St. John Chrysostom
by the Revd Dr Robert Wilson PhD (Cantab), Old Roman Apostolate UK
Today we celebrate the feast of St. John Chrysostom. He was born at Antioch in Syria in around 347, the only son of a military officer. He studied under Libanius, the most famous orator of the age. He discerned a religious vocation and instead of pursuing a secular career, he retreated to the mountains south of Antioch and lived as a hermit for many years. His austerities damaged his health and he eventually returned to the city in 381. He was ordained deacon that same year, and then to the priesthood in 386. During the next twelve years he became noted as the greatest preacher of his age, and perhaps of any age. Hence, he has ever since been called Chrysostom, meaning golden tongued.
Nectarius, Archbishop of Constantiniople, died in 397 and the Emperor Arcadius desired that St. John should be elected to the see of that city. This was eventually achieved, despite opposition from Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, an unscrupulous character who became John’s implacable opponent. St. John quickly established a reputation as a great reforming bishop, seeking to eradicate corruption among the clergy and social reform by diverting as many resources as possible to the relief of those in need. He was fearlessly outspoken and soon made many enemies, most notably the empress Eudoxia. She was angered that St. John had allegedly referred to her as Jezebel, the notorious wife of King Ahab. She therefore conspired with Theophilus to bring about John’s deposition. In 403 Theophilus came to Constantinople and at the so called synod of the Oak at Chalcedon deposed John. The emperor then issued an order for his banishment. St. John’s exile did not last long before there was an earthquake in the city. Eudoxia was moved to recall John. Soon after he was again drawn into conflict with her. It was said that no bishop who had been deposed by a synod should be restored without another synod. St. John was therefore again expelled. He endured great sufferings in exile. The attention his case was attracting led to him being sent even further away. His health further deteriorated and he died on September, 14th, 407.
There is much that can be learnt from the life and witness of St. John Chrysostom. He came to prominence at a time when Orthodox Christianity had finally become the religion of the Empire after many decades in the fourth century when Arianism had been the faith of the emperors. At one stage St. Jerome had said that the whole world had groaned to find itself Arian. A series of outstanding personalities, St. Ambrose and St. Augustine in the West and the Cappodocian fathers in the East (St. Basil, St. Gregory of Nyssa and St. Gregory of Nazianzen) had enabled the Arians to be defeated. However, the triumph of the orthodox cause was often more apparent than real. Many paid lip service to Orthodoxy, but without fully embracing the demands of the gospel. It was this deficiency that St. John Chrysostom sought to remedy. He was not an original thinker, but he was a great preacher and social reformer. He did not prophesy smooth things, but was prepared to speak truth to power. There is some validity in the allegation that he would have been more effective if he had been more discriminating in his criticisms of the powers that be. The root problem lay in the influx of a mass of nominal believers into the Church now that it had become the faith of the empire. They remained pagan at heart and found St. John’s call for a reformation of manners too much for them. At the same time his popularity with the people meant that his opponents had to resort to very dubious actions to secure his removal.
St. John Chrysostom stood in the tradition of the Hebrew prophets. They spoke truth to power, summoning the people to repent, whether they would hear or whether they would forbear, as Ezekiel had put it. The prophet Nathan had denounced King David for his adultery with Bathsheba. Elijah had condemned Ahab for the seizure of Naboth’s vineyard. St. John the Baptist had criticised Herod Antipas for his irregular matrimonial affairs. St. John Chrysostom assumed their mantle and, as they had done before him, suffered for it. He certainly lacked tact but what matters is not what is fashionable but what is true. Ultimately, the truth is more important than diplomacy. The spirit of the age is very different from the Holy Spirit. Actions are more powerful than words, however eloquent. St. John was not only a great orator, he actually practised what he preached.
St. John’s sermons powerfully express the implications of doctrine for worship and social life. The worship of the Church on earth participates in the heavenly liturgy. He stated “When thou seest the Lord sacrificed and lying as an oblation, and the priest standing by the sacrifice and praying, and all things reddened with that precious blood, dost thou think that thou art still among men, and still standing upon earth? Nay, thou art straightway translated to heaven, so as to cast every carnal thought out of thy soul, and with unimpeded soul and clean mind to behold the things that are in heaven.”
At the same time the faithful must not neglect the practical needs of their neighbours. There are two altars, one made of stone, the other of human persons whom Christians must love. “This altar is composed of the very members of Christ, and the very body of the Lord is made thine altar… The one altar is a stone by nature, but becometh holy since it receiveth Christ’s body; but this other altar is holy because it is itself Christ’s body… Thou honoureth the one altar because it receiveth Christ’s body; but him that is himself the body of Christ thou treateth contumely, and when he is perishing thou neglectest him. This altar thou mayest see everywhere lying, both in lanes and in market places, and mayest sacrifice upon it every hour… When thou seest a poor brother, reflect that thou beholdest an altar.”
Let us take heed to these words today, always remembering, as St. John constantly emphasised, that right worship cannot be divorced from right conduct. Let us pray for grace that we will follow his example, constantly speak the truth to power, boldly rebuke vice and social injustice and patiently suffer the consequences, so that at the last we too may hear the words, “Well done, thou good and faithful servant”.
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