Beloved spiritual children in Christ Our Only True God and Our Only True Savior,
CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.
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ON THE 13th OF NOVEMBER, THE HOLY ORTHODOX CHRISTIAN CHURCH COMMEMORATES OUR HOLY FATHER AMONG THE SAINTS, JOHN CHRYSOSTOM ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE
Saint John Chrysostom (the Golden-mouth), Archbishop of Constantinople, was the great beacon and grandiloquent of the inhabited world. He hailed from the great city which bore the honorary title of "Queen of the East," that is, Antioch in Syria-Coele. He may have been born as early as A.D. 347 or as late as 354, and was the scion of the distinguished and high ranking military officer (stratelatos) Secoundos and his wife Anthousa. His father, of unknown descent, was in the imperial army corps of Syria, which was headquartered in Antioch. According to Chrysostom, the stratelatos came third after the consul and hyparch. His mother, a young patrician of pure Hellenic (Greek) descent and of exemplary memory, shines brilliantly with her contemporaries Makrina, Nonna, and Emmelia,, who helped rear the two great hierarchs (bishops) of the Church, Saint Basil and Saint Gregory, Saint John clearly states that his mother was already a Christian at his birth. Both parents received holy Baptism and became Christians in that Church which was the first and oldest Christian community after the one in Jerusalem. Of his childhood home we know that he has an older sister, whose name is unknown to us.
From the Saint's early childhood he manifested a great love and devotion for learning and study. Not much time passed before his father reposed, leaving his mother a widow at scarcely twenty-two years of age. Since she was resolved upon keeping her marriage bed undefiled, a major consolation in her widowhood was her young son.
For her part she spoke to her son about the teachings of the Holy Bible, in order to secure his heart and mind against the deception of profane knowledge. Thus, together with her determination that her son should receive the best education, she also instilled in him a love for piety and continence. He was gifted even as a boy, so she did not delay in arranging for his further education. She sent him to study with Libanios the sophist, who was first classical scholar and rhetorician of his age, and Andragathion the philosopher.
In the time that John lived, Greek classicism and Hellenic Christianity still coexisted. In a short time, John passed through all the wisdom of the Greeks and of the Christians. The linguistic education of John was confined to Greek alone. He never learned Latin, which Libanios himself never understood, though the language was taught in his school.
At length, John became expert in skills of logic, rhetoric, and every kind of knowledge. After he completed his studies, he was still undecided regarding whether to take up the Monastic conduct of life, for which he was gradually fostering a stronger desire and love. The Saint had grown up to the midst of those battling the Church--pagans, Jews, and Arians (heretics). All this served to create in him a strong and sincere conviction for True Orthodoxy.
Now the Saint had a certain friend and classmate, named Basil (not the Great Basil, who was some eighteen years his senior), who also was from Antioch. Basil, too, counseled his friend that they should become monks together. John still delayed, and he explains his feelings to us in his own words, in his Treatise on the Priesthood.
Saint John first entered the rank of catechumen. When he became twenty-one years old (369-370 A.D.), he was baptized. His receiving Baptism such an age of maturity was not on account of negligence on his mother's par or his. It was the tradition of most Christians at that time to put off the laver of regeneration for fear of forfeiture later. Nonetheless, bishops even from that time were speaking out repeatedly against this procrastination in receiving holy Baptism.
Palladios writes: "After Chrysostom was baptized, he spent about three years in association with Patriarch Meletios, by whom he was ordained a Reader." Palladios further remarks, "From this time on, he neither swore, nor defamed anyone, nor spoke falsely, nor cursed, nor even tolerated factious jokes."
Although the exact date is not left to us, his beloved mother was taken to the abodes of the righteous while still in her forties. After her funeral, John lost no time distributing his worldly goods to the poor and setting free the servants of his mother's household. He was now free to exercise his chosen conduct of life, John chose a Monastery, and indeed one of the poorest, where he underwent the greatest hardships and was garbed with the rason (cassock). Here the Saint unceasingly meditated upon the Sacred Scripture and expounded upon them to the benefit of the listeners. John applied his mind to the reading the sacred scripture, and frequented the church with great assiduity.
In the Monastery John preserved unceasing prayer while also practicing the other virtues, so that he became an example to the others. In humility, who surpassed him? Daily, he had the custom of visiting the sick of the Monastery. By his sweet words, he gave them comfort and encouragement. Never in his life did he swear, and he cautioned others to observe this habit. He never condemned or cursed anyone. He never told a lie or spoke idly. He would accept neither the idle chatter of others nor laugh at anyone.
The entire brotherhood of the Monastery considered him a Saint. They said that he scarcely partook of sleep, and they described how he had rigged a rope to hang from the ceiling to help keep him upright, but that he would take a little nap for the sake of his human nature. He wrote three treatises on the Monastic life: Comparison Between a King and a Monk: Against the Enemies of Monasticism and To the Lapsed Monk Theodore.
The Saint dwelt four years in the Monastery, living a life of virtue and wonderworking among the brethren. He wished to flee, however, the praise of the people, and withdrew into a desolate place where he practiced the ascetic life for two years. It is believed that on a mountain height near Antioch, probably on Mount Sylpios, he withdrew to a cave. He fled there in order to abide undisturbed and unknown. He spent his time learning the New Testament entirely by heart. He had no light and bedding. Most of the time he went without sleep. When the force of nature compelled him to rest, even then it was in a sitting position. John did not have a table, chair, or any other thing, which might serve as a comfort. His only sustenance was a biscuit and water, brought by an acquaintance of his. He endured the chilly nights and the burning heat of the day, as though he were stone. The two years that he spent away from society caused serious impairment of his health, which was to plague him until his repose. Due to his immoderate austerity, together with the cold and the lack of a proper diet, he developed a severe abdominal condition. He was also disturbed with insomnia and by a rush of blood to the head. Moreover, he suffered much distress and misery, and bore with great pain in his kidneys. Now this came about because he was a man of flesh and blood, and God permitted His servant to fall ill. On account of his health declining to such an alarming state, he was constrained to descend to his homeland of Antioch, lest he should endanger his life. This was in accordance with God's economy, to place the light upon the lampstand to shine throughout the world. Thanks to his friends and under their care, they slowly restored his broken physical health to a satisfactory condition. He was then able to resume his duties as a Church Reader.
Patriarch Meletios, who had baptized him, received him with joy and though to ordain him to the Diaconate. Chrysostom, as a deacon, busied himself serving and teaching Deacons at that time also had the responsibility of catechizing the catechumens. During this period Chrysostom had developed dynamic literary pursuits. It is believed that as a Deacon he penned his Treatise on the Priesthood, Concerning Virginity, On Contrition of Heart, Consolatory Letter to a Young Widow, and Stageirios.
Ordination to the Priesthood
Patriarch Flavian was once praying in his cell when he beheld an Angel of the Lord, who said to him, "Go to the Monastery where John abides, and bring him into the church of thy Patriarchate, so as to ordain him to the priesthood, because he is an elect vessel of habitation for God, as the Apostle Paul, and in the future he shall enlighten al the inhabited world." That very night the same Angel also approached the Saint while praying, and spoke to him, saying, "Tomorrow, when Patriarch Flavian comes and seeks you, straightway go with him, for it is God's Will that you thou receivest the priesthood." The Saint knew indeed that this was a vision from God; yet he said to the Angel, "I am not worthy, Holy Angel, for such a ministry, because it is above my power, only excuse me." The Angel replied, "Those things that God wills to accomplish, what man is able to make them go a different way?" Thus the Saint hearkened to the Angel's counsel. (The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church)
(To be continued)
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"Glory Be To GOD For All Things!" -- Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Holy Diakonia (Ministry),
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+Father George