Prologue: hagiographies of the saints
 
 
 
 
 
 

Saint John Chrysostom     11/26/2013

Saint John was Patriarch of Constantinople. He was born at Antioch in the year 354, of father Secundus, an army commander, and mother Anthusa. Studying Greek philosophy John was appalled at Greek paganism and adopted Christian faith as the only and complete truth. He was baptised by Meletius, the Patriarch of Antioch, and then his parents were baptised. After his parents’ death he became a monk and lived in severe ascesis. Then he wrote the book “On priesthood” and the Holy Apostles Peter and John appeared to him and foretold him a great ministry, great grace but also great sufferings. Before his ordination as priest, an angel of God appeared to John and at the same time to the Patriarch Flavian, Meletius’ successor. At the moment when the Patriarch ordained him, the congregation saw a white dove resting on John’s head. Famous for his wisdom, his ascetic struggle and his preaching with great power, he was elected Patriarch of Constantinople according to the wish of the Emperor Arcadius. For six years he governed the church with incomparable wisdom and zeal. He sent off zealous missionaries to Celts and the Scythians, he fought against simony in the Church excommunicating many bishops – simoniacs, he spread charitable work, he compiled the divine Liturgy, he ashamed the heretics, admonished the Empress Eudoxia, he interpreted the Holy Scriptures with his golden mouth, he left the Church numerous precious books containing his sermons. People loved and venerated him, his enemies loathed him out of envy, and the Empress sent him in exile two times. He spent three years in exile and fell asleep in the Lord on the feast of the Exaltation of the Precious and Life-giving Cross, on 14 September 407, at the place called Comana in Armenia. Before his death the Holy Apostles John and Peter again appeared to him along with Saint Basiliscus (22 May). At the church dedicated to Saint Basiliscus he communicated in the holy Mysteries and gave up his soul to God with the words:” Glory be to God for all things!“ Thus the soul of the Patriarch of the golden mouth inhabited Heaven. Of the holy relics of Saint John Chrysostom the head is placed at the Church of the Dormition in Moscow, and his body rests in Vatican in Rome.