2,026
edits
Changes
m
a few commas, typo "Costantinople," semantically weird "others of his enemies"
[[Image:oqropiri.jpg|right|thumb|Coffin of St. John Chrysostom in Komani, Georgia]]
St. John was fearless when denouncing offences in high places. An alliance was soon formed against him by Eudoxia, Theophilus and others other enemies of his enemies. They held a [[synod]] in 403 to charge John, in which the accusation of Origenism was used against him. It resulted in his deposition and banishment. He was called back by Arcadius almost immediately, however, for the people of the city were very angry about his departure. There was also a "quaking" in the Imperial bedroom (thought to be either an actual earthquake or perhaps as a stillbirth or miscarriage for the empress) which was seen as a sign of [[God]]'s anger. Peace was shortlived. A silver statue of Eudoxia was erected near the [[cathedral]] of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]]. John denounced the dedication ceremonies. He spoke against her in harsh terms: "Again [[Herodias]] rages; again she is confounded; again she demands the head of John on a charger" (an allusion to the events surrounding the death of [[John the Forerunner]]). Once again he was banished, this time to Caucasus in Georgia.
The pope in Rome ([[Innocent I of Rome|Innocent I]] at this time) protested at this banishment, but to no avail. John wrote letters which still held great influence in Constantinople. As a result of this, he was further exiled to Pityus (on the eastern edge of the Black Sea). However, he never reached this destination , as he died during the journey. His final words were "Glory be to God for all things!"
== His importance ==
During a time when city clergy were subject to much criticism for their high lifestyle, John was determined to reform his clergy at Constantinople. These efforts were met with resistance and limited success. He was particularly noted as an excellent preacher. As a theologian, he has been and continues to be very important in Eastern Christianity, but has been less important to Western Christianity. He generally rejected the contemporary trend for emphasis on allegory, instead speaking plainly and applying Bible passages and lessons to everyday life. In some ways, he represents a sort of synthesis between the [[hermeneutics|hermeneutic]] methods of the more allegorical [[Alexandrian School]] and the more literal Antiochian School.
His banishments demonstrated that secular powers had strong influence in the eastern Church at this period in history. They also demonstrated the rivalry between Contantinople Constantinople and Alexandria, both wanting of which wanted to be recognized as the preeminent eastern see. This mutual hostility would eventually lead to much suffering for the Church and the Eastern Empire. Meanwhile in the West, Rome's primacy had been unquestioned from the fourth century onwards. An interesting point to note in the wider development of the [[papacy]], is the fact that Innocent's protests had availed nothing, demonstrating the lack of influence the bishops of Rome held in the East at this time.
== The ''Homilies against the Judaizers'' ==
Chrysostom wrote of the [[Judaism|Jews]] and of Judaizers in eight homilies ''Adversus Judaeos'' (against the Judaizers) [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/source/chrysostom-jews6.html]. These quotes are translations posted by Paul Halsall from the original Greek: other researchers give slightly different translations. 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)
* "Shall I tell you of their plundering, their covetousness, their abandonment of the poor, their thefts, their cheating in trade? the The whole day long will not be enough to give you an account of these things. But do their festivals have something solemn and great about them? They have shown that these, too, are impure." (Homily I, VII, 1)
* "But before I draw up my battle line against the Jews, I will be glad to talk to those who are members of our own body, those who seem to belong to our ranks although they observe the Jewish rites and make every effort to defend them. Because they do this, as I see it, they deserve a stronger condemnation than any Jew." (Homily IV, II, 4)
* "Are you Jews still disputing the question? Do you not see that you are condemned by the testimony of what [[Christ]] and the [[prophet]]s predicted and which the facts have proved? But why should this surprise me? That is the kind of people you are. From the beginning you have been shameless and obstinate, ready to fight at all times against obvious facts." (Homily V, XII, 1)
