The icon of John Chrysostom, in front of which you can remember his holy life and pray, is in every church. He was an outstanding preacher and interpreter of the Gospel and Holy Scriptures. All his pious activities are exemplary.
The Life of John Chrysostom
John Chrysostom was born in 347, in a quiet time, when there were no more mass persecutions of Christians, in a we althy Christian family in Antioch. This Syrian city experienced its heyday. It is notable for the fact that the apostles Peter and Barnabas served there, and here for the first time the followers of Christ began to be called Christians.
The father of John Chrysostom died early, his mother devoted her whole life to raising children. She prepared them for secular careers and gave them an excellent education. John's mentors were the best philosophers. When he was 20 years old, his mother sent him to learn eloquence from the then famous orator Livanius.
At the end of his studies, the future saint entered the legal field, went to courts and acted there as a defender in entrusted cases. But constantly experiencing a craving for spiritual life, he went his own way, destined from above.
Church ministry
His friend, Basil the Great, who had previously entered monasticism, had a strong influence on him, calling him to withdraw from the world. Only the sadness of the mother stopped her from taking a decisive step. John was a reader in the temple, only after her death he retired from the world for 4 years in a monastic settlement. He lived two of them in a cave in complete solitude and silence. He wrote a number of outstanding works there, including Six Words on the Priesthood, a monument of pastoral theology that has become a guide for priests to this day.
In 386 he was ordained a presbyter, which delighted most of the population and all his many admirers.
He perfectly knew the Gospel, the Scriptures, inspired by the Holy Spirit, he could clearly explain them, he was well versed in the sources, he knew them practically by heart. To this day, no interpretation is complete without the use of his works.
His love for Christ and sermons made a deep impression on people, soon the word Chrysostom was added to his name. People from other countries came to listen to him, ascetics from Egypt, thousands of pagans gathered and converted to Christianity.
Becoming a bishop in Antioch, he was engaged in charity work, building hospitals, and every day up to three thousand beggars were fed near the walls of the church.
His talent as a preacher brought him such fame that it reached Constantinople, and John Chrysostom was appointed archbishop in February 398.
The appointment of John Chrysostom as archbishopConstantinople
They invited him to Constantinople, hiding plans for the appointment from him, knowing that he would refuse the post, then they persuaded him to agree for a long time. He yielded humbly, from that time his life changed, the time of trials began.
Emperor Arkady hoped for the support and approval of John, but such is the property of holy people that they do not know how to be hypocritical.
John Chrysostom admonished and denounced unrighteous deeds, vices of society, educated priests, fought against the love of money and ambition of the local clergy. It was not possible to bribe him, since John Chrysostom was an ascetic, he sold all the property that he inherited from the previous archbishop in order to help the poor. He did not like feasts, did not wear golden clothes, which caused discontent among those around him.
Those whom he prevented from leading a vicious lifestyle found an ally in the person of the empress, a real conspiracy was created, as a result of which John Chrysostom was removed from office by an unauthorized cathedral.
Exile of John Chrysostom
The people surrounded and guarded the house in which they locked their beloved archpastor. But John himself gave himself into the hands of the authorities so as not to endanger people.
At night, John was transported by ship to the place of exile in Bithynia. At the same time, a terrible earthquake occurred, he was returned to Constantinople, seeing this as a sign. However, less than two months later, John again fell into disgrace, wastaken into exile in Kukuz, a place with a harsh climate at an altitude of 4000 meters above sea level. His letters from exile are an example of Christian morality and fortitude.
In 406, despite the fact that in winter he was bedridden due to illness, a new order followed to transport John even further, to the then deaf city of Pitius, on the site of modern Pitsunda. Without giving any rest on the way, neither treatment nor food, they drove him along deserted roads in the rain and heat, trying to bring him to such a state that he would die as soon as possible. So great was the power of fear before his denunciations and spiritual power that they tried to get rid of not only the saint, but also the very memory of him.
What am I afraid of? His Gospel in my hands is a staff on which I rely,” said the saint, and the discontent of the powerful of this world was no more than a web for him. Neither slander, nor betrayal, nor hunger, nor heat could break his spirit. For three months they led him along the mountain roads until they came to the city where St. Basilisk was buried.
Death at the relics of the Holy Martyr Basilisk
It is surprising and symbolic that the path along which the saint was led passed through Kamany, known for the fact that during the persecution of Christians, the earthly path of the holy martyr Basilisk ended here. In heavy chains and iron boots with nails driven into the soles, they led him here. A spring gushed at the site of his torment, and a temple was later erected nearby.
Saint Basilisk seemed to welcomesaint. John took communion, prayed aloud for a long time, with the words “Glory to God for everything,” he left this world, in which he happened to know we alth and hunger, glory and slander, human love and hatred, for him it only mattered to be with the Lord.
The Day of John Chrysostom is celebrated annually on November 26 in a new style.
Transfer of the relics of John Chrysostom
Thirty years later, on the day of the memory of St. John Chrysostom, his successor and disciple at the Constantinople cathedra delivered a speech about him, the people began to demand that the shepherd's body be returned.
Envoys were sent with the silver ark, but they could not take the relics of St. John Chrysostom. Then the archbishop wrote a letter to John, as if alive, asking him to return to Constantinople, this letter was placed in his hands, they prayed and transferred the body to a silver ark. On the day of the transfer of relics, February 9, the memory of John Chrysostom is celebrated.
They were moved to Constantinople in 438. The whole city, with the patriarch and the emperor, came out to meet the saint. Later, they were kept in Rome, and since 2006 they have been transferred to the Church of St. George in Istanbul.
Relics are stored in the church: the icon of St. John Chrysostom with a particle of relics, a stone tomb in which he rested for several decades.
Now more than 50,000 pilgrims come to Kamany every year.
Three Pillars of Moral Theology
Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom have a lot in their livesgeneral. All of them were superbly educated, began to work in the church as readers, lived in the wilderness, were ordained deacons, and then presbyters. For many centuries their labors have become a moral support for those striving in the spiritual field. Their perfection is due to the fact that they were written under the guidance of the Holy Spirit, and were not simply a reflection of their own thoughts.
Cathedral of Ecumenical Teachers
The Council of Ecumenical Teachers falls on February 12th. Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom made such a contribution to the development of theology, the understanding of the holy scriptures, that a great dispute arose as to which of them is higher. The strife went so far that the believers were already divided into Gregorians, Basilians and Johannites. Is it possible to compare them, because each had his own special talents.
Once three saints appeared to the Metropolitan of Evchait, he saw them equal before God. At their request, Blessed John established their celebration on the same day, and the icon of John Chrysostom with Gregory the Theologian and Basil the Great was also painted.
Families of Saints
The family of every ecumenical teacher was a role model. Among their relatives were saints and martyrs. Basil the Great's mother, the Monk Macrina, his sisters and brothers were glorified. Also, the parents of Gregory the Theologian were St. Gregory and St. Nonna. The mother of John Chrysostom was known for her holy life, she was widowed at the age of 20, raising her children with dignity and piety. Their upbringing in Christian traditions, personal example of parents, devotion, true love for virtues,truth, an ascetic way of life, prayer helped to grow naturally gifted youths into universal teachers.
Basily the Great, Gregory the Theologian and John Chrysostom crowned the glory of their Christian families. They provide a perfect example of the spirit in which children should be raised and instructed.
What do they pray to John Chrysostom
When persecuted, mentally disturbed, in despondency, with thoughts of suicide, a prayer is read to John Chrysostom.
It says that the saint, having received and multiplied various gifts from the Lord, can teach a lot to those who ask him for prayers. We often use our gifts not for peace and salvation, but for pride and vanity, we are tormented by envy, instead of uniting talents for creation, forgetting that all our abilities are from God, we quarrel. Therefore, we ask you to soften your hearts, get rid of irritability, pride, give the grace of Christian love and understanding, in order to love each other to the point of unanimity and glorify the Holy Trinity with a pure heart.
The famous prayer of John Chrysostom for 24 hours makes it possible to offer a petition and bless every hour with a prayer to God, spiritualize all the time throughout the day.
Parents often turn to the saint so that their children start talking faster.
He acts wisely who, instead of bickering with his family and empty talk, finds a few minutes to pray. When a person meditates on a saint, asks for his intercession, then his life changes at that time.
What helps the icon of John Chrysostom at home? Before her, you can turn in prayer to the universal teacher about the gift of peace and love in the family, about the disclosure of talents and good education for children. His work "On Marriage" is useful for all godly families to know.
Heavenly Shepherd
For those who work in the church, prayer intercession and the icon of John Chrysostom are especially needed. Their significance is important for strengthening the world, getting rid of temptations. Priests, singers and readers turn to him for admonition and protection. As in ancient times, those who serve out of love for God encounter special difficulties along the way in the spiritual struggle.
The icon of St. John Chrysostom is in every church, since to this day the Liturgy composed by the saint is served everywhere in the Eastern Church. With his commentaries, the Gospels, Scriptures, and the Bible are published. For many centuries, at the Easter service, his “Announcement for Easter” has been heard.
He is considered the patron saint of clergy, missionaries, theologians, scientists, anyone who needs the gift of the word and heavenly guidance.
The icon of St. John Chrysostom recalls his instructions on how to leave evil and love virtue, how to partake worthily, how to apply biblical knowledge in life, how to leave concern for increasing worldly glory and we alth, turn to concern for the eternal soul, because for her, everyone will answer to God.
