There are hardly any true Christians who have not read the messages and teachings of St. John Chrysostom. His quotes help to understand the innermost essence of the Holy Scriptures, answer religious and everyday questions, give support to the believer in moments of turmoil, and affirm him in the Faith. This man, possessed of indefatigable energy, a thirst for knowledge and diverse talents, left behind a colossal creative legacy.
The theologian and philologist, a great interpreter of Scripture and a philosopher, a great orator and teacher, a defender of the disadvantaged and a denuncator of licentious manners - all these talents were combined in John Chrysostom. Quotes, sayings and treatises of John and today are more relevant than ever. It is not surprising that in Orthodoxy he is revered as one of the three Ecumenical Saints.
Who are the Hierarchs?
In Christian traditions, the highest church dignitaries are called saints, who deserve God's special grace for their religious achievements. These are metropolitans, archbishops and patriarchs, famous for their piety, prophetic abilities, moralizing and dogmatic works. They were and remain an example for ordinary Christians.
But even among these worthy husbands, three personalities stand out, three Ecumenical Saints: Basil the Great, who lived from 330 to 379; George the Theologian, he was also born in 330, and died in 389; and the wisest John Chrysostom. The quotes, sayings and aphorisms of the Ecumenical Saints that have come down to us are only a small fraction of their deeds.
All three lived and worked in the fourth century, at a time that was decisive for Christianity. The young religion became dominant in the Roman Empire, gradually replacing paganism. A global transformation of worldview took place: the pagan ancient world was reluctant to give way to Christian culture. The authorities had already adopted decrees prohibiting shrine and sacrifice, Christian churches were actively being built, but pagan rituals and temples continued to exist outside their aisles.
Three Saints explained yesterday to the Gentiles the meaning of the Faith and the Holy Trinity, interpreted the Scriptures, delivered fiery speeches, denounced heresy, and promoted Christianity to the masses. Moreover, these people were a clear example of high morality and piety for both the poor and the arrogant Roman nobility.
John Chrysostom
Ecumenical teacher, Universal Luminary, Mouth of Christ - such epithets deserve from the holy fathers and theologians St. John Chrysostom. Aphorisms, winged expressions and his works are filled with life, the light of faith and love. Born in 347 and died in 407, he lived a rather long life for those centuries, and most of it worked frantically for the glory of Christ and for the supremacy of Orthodoxy, having gone from monk to the Archbishop of Constantinople, having known greatness, fall and martyrdom.
Childhood, youth, education
He was born in 347 in the city of Antioch in the family of a noble official and military commander. Unfortunately, his father died almost immediately after the birth of John, so he remained in the care of his mother, Anfusa. As a young woman, she did not seek a new husband, but devoted herself to raising her son. This largely determined the formation of the views and character of John Chrysostom. Quotes about education occupy a prominent place in his writings.
His dictum “To give birth to children is a matter of nature, but to educate and educate them in virtues is a matter of mind and will” sounds like gratitude and reverence to a mother who did her best to give the child a brilliant education, and most importantly - to educate him whole, noble and virtuous person.
From an early age, John was immersed in the intellectual environment of Antioch, which was fertile for an inquiring mind. His teachers were: the famous rhetoric Libanius in Byzantium, the philosopher Andragat, the theologian Diodorus and Bishop Meletius. Thanks to such teachers, John’s excellent abilities developed and perfected so much that by the age of twenty he turned into a brilliant and multifaceted young lawyer with amazing eloquence and the gift of persuasion.
Service to God
However, the bar was not John's vocation and quickly bored him. Looking at the dedication and love of a Christian mother, communicating with philosophers and theologians, he realized that his mission was closely connected with Christianity and the service of God. In 367, John underwent a baptismal ritual and became a church reader. And after the death of his mother, his connection with the worldly vanity was so weakened that he decided to get a haircut in monks.
The clergy of Antioch immediately noted the education and truthfulness of the Faith of the newfound brother and offered him a bishopric, but John refused: at that time he considered monasticism a true philosophy of the spirit and the best way to serve. For four years he retired to the desert, two of them spent in complete silence, which became a real feat for a man who would later be called John Chrysostom for his oratory.
Quotes and the first mature works appeared precisely during the time of retreat. John had a lot of time for work, prayers and meditations. However, severe asceticism, which tempered his spirit and Faith, harmed the body. Constant deprivation and restrictions of monasticism crippled John's health, so as not to die, he was forced to return to the city.
Deacon and Sweater
But even the disease could not cope with his irresistible temperament and thirst for service to God. In 381, his teacher, Bishop of Antioch Meletius, consecrated John to the rank of deacon, and in 386 he becomes a presbyter. In this dignity his talents were brightly revealed. Following the duties of a presbyter, the future Ecumenical Hierarch not only held priests during services, but also taught parishioners the piety and dogmas of the church, interpreted Scripture, and delivered pastoral and moralizing speeches.
For the beauty and logic of his sermons, the ability to simply and easily explain complex dogmas, the ability to light hearts with Faith to the Almighty and love for his neighbor, the name John Chrysostom was rightfully assigned to him. For eleven years, the elders' quotes and speeches have invariably been collected by the believers of Antioch, who wish to hear the word of God from a brilliant orator and pastor. The rumor about the popularity and talents of John reached the capital of Byzantium and partly served as the reason for its rise.
John Chrysostom Archbishop
He was ordained to the rank of Archbishop of Constantinople in 397. In this capacity, he suited everyone: the emperor, the highest clergy, the people and the nobility. The highest church rank did not change the character of John; he remained a frantic preacher of the Word of God and the covenants of Christ. From the archpastoral chair, he continued to denounce the licentiousness and decline of morality, the futility of worldly wealth, the disenfranchised position of the poor.
But not only the sermons and quotes of St. John Chrysostom were his weapons against injustice, he was always a person of immediate concern. The new archbishop condemned the excessive pomp of the capital's temples and the priests' craving for ostentatious luxury, so he immediately sold off the grandiose atmosphere of his predecessor, and gave the money to hospitals and food to the poor.
John preferred simple food, rather than feasts, to which he was called by the Constantinople nobility. He condemned the rich for their unbridled desire for enrichment, their wild life, called for Christian mercy and the need to help the poor. In addition, he declared a real war of heresy, Novocianism and Arianism, began to conflict with the clergy and monasticism. John deposed fifteen bishops throughout Byzantium, and also belittled the role of monasticism, knowing from his own experience that asceticism and hermitism are not suitable for all believers.
Conflict with the Empress
The unbending, honest and principled archpastor became the darling of the people, but monasticism, the clergy and the rich harbored anger at him and waited for an opportunity to depose him. And soon an occasion appeared. For John, far from metropolitan intrigues and palace diplomacy, justice always stood in the first place. Seeing sin, he called it sin. John did not look at the status of the one who committed the crime: he considered a sinner to be unrighteous.
The Byzantine Empress Eudoxia acted not in a Christian way when she took all the property from the widow of a disgraced official. This outraged John, not lurking and not thinking about the consequences, he convicted Eudoxia of treachery and sin, using her example to show the licentiousness and decline of morality in Constantinople. No wonder that the proud empress did not bear public accusation and became furious.
This took advantage of offended by the archbishop nobles, the clergy and the monks who joined them. In 404, a cathedral was organized near Chalcedon from bishops hostile to John. Exaggerated or false accusations were only a formal reason for the inevitable deposition of the high priest.
Link and death
The decision of the council led to discontent among the people. Clashes began in Constantinople, but John himself submitted to the will of the cathedral, so as not to multiply the murders and shed blood. He was exiled to Little Armenia, to the small town of Kurkuz. Quotes, aphorisms and sayings of John Chrysostom from the time of his exile show that this man was not broken by circumstances and tribulations. He engaged in extensive correspondence with friends and supporters. Dozens of letters have survived, in which he continued to teach, interpret, console, instruct.
The steadfastness and will of John haunted the authorities and the clergy in the capital. From there came the order to transport the sick preacher even further from Constantinople to Pifiunt, present Pitsunda. The health of a middle-aged man could not stand the long road that he had to overcome on foot. John Chrysostom, not reaching quite a bit to Pifyunt, died in a remote place Pontic Comans, with words of gratitude to God on his lips.
Heritage
Saint John Chrysostom is an unusually prolific author; almost two thousand manuscripts with his works have survived. It is difficult to imagine how many of them were in reality. All works can be divided into three parts: treatises, words and speeches.
The treatises were written during the period of Antioch. The words were spoken by John on a variety of topics, such as "Eight Words Against the Jews" or "Twelve Words Against the Anomites." Speeches were a favorite form of expression of the saint’s thoughts, it was in them that he showed the art of persuasion and eloquence, for which he received the nickname Chrysostom. But serious treatises are usually studied by theologians. For most believers, the wisdom of St. John is revealed in his short sayings, which are taken from his works.
John Chrysostom: quotes, aphorisms, sayings, features
The saint possessed the gift of the living, giving understanding of the word. His teachings are simple and accessible to anyone. You do not need to have deep knowledge in philosophy or religion to catch those important truths that the preacher wants to convey to the reader. The body of his quotes is a practical guide for Christians in many different areas of life.
About love and parenting
The saint was a passionate interpreter of Scripture. He believed in the Bible there are answers to almost any question of the believer. But the most important Truth taught by the Sacred texts is the overcoming power of Love. Faith is impossible without Love, without it peace of mind is unthinkable, and life loses its meaning, John Chrysostom teaches.
Quotes about love are very common. For example, a famous saying reads: “Love is a strong wall that is impregnable not only for people, but also for the devil.” According to the saint, love should permeate the whole existence of a Christian, starting with questions of faith and ending with questions of upbringing and attitudes towards one's neighbors.
About wealth
Chrysostom paid no less attention to the destructive influence of vain money-grubbing and the pursuit of worldly wealth. He taught parishioners and readers about the morally correct attitude of Christians to coming and perishable treasures. He argued not only that wealth creates fear in the soul of the possessor and enslaves him, but also that the unbridled thirst for wealth of the rich leads to the impoverishment of ordinary people. The saint urged to renounce the spirit of money-grubbing and attachment to things and said: the only thing that a Christian can have is his good deeds.
About Injustice
John's sensitive Christian heart could not calmly look at injustice, which he often recalled in his writings and sermons. As the true son of his era, the Prelate did not strive for global social changes, he accepted the existing order, but tried to change the morality and worldview of everyone who listened to him. John preached mercy, spoke about helping people in need and, of course, about love, repeating the biblical words "love does not seek its own."