26th November (17th hatour) Departure of St John Chrysostom.

On this day, the honourable Saint John Chrysostom (called Golden Mouth due to his elequint sermons) reposed in the Lord. He was born in the City of Antioch around 347 AD, to a rich father and a righteous mother. They brought him up well and reared him in the Christian tradition. He went to Athens where he studied Greek philosophy which was customary in those days and he surpassed many in knowledge and virtue. He forsook the lusts of the world and became a monk at a young age in one of the monasteries. When his father departed Saint John did not keep any of his father’s belongings, but gave all of his inheritance to the poor and needy. After which he lived an ascetic life full of struggles. The grace of the Lord filled him and he wrote homilies and sermons and he interpreted many books while he was still a Deacon. St Melatius, Patriarch of Antioch had raised him to the office of Deacon. The next Patriarch, elevated Saint John into the Christian priesthood and he continued on in faithful service. After the depatture of the Patriarch of Constantinople Nectarius, Saint John was elevated into his Throne as the next Patriarch. He conducted himself in apostolic manner and continued teaching, preaching and interpreting the holy Books of the Church, both Old and New. He admonished the sinners and the wealthy, regardless of their authority or wealth. Queen Eudoxia, the wife of the Emperor Arcadius, who had a lust for money, took by un-Christian means a vineyard which belonged to a poor widow. The widow brought her complaint to Saint John, who went to the Queen and admonisged her to return the vineyard to its rightful owner. When Eudoxia refused, St John banned the Queen from entering the Church or receiving Holy Communion until she returned the property. For this the Queen convinced her husband the Emperor and others to exile St John from his Patriarchal Throne to the Island of Thrace. However, the Christian people were so angered by the foprced removal of thier beloved patriarch that they surrounded the royal palace demanding his return. At that time an earthquake shook the City and environs, which was seen as a sign from God against the Emperor regarding the matter. Queen Eudoxia was disturbed at these events and requested of her husband to recall Saint John back to his apostolic Throne. Because of Saint John’s zeal to curb the sinful behaviour of many Christians he often repudiated their behaviour in his sermons, courageously showing his disapproval of their behaviour. Rumours spread again to the Queen Eudoxia that St John had accused her of illicit behaviour and she again organised for his exile from his throne. He was arrested by soldiers and removed from Constantinople and mistreated by the soldiers and fed little. His health deterioated to such a state that he departed this life on this day in 407 AD. During the reign of the following Emperor after Arcadius (Theodosius II) his holy body was returned to Constantinople, where it was placed in the Church of the Apostles.

May his prayers be with us all and Glory be to God now and forever. Amen.

an Orthodox friend