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(CNA) Born in Asia-Minor (modern day Turkey) Antioch, St. John Chrysostom was perhaps one of the greatest preachers in the history of the Church, thus the name that earned him the title ‘Chrysostom’ (Golden Mouthed) and the most prominent Greek Father of the Church.
John grew up in Antioch (ancient Greek–Roman city) receiving an excellent classical Greek education–upon meeting the Holy Bishop Meletus, John decided to devote his time to the study of Sacred Scripture and religious works. Following his Baptism and three years of study, John set out for the desert to live the ascetic life of a Hermit in solitude. — John’s extreme mortification left him in fragile health, necessitating his return to Antioch.
After two years of recovery, John would devote himself to studying for the Priesthood, he was Ordained in 386, serving in the Cathedral of Antioch for 12 yrs, earning him widespread fame for his preaching which is said, “the content of his sermons, his exegesis of Scripture were never without a point according to Franciscan Media which sometimes the point stung the high and mighty–some of Fr. John’s sermons were said to have lasted up to 2 hours.
In 398 Fr. John was appointed ‘Patriarch of Constantinople’ and quickly became very popular with the people, through his example of preaching and courage in front of the imperial authority, whose corruption and decadence he never shirked from publicly criticizing. — This attitude naturally made Fr. John enemies of the Empress, Eudoxia as well as Theophilus Bishop of Alexandria, who had Fr. John condemned on false allegations in 403
Fr. John was subsequently exiled to Armenia where he continued to be a great presence in the Church of the East, through his many letters–From there, Fr. John was exiled from Armenia to an isolated place along the Black Sea, where he would die during the journey in 407 of natural causes.
In 438 the Emperor Theodosius II of Constantinople had Fr. John’s body returned and he did penance for the sins of his mother Eudoxia (Aelia Eudocia) who died in 460
Fr. John Chrysostom’s many writings, especially his Homilies and commentaries on the Gospels remain in existence and have exerted great influence throughout the centuries.
Related: St. John Chrysostom Homilies on the Gospel of Matthew
St. John Chrysostom Homilies on the Gospel of John
St. John Chrysostom on the Day he was Ordained a Priest
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