St. John Chrysostom (about 349–407) was the greatest preacher of the early Church, first in Antioch and then as Archbishop of Constantinople; his eloquence earned him the name Chrysostom, “golden-mouthed.” He fearlessly denounced the luxury of the rich and the court while the poor went hungry, and he was twice sent into exile, dying on the road with the words “Glory be to God for all things.” He is a Doctor of the Church and the patron of preachers, and the Divine Liturgy that bears his name is still celebrated every Sunday in the Eastern Churches. His feast day is September 13. Below are his story, one of his most famous sermons, the prayer of his feast, and a prayer to St. John Chrysostom.
A short prayer to St. John Chrysostom, written for this page:
St. John Chrysostom, golden-mouthed preacher of the truth,
pray that I may see Christ in the poor, speak the truth with love,
and say in every circumstance, “Glory to God for all things.” Amen.
Who was St. John Chrysostom?
John was born about 349 in Antioch, in Syria, and raised by his widowed mother, Anthusa. He studied rhetoric under the famous pagan teacher Libanius, was baptized as a young man, and lived for several years as a monk and hermit until his health broke down. Ordained a priest in Antioch in 386, he preached there for twelve years, and his sermons on the Gospels and the letters of St. Paul were so admired that people applauded in church.
In 398 he was made Archbishop of Constantinople against his will. He reformed the clergy, cut the extravagant spending of the bishop’s household, built hospitals and gave generously to the poor, and preached against the luxury and injustice of the wealthy and the imperial court. Empress Eudoxia and his enemies among the bishops had him deposed and exiled in 403 and again in 404. Forced to march in harsh weather to a remote place on the Black Sea, he died on the way at Comana, on September 14, 407, saying, “Glory be to God for all things.”
“Do you wish to honor the body of Christ?”
From his fiftieth homily on the Gospel of Matthew, one of the most quoted passages of the Fathers:
Wouldest thou do honor to Christ’s body? Neglect Him not when naked; do not while here thou honorest Him with silken garments, neglect Him perishing without of cold and nakedness. For He that said, “This is my body,” and by His word confirmed the fact, This same said, “Ye saw me an hungered, and fed me not;” and, “Inasmuch as ye did it not to one of the least of these, ye did it not to me.” For This indeed needs not coverings, but a pure soul; but that requires much attention.
Let us learn therefore to be strict in life, and to honor Christ as He Himself desires. For to Him who is honored that honor is most pleasing, which it is His own will to have, not that which we account best. Since Peter too thought to honor Him by forbidding Him to wash his feet, but his doing so was not an honor, but the contrary.
Even so do thou honor Him with this honor, which He ordained, spending thy wealth on poor people. Since God hath no need at all of golden vessels, but of golden souls.
See the works of mercy.
The prayer of his feast from the 1916 daily missal:
May thy heavenly grace, O Lord, favor the growth of thy Church, which thou hast vouchsafed to enlighten by the glorious merits and teaching of thy blessed Confessor and Bishop John Chrysostom. Through Jesus Christ, thy Son our Lord, who liveth and reigneth with thee in the unity of the Holy Ghost, God world without end. Amen.
What is St. John Chrysostom the patron saint of?
St. John Chrysostom is the patron saint of:
- Preachers and public speakers, named by Pope St. Pius X in 1908
- Orators and lecturers
- Constantinople (Istanbul)
Feast day
The memorial of St. John Chrysostom, bishop and Doctor of the Church, is September 13. Before 1969 it was kept on January 27. In the Eastern Churches he is honored on November 13, and with Sts. Basil and Gregory on January 30.
Frequently asked questions
What does Chrysostom mean?
“Golden-mouthed,” a name given to him because of his eloquent preaching.
What were St. John Chrysostom’s last words?
“Glory be to God for all things.”
When is his feast day?
September 13.
More saints
- Doctors of the Church
- Sts. Basil and Gregory
- St. Ignatius of Antioch
- Works of mercy
- Prayer before Communion
- Prayer for priests
- Saint of the day
Texts and sources
- St. John Chrysostom, Homilies on Matthew, Homily 50, trans. G. Prevost, rev. M. B. Riddle, Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, Series I, vol. 10 (1888), public domain (Wikisource).
- The Mass Every Day of the Year (1916), St. John Chrysostom (January 27), Collect, public domain (archive.org).