) and brought to Rome, but were returned on [[November 27]], 2004, by [[Pope]] [[John Paul II]].
He is sometimes referred to as "[[John of Antioch]]," but that name more properly refers to the bishop of Antioch in A.D. 429-441, who led a group of moderate Eastern bishops in the [[Nestorianism|Nestorian]] controversy.
[[Image:John Chrysostom.jpg|left|thumb|250px|Modern Greek icon]]
One incident that happened during his service in Antioch perhaps illustrates the influence of his [[sermon]]s best. Around the time he arrived in Antioch, the bishop had to intervene with the Emperor St. [[Theodosius I]] on behalf of citizens who had gone on a riotous rampage in which statues of the Emperor and his family were mutilated. During the weeks of [[Great Lent|Lent]] in 397387, John preached 21 sermons in which he entreated the people to see the error of their ways. These apparently had a lasting impression on the people: many pagans reportedly converted to Christianity as a result of them. In the event, Theodosius' vengeance was not as severe as it might have been, merely changing the legal standing of the city.
In 398 late October of 397, he was called (somewhat against his will) to be the [[bishop]] of Constantinople. He deplored the fact that Imperial court protocol would now assign to him access to privileges greater than the highest state officials. During his time as bishop he adamantly refused to host lavish entertainments. This meant he was popular with the common people, but unpopular with the wealthy and the [[clergy]]. In a sermon soon after his arrival he said, "people praise the predecessor to disparage the successor." His reforms of the clergy were also unpopular with these groups. He told visiting regional preachers to return to the churches they were meant to be serving—without any pay out.
His time there was to be far less at ease than in Antioch. [[Theophilus of Alexandria|Theophilus]], the Pope of [[Church of Alexandria|Alexandria]], wanted to bring Constantinople under his sway and opposed John's appointment to Constantinople. Being an opponent of [[Origen]]'s teachings, he accused John of being too partial to the teachings of that master. Theophilus had disciplined four Egyptian [[monk]]s (known as "the Tall Brothers") over their support of Origen's teachings. They fled to and were welcomed by John. He made another enemy in Aelia Eudoxia, the wife of the eastern Emperor Arcadius, who assumed (perhaps with justification) that his denunciations of extravagance in feminine dress were aimed at herself.
=== The ''Homilies against the Judaizers'' ===
Chrysostom wrote of the [[Judaism|Jews]] and of Judaizers in [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/chrysostom-jews6.html eight homilies ''Adversus Judaeos'' (against the Judaizers)].<ref>"This [Adversus Iudaeos] is the Latin translation of the title given to the homilies in PG 48.843. The Benedictine editor, Montfaucon, gives a footnote (reprinted ibid.) which states that six MSS and [Henry] Savile [in his edition (1612) of Chrysostom] have at the head of this homily: "A discourse against the Jews; but it was delivered against those who were Judaizing and keeping the fasts with them [i.e., the Jews]." This note is not altogether accurate because Savile, for Hom. 27 of Vol. 6 (which is Disc. I among the Adversus Iudaeos in PG and in this translation), gives (p. 366) the title: "Chrysostom's Discourse Against Those Who Are Judaizing and Observing Their Fasts." In Vol. 8 (col. 798) Savile states that he has emended Hoeschel's edition of this homily with the help of two Oxford MSS, one from the Corpus Christi College and the other from the New College; he must have gotten his title from any or all of these sources. Savile gives all eight of the homilies Adverus Iudaeos (Vol. 6.312-88) but in the order IV-VIII (wich are entitled Kata Ioudaion, i.e. Adversus Iudaeos), I (with the title given above), III and II (with the title affixed to them in our translation). Because of the titles in both some MSS and editions and because of the arguments which will be set forth in this introduction, we feel justified in calling this work Against
Judaizing Christians rather than giving it the less irenic and somewhat misleading traditional title Against the Jews." ''John Chrysostom, Discourses against Judaizing Christians'', translated by Paul W. Harkins. ''The Fathers of the Church''; v. 68 (Washington: Catholic University of America Press, 1979), p. xxxi, footnote 47</ref> At the time he delivered these sermons, Chrysostom was a tonsured reader and had not yet been ordained a priest or bishop.
* "The festivals of the pitiful and miserable Jews are soon to march upon us one after the other and in quick succession: the feast of Trumpets, the feast of Tabernacles, the [[fast]]s. There are many in our ranks who say they think as we do. Yet some of these are going to watch the festivals and others will join the Jews in keeping their feasts and observing their fasts. I wish to drive this perverse custom from the Church right now." (Homily I, I, 5)
== Work on liturgy ==
[[Image:John Chrysostom enthronedRussian.jpg|right|thumb|250pxframe|Russian icon of St. John enthronedChrysostom]]
Two of his writings deserve special mention. He harmonized the liturgical life of the Church by revising the [[prayer]]s and [[rubrics]] of the [[Divine Liturgy]], or celebration of the Holy [[Eucharist]]. To this day, the [[Orthodox Church]] typically celebrates the Divine Liturgy of John Chrysostom, together with [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] churches that are in the Eastern or Byzantine rites (i.e., [[Uniate]]s). These same churches also read his [[Paschal Homily]] at every [[Pascha]], the greatest feast of the [[Church]] year.
==Hymns==
:Grace shining forth from your lips like a beacon has enlightened the universe.
:It has shown to the world the riches of riches poverty;
:it has revealed to us the heights of humility.
:Teaching us by your words, O Father John Chrysostom,
==Source==
*Some material taken from [[w:John Chrysostom|''John Chrysostom'' at Wikipedia]]
==Modern Bibliography==
* ''On Wealth and Poverty'' (SVS Press, 1999) (ISBN 088141039X)
* ''On Marriage and Family Life'' (SVS Press, 1986) (ISBN 0913836869)
* Robert Van de Weyer, ''On Living Simply: The Golden Voice of John Chrysostom'' (Triumph Books, 1997) (ISBN 0764800566)
* Holy Apostles Convent, ''The Lives of the Three Great Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, and John Chrysostom'' (Holy Apostles Convent Pubns, 2001) (ISBN 0944359116)
== External links ==
*[http://www.ccel.org/c/chrysostom/ Works about and by John Chrysostom] from the Christian Classics Ethereal Library
*[http://orthodoxchurchquotes.com/category/sayings-from-saints-elders-and-fathers/st-john-chrysostom/ Quotes from St. John Chrysostom] - [http://orthodoxchurchquotes.com Orthodox Church Quotes] website*[http://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints/saints_view?contentid=290 John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople] ([[GOARCH]])*[http://www.goarch.org/chapel/saints/saints_view?contentid=405 Removal of the Relics of John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople] (GOARCH)
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=103292 St. John Chrysostom the Archbishop of Constantinople] ([[OCA]])
*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=102611 Repose of St John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople] (OCA)
[[Category:Bishops]]
[[Category:4th-5th-century bishops]]
[[Category:Church Fathers]]
[[Category:Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers]]
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[[Category:5th-century saints]]
[[ar:يوحنا الذهبي الفم]]
