CHRYSOSTOM, JOHN, ST. ("golden mouthed"), a celebrated Greek father of the church; born in Antioch about A. D. 344. Secundus, his father, who had the command of the imperial troops in Syria, died soon after the birth of his son, whose early education devolved upon Anthusa, his mother. Chrysostom studied eloquence with Libanius, the most fa mous orator of his time, and soon ex celled his master. After having studied philosophy with Andragathius he de voted himself to the Holy Scriptures, and determined upon quitting the world and consecrating his life to God in the deserts of Syria. He spent several years in soli tary retirement, studying and meditating with a view to the church. Having com pleted his voluntary probation he re turned to Antioch in 381, when he was appointed deacon by the Bishop of An tioch, and in 386 consecrated priest. He was chosen vicar by the same dignitary, and commissioned to preach the Word of God to the people. He became so cele brated for the eloquence of his preach ing that the Emperor Arcadius deter mined, in 397, to place him in the archi episcopal see of Constantinople.
He now exerted himself so zealously in repressing heresy, paganism, and im morality, and in enforcing the obligations of monarchism, that he raised up many enemies, and Theophilus, patriarch of Alexandria, aided and encouraged by the Empress Eudoxia, caused him to be de posed at a synod held at Chalcedon. The emperor banished him from Constan tinople, and Chrysostom purposed retir ing to Bithynia; but the people threat ened a revolt. In the following night an
earthquake gave general alarm. In this dilemma Arcadius recalled his orders, and Eudoxia herself invited Chrysostom to return. The people accompanied him triumphantly to the city, his enemies fled, and peace was restored, but only for a short time. A feast given by the em press on the consecration of a statue, and attended with many heathen cere monies, roused the zeal of the archbishop, who publicly exclaimed against it; and Eudoxia, violently incensed, recalled the prelates devoted to her will, and Chrysos tom was condemned and exiled to Armenia. Here he continued to exert his pious zeal until the emperor ordered him to be conveyed to a town on the most distant shore of the Black Sea. The officers who had him in charge obliged the old man to perform his journey on foot, and he died at Comana, in Pontus, 407. Here he was buried; but in 438 his body was conveyed solemnly to Con stantinople, and there interred in the Church of the Apostles, in the sepulcher of the emperor. At a later period his remains were placed in the Vatican at Rome. The Greek Church celebrates his feast on Nov. 13, the Roman on Jan. 27. His works, which consist of sermons, com mentaries, and treatises, abound with in formation as to the manners and char acteristics of his age.