Saint John Chrysostom and Social Justice
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Obsculta Volume 2 Issue 1 Article 3 April 2014 Saint John Chrysostom and Social Justice Joel Cassady College of Saint Benedict/Saint John’s University Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/obsculta Part of the Christian Denominations and Sects Commons ISSN: 2472-2596 (print) ISSN: 2472-260X (online) Recommended Citation Cassady, Joel. 2009. Saint John Chrysostom and Social Justice. Obsculta 2, (1) : 5-12. https://digitalcommons.csbsju.edu/obsculta/vol2/iss1/3. This Article is brought to you for free and open access by DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU. It has been accepted for inclusion in Obsculta by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@CSB/SJU. For more information, please contact [email protected]. Saint John Chrysostom Joel Cassady and Social Justice Since the beginning of Christianity, Christ’s fol- himself, when asked on his deathbed to name a suc- lowers have been challenged to stand up for the rights cessor, commented, “It would have been John, had of the poor and to serve them. Indeed, Christ tells not the Christians stolen him from us.”5 his disciples, “You always have the poor with you” Partially due to the urgings of a close friend he (John 12:8). Early Christians faced many of the same studied with who had himself become a religious, issues of poverty that modern Christians confront and partially due to a meeting with Bishop Meletius today. Then, as now, Christians were called upon by of Antioch, Chrysostom began to withdraw from religious leaders to change the very structures that his study of law and pursued an ascetic and religious took advantage of the poor or kept them in poverty. life.6 He was baptized in about 369 by Meletius and One such voice was John Chrysostom. Chrysostom ordained a lector soon afterward. Above all, Chryso- firmly believed that in order to call oneself Christian, stom desired to become a monk and live the full as- one must be mindful of one’s neighbors and care for cetic life. At his mother’s request, however, he waited their needs. Chrysostom’s strong words moved the until her death before he retreated to the hills out- people of his time into action on behalf of the poor, side Antioch, spending four years within a monastic and those same words can inspire Christians today. community and two more as an anchorite in a cave.7 The intent of this paper is to focus on Chrysostom Palladius, his fifth-century biographer, says of those as a champion for the poor and to allow his words two years that Chrysostom “never relaxed . not to challenge Christians today to act on their behalf. in the days nor at night, and his gastric organs be- Sources put Chrysostom’s birth between 345 came lifeless and the proper functions of the kidneys and 347 in Antioch, Syria, which at that time had be- were impaired by the cold.”8 As a result, Chrysostom come one of the prominent cities in the Roman Em- was forced to leave, and, referring again to Palladius, pire. His father, Secundus, was magister militum of the “This is proof of the Savior’s providence that he Syrian imperial army.1 His mother, Anthusa, was an was taken away from the ascetic life . forcing him intelligent and religious woman who was widowed at to leave his caves for the benefit of the Church.”9 the age of twenty, not long after Chrysostom’s birth. Chrysostom returned to Antioch, where he was or- As she never remarried, she raised by herself John and dained a deacon by Meletius in about 381. In 386, he his elder sister, who died while still a child.2 Chrysos- was ordained a priest by Meletius’s successor, Fla- tom was very close to his mother, and his religious and vian, and spent the next twelve years in Antioch as moral upbringing can be attributed to her. a priest. Palladius says that as a priest in Antioch, Despite the difficult circumstances in which he Chrysostom, “Shed great glory on the priesthood . grew up, Chrysostom received a fine education. His by the strictness of his lifestyle. It was all smooth most notable teacher was the famous orator Liba- sailing with Christ as pilot.”10 nius, who, at the time, was also one of the most As a priest, Chrysostom immediately put his “tenacious adherents of the declining paganism.”3 skills of oration to work from the pulpit, so much Chrysostom was one of Libanius’ best pupils and so that in 553, almost 150 years after his death, took an initial interest in law, no doubt looking to- Pope Vigilius gave him the surname “Chrysostom,” ward a path of wealth and high public office.4 He or “golden-mouthed,” and the appropriate title has would likely have had a successful career. Libanius stuck ever since. Though his theological and exegeti- cal contributions are overshadowed in the West by 1 Donald Attwater, St. John Chrysostom: The Voice of Gold (Milwau- kee, WI: Bruce Publishing Company, 1939), 9. 5 Ibid., 13. 2 Chrysostom Baur, “St. John Chrysostom,” in The Catho- 6 Baur, “St. John Chrysostom.” lic Encyclopedia (New York: Robert Appleton Company). See 7 Ibid. New Advent, Kevin Knight, ed.; http://www.newadvent.org/ 8 Palladius, Dialogue on the Life of St. John Chrysostom, ed. and cathen/08452b.htm (accessed December 3, 2008). trans. Robert T. Meyer (New York: Newman Press, 1985), 35. 3 Baur, “St. John Chrysostom.” 9 Ibid. 4 Attwater, St. John Chrysostom, 13. 10 Ibid., 36. obsculta 5 one of his contemporaries, St. Augustine of Hippo, at the news, formed a mob and stormed through the Chrysostom is a Doctor of the Roman Catholic city. They made it to the imperial governor’s praeto- Church and highly revered to this day in the East- rium, and found he had slipped out a back door. 18 ern Church as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs, the What were present were statues of the imperial fam- other two being Basil the Great and Gregory of Na- ily. The mob proceeded to destroy the statues, leav- zianzus. He was well known during his time for his ing some in the house and carrying some pieces out theological and exegetical work, receiving the title vir to the streets. The rioting lasted three hours, after illustris from St. Jerome.11 But while his theology and which the governor was able to round up his troops doctrine are sound, Chrysostom is best remembered to disperse the crowd. for his sermons. Once all the dust settled, the people realized Chrysostom’s sermons typically consisted of a what had happened, and were fearfully anticipating biblical passage that he progressively explored, let- the emperor’s response. Though Christian, Theodo- ting it speak to him and, through him, to his audi- sius took such actions as a great offense. The bishop ence.12 His method of exegesis, the “grammatico- Flavian went to Constantinople to reason with the historical,”13 was common to Antioch, and differed emperor, and in the meantime, Chrysostom was left from the allegorical and mystical methods of exege- to comfort the anxious people of Antioch. sis common to Alexandria. Chrysostom Baur con- Chrysostom was not a major player in calming siders Chrysostom “the chief and almost the only the response of Theodosius. Nor was he, accord- successful representative of the exegetical principles ing to the sources, involved in interceding with the of the School of Antioch.”14 His sermons were elo- soldiers the emperor sent immediately upon hearing quent and extraordinary, even among the Greeks.15 of the incident. Chrysostom was, however, front He was quick to improvise, and would not hesitate and center in urging his people to repent and to pray to divert his message when appropriate. According for mercy. The people, and the city, responded. In to Baur, with “whole-hearted earnestness and con- the end, Flavian was able to play to the emperor’s viction, he delivered the message . which he felt Christianity, and Theodosius was merciful to An- had been given to him.”16 The people loved hearing tioch. Chrysostom, as any good priest would, turned him, and frequently responded to his sermons with the event into a learning experience, even praising applause, for which he would admonish them: God for the lessons the people could take away, “Let When you applaud me as I speak, I feel at the us always give thanks to God who loveth man; not moment as it is natural for a man to feel. I merely for our deliverance from these fearful evils, am delighted and overjoyed. And when I go but for their being permitted to overtake us. He home and reflect that the people who have ever disposes all things for our advantage, with that been applauding me have received no benefit loving kindness which is His attribute, which God . I feel as though I had spoken altogether in grant, that we may continually enjoy.”19 vain. And I have often thought of laying Donald Attwater calls the issue of the statues a down a rule prohibiting all applause, and urg- major point in Chrysostom’s life, where he first saw ing you to listen in silence.17 the impact he could make and the abilities he pos- Chrysostom’s skills from the pulpit were put to sessed.20 He spoke words of comfort, and people lis- the test early in his career as a priest. During Lent of tened and responded. But Chrysostom used the pul- 387, Emperor Theodosius, in order to pay for war pit for more than comforting purposes.