Saints
J

Saint · Early Church

John Chrysostom

Preacher of Antioch and bishop of Constantinople, twice exiled; “Chrysostom” means “golden-mouthed”

Period
c. 347 – 407
Feast days
13 September · 13 November · 30 January
Associated region
Antioch (Syria); Constantinople; exile at Cucusus (Armenia); died at Comana (Pontus)

Preacher at Antioch whose sermons on Scripture made him famous, then bishop of Constantinople from 398. His reforms and criticism of the court led to his deposition and two exiles; he died on the road to a further exile in 407.

Key timeline

3 events
View full timeline (8)
  1. 386

    Ordained priest; preaching at Antioch

  2. 26 February 398

    Bishop of Constantinople

  3. 14 September 407

    Death at Comana

John was born at Antioch about 347 and studied rhetoric, according to the historians with the famous pagan orator Libanius. After a period of ascetic life he was made deacon in about 381 and ordained priest in 386 by Bishop Flavian.

For twelve years he preached at Antioch. His homilies, mainly continuous commentaries on books of the Bible, made his reputation; the name Chrysostom, “golden-mouthed”, was given to him for his eloquence.

In 398 he was brought to Constantinople and ordained its bishop. He reduced the expenses of the bishop’s household, ended its banquets, disciplined clergy, and in his first year built a hospital with the money saved; his preaching against luxury offended members of the court, including the empress Eudoxia.

In 403 a synod of his opponents, led by Theophilus of Alexandria and meeting at a villa called “the Oak” near Constantinople, declared him deposed. He was exiled, briefly recalled, and on 24 June 404 exiled again, to Cucusus in Armenia. Ordered further, to Pityus at the far edge of the empire near the Caucasus, he died on the way at Comana in Pontus on 14 September 407. In 438 his body was brought back to Constantinople.

Principal written sources

  • Homilies on books of the Bible, sermons, treatises (including On the Priesthood) and letters, among them seventeen to the deaconess Olympias.
  • Socrates, Church History VI; Sozomen, Church History VIII (both 5th century).

Full timeline

  1. c. 347Approximate

    Birth at Antioch

  2. c. 381Approximate

    Ordained deacon

    By Meletius of Antioch.

  3. 386

    Ordained priest; preaching at Antioch

  4. 26 February 398

    Bishop of Constantinople

  5. 403

    Deposed by the Synod of the Oak

  6. 24 June 404

    Second exile, to Cucusus

  7. 14 September 407

    Death at Comana

  8. 27 January 438

    Body returned to Constantinople

Orthodox churches use the Divine Liturgy of St John Chrysostom as their usual eucharistic rite. The 1910 Catholic Encyclopedia notes that he perhaps modified, but did not compose, the ancient text that bears his name.

Recognition

  • Catholic Church. Commemorated as bishop and Doctor of the Church. Feast: 13 September.
  • Orthodox Church in America. Commemorated as Archbishop of Constantinople; also among the Three Hierarchs. Feast: 13 November; 30 January.
  • Church of England. In the Common Worship calendar as “John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople, Teacher of the Faith, 407”. Feast: 13 September.
Feast days
  • 13 September — Catholic Church and Church of England
  • 13 November — Orthodox Church in America
  • 30 January — Orthodox Church in America: the Three Hierarchs
Venerated in (starting dataset)
Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican. Recognised by veneration from the early Church. A Doctor of the Church in Catholic usage; one of the Three Hierarchs in Orthodox churches.
Patronage and roles (starting dataset)
Preachers, Constantinople, Orators
Places
Antioch · Constantinople · Cucusus · Comana

Accounts in the starting dataset

The source workbook lists these under “Confirmed Miracle / Key Event”. The Atlas does not treat them as confirmed: each is labelled by the kind of evidence behind it.

  • DisputedDivine inspiration in writing the Divine Liturgy

    “Divine inspiration recorded while authoring the Divine Liturgy”

    The liturgy is traditionally attributed to him; the 1910 Catholic Encyclopedia judges that he “perhaps modified, but did not compose” it. No source read speaks of inspiration.

  • UnverifiedAppearance after death to the court of Arcadius

    “Apparition to Emperor Arcadius' court post-mortem restoring peace”

    Not found in the sources read. The documented event is the return of his body to Constantinople in 438, long after Arcadius’s death.

About the image · Editorial design

Decorative initial J, drawn for the Atlas. It is not a likeness of John Chrysostom.

Editorial status

Reference entry, drafted with particular care. Key dates and facts were spot-checked during a build session against the sources marked “consulted” below. Only the points named in that note were checked; the rest of the entry has not been.

References

Original workbook record

Imported unchanged from “Top 100 Saints”, row 23. Values here are the starting dataset, not verified facts; where the Atlas differs, the reason is noted below.

#
15
Saint / Title
Saint John Chrysostom
Primary Traditions Veneration
Catholic, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Anglican
Feast Day(s)
Sept 13 / Jan 27
Era / Lived
347 – 407 AD
Origin / Region
Antioch / Constantinople
Patronage & Major Roles
Preachers, Constantinople, Orators
Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 1
Divine inspiration recorded while authoring the Divine Liturgy
Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 2
Apparition to Emperor Arcadius' court post-mortem restoring peace
Key Contribution / Historical Significance
Patriarch of Constantinople famous for eloquence; authored standard Divine Liturgy.
Reference Link
https://www.patriarchate.org

Editorial notes on this record

  • Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 1: Authorship of the Divine Liturgy is traditional and disputed; “divine inspiration” is not in any source read.
  • Confirmed Miracle / Key Event 2: A posthumous apparition to Arcadius’s court is not in the sources read.
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