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Hierarch · 5th century

John Chrysostom

Commemorated as

Our Father among the Saints John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople

c. 347/349 – 407

Also known as Hagios Ioannis Chrysostomos

Golden-mouthed archbishop whose Liturgy is celebrated to this day; died in exile.

Life

John Chrysostom (c. 347/349–407) was an early Church Father and Archbishop of Constantinople, surnamed "the Golden-Mouthed" (Chrysostom) for the eloquence of his preaching. Born in Antioch, Syria, he received a classical education before withdrawing from the world to pursue an ascetic and monastic life.

Ordained a deacon in 381 and a priest in 386, he served at Antioch for twelve years, where his brilliant sermons earned him his famous surname. In 398 he was elevated to the see of Constantinople, the most prestigious ecclesiastical position in the Eastern Roman Empire. His reforms and denunciations of corruption made powerful enemies, and after some years he was deposed, exiled, and died in banishment.

He is venerated as a saint across the Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Catholic, and Anglican churches, and is numbered among the Three Hierarchs alongside Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzus. The Divine Liturgy that bears his name remains the principal liturgical service of the Eastern Orthodox Church and many Eastern Catholic churches to this day.

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Timeline

  1. c. 347/349 Birth at Antioch Born at Antioch in Syria, where he received a classical education.
  2. 381 Ordained deacon Ordained a deacon after years of ascetic and monastic life in the Syrian mountains and a cave.
  3. 386 Ordained priest Ordained a priest at Antioch, where over twelve years his preaching earned him the surname Chrysostom.
  4. 398 Archbishop of Constantinople Elevated to the see of Constantinople, the most prestigious ecclesiastical position in the Eastern Roman Empire.
  5. 404 Deposed and exiled Deposed by the Synod of the Oak under Theophilus of Alexandria and sent into exile at Cucusus in the Taurus mountains.
  6. September 14, 407 Death in exile Died at Comana in Pontus during his banishment, having been moved further from the capital.

Contributions & Legacy

Life and Ministry

John was born about the year 347 (some accounts give c. 349) at Antioch in Syria, where he received an excellent classical education. In his youth he withdrew from the world to live in monastic solitude, first in the mountains of Syria for about four years, then in a cave for two years, where he practiced such severe asceticism that, by tradition, his health was permanently impaired.

Returning to Antioch, he was ordained a deacon in 381 and a priest in 386. As a priest at the cathedral of Antioch for twelve years, his eloquent homilies established his reputation and earned him the surname Chrysostom, "the Golden-Mouthed." In 398 he was made Archbishop of Constantinople, where he served until 407.

Conflict and Exile

As Archbishop, John's reforms and his zeal in denouncing corruption at the imperial court incurred the enmity of the Empress Eudoxia and her powerful supporters. After some years in office he was deposed by a synod convened at the Oak — the Synod of the Oak — under the jurisdiction of Theophilus of Alexandria, and was sent into exile.

He was banished to Cucusus in the Taurus mountains. The continued efforts of his friends and supporters to secure his reinstatement caused increasing strain, and he was moved further away to Comana in Pontus, where he died on September 14, 407.

Legacy

John Chrysostom's collected homilies and writings remain among the most extensive surviving works of any Church Father. The Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom is the primary liturgical service celebrated in the Eastern Orthodox Church and in many Eastern Catholic churches.

He is commemorated on November 13; on January 27, the feast of the Translation of his relics; and on January 30, the Synaxis of the Three Hierarchs, which honors him together with Basil the Great and Gregory of Nazianzus.

Notable Works

Commemorated With

Related Saints

Notes

One of the Three Hierarchs.

Sources: Synaxarion