John Chrysostom

John Chrysostom was born in the middle of the 4th century AD. E. In the family of wealthy Christians. The education of the boy was directly supervised by his mother Anfus. At twenty she became a widow, she refused to remarry and became engaged only in her son. At first, the formation of John was of a general nature and had a religious bias. Later he received lessons in oratory from Livonia, then popular rhetorician. John was an apt pupil and struck everyone with his eloquence. Having received his education, he became a lawyer. The secular life that the young man was leading at that time did not prolong him due to the religious direction of instruction. Having worked as a lawyer for a while, John felt dissatisfaction. He quit his job and thought about accepting monasticism. Mother could dissuade him from such an act. Then John Chrysostom simply changed the way of life, began to study the Scriptures both independently and in school under the leadership of Flavian and Diador.

Just in this period there was a discord between the Orthodox and the Arians. John Chrysostom with his piety and education drew the attention of the Orthodox. They invited him to accept the high rank of bishop. John considered himself unworthy to hold such a position and refused. At the same time, he wrote a treatise on how the priesthood should be, which made him even more glorious. After abandoning the bishopric, John Chrysostom settled in a monastery near Antioch and lived there for 4 years. There he continued to write, this time about monasticism. At age 34, John was ordained a deacon. Occupying this post, he continued to write. Basically it was a review of the books of the New and Old Testament, the Book of Judges, the Pentateuch, Joshua and others.

Five years later, Saint John Chrysostom was ordained a presbyter. From this moment he begins to actively preach. A mass of people flocked to the main temple of Antioch to listen to the speeches of the new presbyter. John Chrysostom has written for these years the interpretation of a number of books of Holy Scripture, including most of the Epistles of the Apostle Paul, as well as many conversations. And he held a post no less than 32 years. All his works are exegetical in nature.

When the archbishop died in Constantinople in 398, Emperor Arkady wished to see Zlatoust in this post. The first thing the saint began with was the struggle with the help of sermons with a low level of morality among the local clergy.

Caring for his flock, he shortened the duration of the liturgy, which later became known as the liturgy of John Chrysostom. He made many concessions in order that Christianity might spread among the Gentiles. So, he allowed the Goths to conduct the divine service in their native language and even receive the priest's order. Also, John Chrysostom sent missionaries to other countries, including the territory of modern Russia. Naturally, such a stormy activity did not appeal to many church people. He severely exacted from the clergy for dissolving behavior, reproached the high society in a too idle way of life. The enemies were joined also by those bishops who envied the popularity of Chrysostom and wished to be in his place, as well as Empress Eudoxia, who accepted reproof on her account.

Once in Constantinople four monks appeared with a complaint to Theophilus, the patriarch of Alexandria, who accused them of Origenism. Zlatoust supported them, for which he himself was accused of the same heresy. Theophilus gathered from his supporters the cathedral, at which they decided to deposed John Chrysostom. The decree was also signed by Emperor Arkady with the support of Empress Eudoxia. Soon this decision was declared illegal, John returned to the post, but the machinations of the enemies did not end there.

The new cathedral, led by Akaki and Sevriyan, forbade him to preach in Constantinople. He was sent to Armenia, but there he did not cease to serve God. Then they decided to transport Zlatoust to the most remote and deaf corner of the empire on the Black Sea coast. John died on the way to this place in 407. His relics in 438 were reburied in Constantinople.