St John Chrysostom
On September 14th we celebrate the departure of St John Chrysostom. John was born into a wealthy and distinguished family in the city of Antioch, an area revered at the time of being “inferior only to Old and New Rome, and of equal rank with Alexandria.” This city and its distinction among the empire influences John throughout his life. His father, Secundus, who held a prominent position with the Chief Military Governor for the eastern provinces of Imperial Rome, died before John was born. His mother, Anthusa, though also born into wealth, was a devout and pious woman. Antioch was under Roman rule, but Christianity flourished in the homes and with the youth. “Christian mothers, animated by the Spirit of the Gospel, exerted themselves in the education of their sons, and anxiously sought aid of religion to guard their tender years from the contamination of surrounding vice.”

Like any significant city back then and today, there was a convergence of diverse cultures from around the trading world. These varied influences helped to create “a climate which stimulated the passions, contributed to promote every species of (carnal) crime.” Children of luxury will always neglect their education in pursuit of more pleasurable activities without the steady hand of a governing parent. A sorority of mothers formed a sanctuary among their community to safeguard their children from a hedonistic lifestyle.

Interestingly though, as devoted as Anthusa was to the Christian seeds planted in young John’s development, she refused to consecrate her son to monastic life. Instead, “she endeavored to secure Chrysostom a superior education.” This led John to attend the prestigious school of Libanius, where he developed a foundational familiarity with ancient Greek philosophy. This is also where John became polished in his words and eloquence, earning him the name “Χρυσόστομος” (Khrusostomos) which is a Greek word meaning “golden-mouthed.”

With his flare of eloquence, knowledge of philosophy, and his devoted love to the Bible, John Chrysostom illustrated great truths about life. Being exposed to the colorful stories of mythology, while deeply rooted in Christianity, John applied this same artful rendering of biblical characters with a vivid and lively display. As John grew in stature and reverence, he retreated to an inter-personal relationship with God that he considered an inexhaustible fountain of happiness. He yearned for the life of a monk, separated from the world, “Chrysostom warmly participated in the general feelings of veneration for their mode of life.” Though his dear friend, Basilius (who we will later cal Saint Basil), did become a monk, John’s mother “strove to prevent (this), representing to him, that he was the only comfort of her old age.” Despite John’s absence from monastic life, he regarded a single life devoted to God as the highest of Christian virtues. After the death of his mother, John Chrysostom finally joined the monks in Antioch.
Queen Eudoxia, the wife of Emperor Arcadius, had a lust for money. She took a garden which belonged to a poor widow by force, who complained to the St John. He went to the Queen, admonished her and asked her to return the garden to its owner. When Eudoxia did not obey him, he prevented her from entering the church and partaking of the Holy Communion. She became exceedingly angry and gathered a council of bishops whom St. John had previously excommunicated for their evil. They sentenced the saint to be exiled. The people were enraged and they gathered around the royal palace demanding the return of the Patriarch. While the people were sorrowful because of their righteous shepherd, a severe earthquake took place and almost destroyed the city, terrifying everyone. The people thought that this was a sign of the Lord's anger, caused by the exile of the Saint.
Eudoxia was disturbed, her soul was troubled and she went in haste to her...