Episode 476: St. John Chrysostom
Bishop of Constantinople, Doctor of the Church
(344-407)
Saint John Chrysostom, born in Antioch in 344, was endowed with a superior genius strengthened by a brilliant education. In order to break with a world which admired and courted him, in 374 he retired for six years to a neighboring mountain, having found Christ through his friendship with Saint Basil. After acquiring the art of Christian silence, he returned to Antioch and there labored as a priest under the direction of its bishop. His eloquence was such that the entire city, up to a hundred thousand listeners, came to hear him, a young man not yet thirty years old. He fled this popularity and adopted the monastic life for fourteen years, until he was taken forcibly to Constantinople, to be consecrated Patriarch of the imperial city in 398.
The effect of his sermons was everywhere marvelous. He converted a large number of pagans and heretics by his eloquence, then in its most brilliant luster, and constantly exhorted his Catholic people to frequent the Holy Sacrifice. In order to remove all excuse for absence he abbreviated the long liturgy then in use. Saint Nilus relates that Saint John Chrysostom, when the priest began the Holy Sacrifice, very often saw "many of the Blessed coming down from heaven in shining garments, eyes intent, and bowed heads, in utter stillness and silence, assisting at the consummation of the tremendous mystery."
Beloved as he was in Constantinople, his denunciations of vice made him numerous enemies. In 403 these procured his banishment; and although he was almost immediately recalled, it was not more than a reprieve. In 404 he was banished to Cucusus in the deserts of the Taurus mountains. His reply to the hostile empress was: "Chrysostom fears only one thing - not exile, prison, poverty or death - but sin."
In 407, at sixty-three years old his strength was waning, but his enemies were impatient and transported him to Pytius on the Euxine, a rough journey of nearly 400 miles. He was assiduously exposed to every hardship - cold, wet clothing, and semi-starvation, but nothing could overcome his cheerfulness and his consideration for others. On the journey his sickness increased, and he was warned that his end was near. Thereupon, exchanging his travel-stained clothes for white garments, he received Viaticum, and with his customary words, "Glory be to God for all things. Amen," passed to Christ. He does not have the title of martyrdom, but possesses all its merit and all its glory. He is the author of the famous words characterizing Saint Paul, object of his admiration and love: "The heart of Paul was the Heart of Christ."
-
9:32
Dr. Nick Zyrowski
1 day agoHow To Starve Cancer Cells (Not Your Body)
5.82K4 -
8:52
Adam Does Movies
15 hours agoThe Penguin Episode 1 Review
2.74K2 -
20:47
Neil McCoy-Ward
18 hours agoA SUMMARY Of The New UN Pact (I Read All 81 Pages For You...)
5.05K10 -
4:19
Bearing
15 hours agoAustralian Speech Is UNDER ATTACK! A Very Important Video.
4.01K17 -
22:44
Danny Haiphong
12 hours agoPepe Escobar: Putin & China Drop Middle East BOMBSHELL on Israel, Netanyahu FURIOUS
5.32K1 -
28:58
Science & Futurism with Isaac Arthur
22 hours ago $0.11 earnedIs Privacy Going Extinct?
3.84K4 -
10:21
Degenerate Jay
14 hours agoStellar Blade's New DLC Looks Amazing! Photo Mode And NieR Crossover!
5.46K1 -
2:02
LFA TV
17 hours agoWOMAN'S LIFE SAVED FROM DEADLY INFECTION!
8.78K2 -
2:27:43
Price of Reason
14 hours agoStallone DELIVERS Knock Out Punch with Tulsa King! Agatha All Along CRINGE! Ubisoft Stock TUMBLES!
33.7K2 -
LIVE
WeatherNation
2 days agoWeatherNation Live 24/7
4,085 watching