Beautiful Egypt 48 – «John Chrysostom» March 23, 2014

   In the previous article, we tackled the tenure of Caesar Arcadius, how the state’s affairs were transferred from Rufinus to Eutropius after the former’s assassination. Then, the domineering Eudoxia took over until she died in 404. She was succeeded by Anthemius who dominated everything. So much so, that the emperor lost his influence. He died in 408 due to unknown reasons, leaving the state’s affairs to his son Theodosius II. We spoke of the clash between Eudoxia and John Chrysostom the patriarch of Constantinople. She banished him twice, and he died in his second exile.

John Chrysostom

Early Life

   He was born in 347 to Secundus, Commander of the Empire’s Hussars, who departed when John was an infant. So, his mother Anthusa undertook his education and upbringing. Libanius, the most renowned pagan philosopher and rhetorician, taught him logic and rhetoric. Androgathius taught him philosophy.

   John was so intelligent that when Libanius was dying, he told his students that John would be his successor, unless he became Christian! In fact, that philosopher discovered John’s talents and eloquence, which made him wish to make him his successor. John was also admired by many, which made them believe he would be renowned.

His Friendship with Basil 

   John became lawyer in his early life. He used to defend the poor and the wronged, attracting everybody’s attention with his eloquence. He was also attracted to the pleasures of life. Yet, Basil, his old friend, attracted him to the love of God. Hence, he played a great role in changing the course of John’s life. So much so that John said, “Weighed on a scale, his pan was higher than mine: for mine was weighed down by the world’s desires and youth’s whims.” Thanks to Basil, John yearned to asceticism and worship. So, he quit the law, and became a follower of Meletius, the bishop of Antioch.

   When he yearned for monasticism, his mother entreated him tearfully to stay with her until her death. Yet, she allowed him to worship freely. John obeyed his mother. He did not go to the monastery, but led an ascetic life. He prayed a lot, ate little and forsook rest. His heart was filled with love for God.

   The two friends became quite famous. So much so, that they were taken into consideration when a bishop for Syria was needed.

   John was preoccupied with monasticism. Yet, he did not want to hinder Basil’s ordinance, and encouraged him to accept it. This was fulfilled. When it was John’s turn to be ordained, he disappeared in the desert, which saddened Basil. He wrote him a message of reproach for abandoning the post. John answered him with a great treatise about priesthood.

Monasticism

   After John had returned to Antioch, his mother passed away. So, he hurried to the monastery where he lived for four years. At that time, he wrote his first treatise, entitled, “A Comparison between the King and the Monk”. In 373, King Valens persecuted the Orthodox, denouncing monasticism. This made John write three books entitled, “Against the Enemies of Monasticism” in which he tackled the beauty of monastic life. He also spoke of Egypt’s wilderness which presented monasticism to the world, saying, “Behold the wilderness of Egypt! It is more beautiful than any paradise!” John wrote a lot about repentance and comfort in temptation. People were attracted to him, which made him seclude himself for two years, after which he returned to Antioch to serve there.

   In 381, he became assistant to the bishop of Antioch, Meletius. At that time, he wrote some defense as well as ascetic books. For instance, he wrote two treatises entitled, “Saint Papillas”, “Against Julian” and “Adversus Judaeos”. Among his ascetic treatises are, “On Virginity”, “On Repentance”, and “To a Young Widow”.

Priesthood

   In 386, his homilies impressed people a lot, which is why he became a famous preacher, especially after giving several homilies in Antioch. These were entitled, “The Statues Homilies”. The story of these homilies dates back to 387 when the government was about to celebrate a decade of Theodosius the Great’s reign and five years of his son’s reign with him. It, thus, came to pass that the Emperor imposed a new tax, which upset the whole empire.

   In Antioch, people expressed their frustration by rebelling and destroying the statues of the emperor, empress, and their son. Yet, they dreaded punishment. So, patriarch Flavian headed to Constantinople to appease the emperor. At that time, the emperor deprived the city its privileges, moving the capital to Lattakia. Clubs and theaters were closed down and some people were arrested. Likewise, the city was about to be burnt and its population killed as per the commander’s orders, had it not been for the intervention of some monks and hermits. This made people wait for the patriarch’s return in fear. At that time, the people hurried to church where John, the priest, called for repentance and returning to God. These homilies made him famous. They were called “The Statues Homilies”. The patriarch succeeded in appeasing the emperor.

Ordinance Patriarch of Constantinople

   Twelve years later, in 398, John was ordained patriarch after the departure of the patriarch of Constantinople. He was endorsed by Eutropius who liked his homilies. Thus, he was compelled to accept the patriarchate. John Chrysostom cared for the congregation, especially the poor and the widows.

Eutropius and John Chrysostom

   When Eutropius had ascended to power, he treated the people and the church harshly and enslaved the honorable. He annulled the right of church asylum, despite the patriarch’s objections that he might banish or assassinate whoever he pleased.

   It was Eutropius who suggested the ordinance of John patriarch on Constantinople. He supported him that he might win his favor. Yet, the patriarch would never defend evil. Thus, his relation with Eutropius was negatively affected. Moreover, Gainas and the Empress conspired to assassinate him, which made him flee to Hagia Sofia Church. The patriarch preached love and souls’ weaknesses, which saved Eutropius from death. So, he was banished and executed.

Chrysostom and Eudoxia

   At the beginning, Arcadius and Eudoxia liked the patriarch. Yet, this love did not last: for the patriarch supported Eutropius and rejected the Empress’ despotism. In fact, he asked her to return a field that she had usurped from a widow, but she refused. So, he closed the doors of the Cathedral before her on the feast of the Holy Cross. Likewise, he criticized the Empress’ extravagance. So, she and her friends conspired against him, and eventually banished him in 403.

   No sooner had the congregation known of the patriarch’s exile, than they rebelled against the Empress. They surrounded the palace, demanding the patriarch’s return. So, she had to order his immediate return in order to overcome schisms. The congregation received him with a festivity.

   However, the clash between the patriarch and the Empress never came to an end, which is why she banished him once more in 404. He remained in his exile until his departure.

   Historians maintain that John Chrysostom was banished owing to his criticism of the Empress who had a statue erected for her near the Hagia Sofia Cathedral. Even worse, the sounds of song and prayers intermingled! These incidents led to a conflict between Arcadius and his brother Honorius, the Caesar of the West, due to what happened to John Chrysostom. No sooner had the patriarch been banished, than the country was plighted with earthquakes and rotting of plants. The people thought this happened because the patriarch was banished.

   The Empress’ victory was short-lived: for she died on October, 404. In 417, patriarch Atticus venerated patriarch John by adding his name to the saintly patriarchs’ names mural.

   In 419, Pope Cyril the great did the same thing. Ever since, John Chrysostom has been mentioned in the Saints’ Supplication. In 438, Theodosius II ordered that his relics be brought to the Holy Apostles Church, Constantinople. He was greatly venerated after his departure. He has always been loved and honored by all Christian sects.

   He was called “golden-mouthed” because of his homilies and education of the congregation in the sixth century. He was the most popular preacher in Antioch. After Arcadius’ death, his son Theodosius II ascended to power. His reign marked changes in Egypt’s history. Stories never end in Beautiful Egypt.

General Bishop

Head of the Coptic Orthodox Cultural Center