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Apostolic & Patristic · Saint
St John Chrysostom
Archbishop of Constantinople
Church FatherDoctor of the ChurchConfessor
c. 347 – 407
386
Ordained
398
Consecrated Bishop
Constantinople
Diocese
Turkey
Country
The Life
St John Chrysostom, the 'golden-mouthed' preacher, was ordained priest at Antioch in 386 and consecrated Archbishop of Constantinople in 398. He is one of the three Holy Hierarchs of the East and a Doctor of the Church, renowned for his eloquent biblical homilies.
His uncompromising preaching against luxury and corruption — including at the imperial court — earned him the enmity of Empress Eudoxia and led to his deposition and exile. He died in 407 on the forced march, his last words 'Glory be to God for all things.'
Notable Actions
- Preached vast homiletic commentaries on Scripture (90 on Matthew, 88 on John, the Pauline epistles)
- Reformed the clergy and finances of Constantinople and denounced abuses of wealth
- Was deposed at the Synod of the Oak (403), engineered by Theophilus and Empress Eudoxia
- Endured exile (404-407) and died en route to Pityus
- Gave his name to the Liturgy of St John Chrysostom, the chief Byzantine liturgy
Glory be to God for all things.
Reported last wordsPortrait: Wikimedia Commons / Wikimedia Commons