Communion with the Saints: St. John Chrysostom -- The Golden-Mouthed Preacher

By L. Paige McCormick
Charleston, South Carolina

Today is the feast day of St. John Chrysostom, the golden-mouthed preacher. Our resident Catholic, Paige McCormick, is here to teach us about this month's saint!

In our modern world, we are disposed to avoid saying unpopular things for fear of hurting our image. Our politicians seem unable to express themselves with truth to save their souls. St. John Chrystostom is a model for all of us striving to live a truthful and clear-speaking existence.

Born in Antioch, Syria in 347, John followed a somewhat similar schooling as Augustine of Hippo (who we learned about last month). John was also schooled in Greek pagan rhetoric and literature and was expected to become a lawyer. But as he grew older and was baptized at the age of 23, he desired to serve Christ and began studying theology. He lived an ascetic lifestyle (fasting, standing for days on end) for two years in a cave outside of Antioch, which damaged his liver and kidneys. He returned to Antioch and continued serving the Church. He was ordained a priest in 386 and developed an extraordinary speaking style. He was unafraid to speak out about things, even when they might upset the rich and powerful. This passage is from that time period from one of John’s homilies.

“Do you wish to honour the body of Christ? Do not ignore him when he is naked. Do not pay him homage in the temple clad in silk, only then to neglect him outside where he is cold and ill-clad. He who said: "This is my body" is the same who said: "You saw me hungry and you gave me no food", and "Whatever you did to the least of my brothers you did also to me"... What good is it if the Eucharistic table is overloaded with golden chalices when your brother is dying of hunger? Start by satisfying his hunger and then with what is left you may adorn the altar as well.”

St. John’s insistence on simplicity did not diminish when he was appointed Patriarch of Constantinople in 398. It was customary for high-ranking church officials to host lavish gatherings for locals. John refused to do so and spoke out vehemently against those who squandered their wealth. One such person was Aelia Eudoxia, the wife of an Eastern emperor Arcadius, who formed an alliance against him and in a synod in 403 demanded his deposition and banishing. The people were outraged and therefore St. John returned from exile only to again decry the erection of a silver statue of Eudoxia near his cathedral. This time he was banished to Caucasus in Armenia. Pope Innocent I attempted to have him reinstated but this backlashed and St. John was sent to Pitiunt in Georgia. He died on the way to his final exile and his tomb there is a shrine for pilgrims. The title “Chrysostom” means “Golden-Mouth” and was given to him after his death in honor of his influential speeches and writings.

Some may view St. John Chrysostom’s outspokenness as a weakness. However, his sermons and writings had a profound influence on the faith, especially the Eastern Orthodox church, which still uses his Divine Liturgy today. He is a powerful reminder of the power of our words and how we can use our speech to change the world around us. Are we afraid to speak the truth in the face of persecution? Do we fear our own banishment from social circles for standing up for the tenets of our faith and for what we know is right? Let us look to St. John Chrysostom to give us strength to speak up and speak out!

To read more about St. John Chrystostom or read some of his sermons and writings, you can visit this website: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf109.toc.html

-- A resident of Charleston, South Carolina, Paige is a devoted wife and mother of two young sons. She is an active homeschooler and attends the Cathedral of St. John the Baptist.