John Chrysostom

The "Golden Mouth" of Eastern Christianity.

Archbishop of Constantinople and the greatest preacher of the early church, earning him the name "Chrysostom" (Greek for "Golden Mouth"). His homilies, biblical commentaries, and fearless denunciations of the wealthy and powerful made him the most important figure in Eastern Orthodox theology.

Verified Facts

• He delivered over 700 surviving homilies and sermons. His preaching was so electrifying that crowds in Antioch would regularly burst into spontaneous applause mid-sermon, which he would then scold them for.
• As Archbishop of Constantinople, he publicly attacked the extravagance of Empress Eudoxia, comparing her to the biblical Jezebel. This led to his exile—twice—and he eventually died from the harsh conditions of forced marches during his second banishment.
• His liturgical reforms became the basis of the "Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom," which remains the most commonly used liturgical service in the Eastern Orthodox Church to this day.
• He is tragically also the author of the "Adversus Judaeos" (Against the Jews) homilies, which contain some of the most virulent antisemitic rhetoric in all of patristic literature and were used to justify persecution of Jews for centuries.

Frequently Asked Questions

Sources & Further Reading

• Wikipedia: John Chrysostom
• New Advent: Works of Chrysostom

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