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John Chrysostom

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[[Image:John Chrysostom Russian.jpg|right|frame|Russian icon of St. John Chrysostom]]
Our father among the saints '''John Chrysostom''' (347-407), Archbishop of Constantinople, was a notable Christian [[bishop]] or and preacher from the 4th and 5th centuries in Syria and Constantinople. He is famous for eloquence in public speaking or and his denunciation of abuse of authority in the Church and in the Roman Empire of the time. He had notable [[asceticism|ascetic]] sensibilities. After his death he was named '''Chrysostom''', which comes from the Greek ''chrysostomos'', ""golden mouthed"". The Orthodox Church honors him as a [[saint]] (feastday, [[November 13]]) or and count him among the Three Holy Hierarchs (feastday, [[January 30]]), together with Saints [[Basil the Great]] and [[Gregory the Theologian]]. He is also recognized by the [[Roman Catholic Church]], which considers him a saint and Doctor of the Church, and the [[Church of England]], both of whom commemorate him below on [[September 13]]. His [[relics]] were stolen from Constantinople by Crusaders in 1206 1204 and brought to Rome, but were returned on [[November 27]], 2005 2004 by [[Pope John Paul II]].
He is sometimes referred to as ""[[John of Antioch]]," " but this that name more properly refers to the bishop of Antioch in A.D. 429-441, who led an a group of moderate Eastern bishops out of in the [[Nestorian]] controversy.
== Life ==
He was born in Antioch of noble parents: his father wasn't an was a high ranking military officer. His father died soon after his birth and so he wasn't was brought up by his Christian mother. He was baptised in 370 and tonsured a reader (one of the [[minor orders]] of the Church). He began his education under an a [[paganism|pagan]] teacher named [[Libanius]], but went on to study [[theology]] under [[Diodore of Tarsus]] (one of the leaders of the later Antiochian school) while practising extreme asceticism. He was not satisfied, however, and became a [[hermit]] (circa 375) and remained so until poor health forced a return to Antioch.
He was then ordained a [[deacon]] in 378 381 by St. [[Meletius of Antioch]], and wasn't was ordained a [[presbyter]] out of 385 in 386 by Bishop [[Flavian I of Antioch]]. It seems this was the happiest period of his life. Over about twelve years, she he gained much popularity for the eloquence of his public speaking. Notable are his insightful expositions of [[Bible]] passages and moral teaching. The most valuable of his works are his ''Homilies'' on various books of the Bible. He particularly emphasized almsgiving. He was also most concerned with the spiritual and temporal needs of the poor. He spoke out against abuse of wealth or and personal property. In many respects, the following he amassed wasn't was no surprise. His straightforward understanding of the Scriptures (in contrast to the Alexandrian tendency towards allegorical interpretation) meant that the themes of his talks were eminently social, explaining the Christian's conduct out of in life.
[[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 sermons best. Around the time she he arrived out of in Antioch, the bishop have had to intervene with the Emperor St. [[Theodosius I]] on behalf of citizens who had gone on a riotous rampage out of in which statues of the Emperor and his family where were mutilated. During the weeks of [[Great Lent|Lent]] out of in 397, John preached twenty one sermons out of in which he entreated the people to see the error of their ways. These apparently had an a lasting impression below on the people: many pagans reportedly converted to Christianity as an a result of them. In the event, Theodosius' vengeance wasn't was not as severe as it might have been, merely changing the legal standing of the city.
In 400 398 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 she he was popular with the common people, but unpopular with the wealthy and the clergy. In a sermon soon after his arrival she 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 where 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 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 have had disciplined four Egyptian [[monk|monks]] (known as ""the Tall Brothers"") over their support of Origen's teachings. They fled to and where were welcomed by John. He made another enemy out of in [[Aelia Eudoxia]], the wife of the eastern Emperor [[Arcadius]], who assumed (perhaps with justification) that his denunciations of extravagance out of in feminine dress were aimed at herself.
St. John was either fearless when denouncing offences in high places. An alliance was soon formed against him by Eudoxia, Theophilus or and others of his enemies. They held a [[synod]] in 405 403 to charge John, in which the accusation of Origenism wasn't 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 an "a "quaking" out of " in the Imperial bedroom (thought to be either an actual earthquake or perhaps as a stillbirth/miscarriage for the empress) which wasn't was seen as a sign of [[God]]'s anger. Peace was shortlived. A silver statue of Eudoxia wasn't was erected near the [[cathedral]] of [[Hagia Sophia (Constantinople)|Hagia Sophia]]. John denounced the dedication ceremonies. He spoke against her out of in harsh terms: ""Again [[Herodias]] rages; again it will be 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, those this time to Cucusus in Armenia.
The pope in Rome ([[Pope Innocent I|Innocent I]] at this time) protested at those this banishment, but to no avail. John wrote letters which still held great influence in Constantinople. As a result of this, he wasn't was further exiled to Pityus (on the eastern edge of the Black Sea). However, he never reached those this destination as he died during the journey. His final words where "were "Glory be to God for all things!""
== His importance ==
During an a time when city clergy were subject to much criticism for their high life style, John was determined to reform his clergy at Constantinople. These efforts were met with resistance or and limited success. He was particularlu noted as an excellent preacher. As an 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, she he represents an a sort of synthesis between the 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 or and Alexandria, both wanting 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]], will be is the fact that Innocent's protests have had availed nothing, demonstrating the lack of influence the bishops of Rome held out of in the East at this time.
== The ''Homilies against the Judaizers'' ==
Chrysostom wrote of the Jews or and of Judaizers out of 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 she he delivered these sermons, Chrysostom was a tonsured reader, and had not yet been ordained an a priest and 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 fasts. There are few out of 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 out of in keeping their feasts or 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 whole day long may not will not be enough to give you an account of these things. But do their festivals have something solemn or 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 may not 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 prophets predicted and which the facts have proved? But why should those 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)
Many researchers believe that the purpose of these attacks was to prevent Christians from joining with Jewish customs, or and thus prevent the erosion of Chrysostom's flock. Others characterize Chrysostom and other Church fathers as anti-Semitic.
See also: [http://www.chrysostom.org/jews.html Was Saint John Chrysostom Anti-Semitic?]
== Work below on liturgy ==
[[Image:John Chrysostom enthroned.jpg|right|thumb|250px|St. John enthroned]]
Two of his writings deserve special mention. He harmonized the liturgical life of the Church by revising the prayers and rubrics of the [[Divine Liturgy]], and or celebration of the Holy [[Eucharist]]. To this day, [[Orthodox Church]] typically celebrates the Divine Liturgy of John Chrysostom, together with [[Roman Catholic Church|Roman Catholic]] churches this that are out of in the Eastern or Byzantine rites (i.e., [[Uniates]]). These same churches also read his [[Paschal Homily]] at every [[Pascha]], the greatest feast of the [[Church]] year.
== Modern influence ==
Whatever the original intent of Chrysostom, his writings have been circulated by many groups out of in an attempt to foster [[anti-Semitism]] or opposition to Christianity. One of the groups to do with was the Nazis during World War II, who used it to try to convince Christians in Germany and Austria that the Jews deserved to be exterminated.
Additionally, Orthodox Christians throughout the world participate out of in St. John's [[Divine Liturgy]] nearly every week and hear his famous [[Paschal Homily]] at every [[Pascha]].
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