John Chrysostom
c. 349 – 407 · Bishop of Constantinople
Also known as John of Antioch · Chrysostomos
Feast: 13 September (Catholic) · 13 November (Orthodox)
Archbishop of Constantinople, called 'Golden-Mouth' for his preaching. Greatest preacher of the Greek Fathers; deposed and exiled at the Synod of the Oak (403).
Chrysostom means 'golden-mouth.' He was the greatest preacher in the early church and one of the few who used that gift to attack power directly — luxury, the rich oppressing the poor, the imperial court — until they exiled him for it. He died on a forced march. His sermons on Matthew and his homilies on wealth and poverty are still the place to start if you want patristic preaching that lands like it was written this morning. Eastern Orthodoxy still uses his liturgy every Sunday.
Notable works
- ·Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew · 390
- ·On Wealth and Poverty · 388
- ·On the Priesthood (De Sacerdotio) · 386
- ·Homilies on Genesis · 388
- ·Letters to Olympias · 405
Primary sources
- ·Palladius, Dialogus de Vita Joannis Chrysostomi
- ·Socrates Scholasticus, Hist. Eccl. 6
- ·Sozomen, Hist. Eccl. 8
Book of the day
On Wealth and Poverty
John ChrysostomA reading pick tied to today's figure, quote, era, or event. A direct, uncomfortable introduction to Chrysostom's preaching and social critique.
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