1. Lecture 17: St. John Chrysostom
30 October 2018

2. Introduction Antioch Life of John Chrysostom
Politics and rhetoric in Constantinople

3. Antioch in Early Church History
Ancient imperial capital of Seleucid Empire
Large Jewish and Christian population;
People of the Way first called Christians there
Along with Rome, Antioch claimed both Peter and Paul
Mentioned in Council of Nicaea along with Rome and Alexandria as having a bishop with primacy over a large area (patriarch)
After founding of Constantinople, Antioch becomes a ‘feeder’ for bishops and clergy
Julian the Apostate focused on Antioch as the center of his pagan revival
Suggestion for a field trip: Beautiful 5th C mosaics from Antioch in the Worcester Museum of Art

4. Antiochene Exegesis
Antiochene exegesis defines itself explicitly in opposition to Alexandrian (Origen’s) use of allegory
“Founding’ document is early Fourth Century: Eustathius’s On the Witch of Endor Against Origen.
Disputes Origen’s allegorical interpretation of 1 Sam. 28 in favor of a literal historical reading
Problem: How could a witch conjure up the dead Samuel, and also give an accurate prophecy to Saul, especially after God did not answer Saul
Eustathius interprets dead Samuel as a demon, not real Samuel

5. Diodore of Tarsus
Major developer of this type of exegesis is Diodore of Tarsus
Typology, relationship between Old Testament and New Testament, is developed not through allegory but through theoria; drawing the historical analogies
Opposed Julian the Apostate in Antioch
Established an ascetical school in Antioch, John Chrysostom is a member
Wrote a treatise on difference between allegory and theoria, now lost
After his death considered heretical because he may have influenced Nestorius

6. Roman Empire After Theodosius www. utexas
Roman Empire After Theodosius

7. Biographical Sketch St. John Chrysostom
Born, 349, and educated in Antioch
Studied rhetoric with Libanius, famous pagan philosopher and orator in Antioch
Joined Diodore’s school
After hiding from those seeking to ordain him, he was ordained in 386
Acquired sobriquet “Golden Mouth” for his preaching in Antioch
Became Patriarch of Constantinople in 397
Almost immediately ran afoul of both Imperial and Ecclesial politics
Political and doctrinal disputes between Alexandria and Antioch
Imperial politics, especially in terms of concern for the poor
Because of political problems, John was exiled (twice)
Died in 407

8. Legacy of John Chrysostom
Divine Liturgy developed by him commonly used in Orthodox Church
We have more of his works extant than any other Greek Father;
6 volumes in English in NPNF Series 1
John, along with Athanasius, Basil and Gregory Nazianzus is considered one of the Four Doctors of the Greek Church

9. Politics in Constantinople
In less than 50 years, Constantinople most powerful city in Empire
At Council of Nicea (325), Rome, Alexandria and Antioch were singled out as patriarchies
At Council of Constantinople (381), Rome, Constantinople (referred to as the new Rome), Alexandria and Antioch were listed as key patriarchies
Growing animosity between Constantinople and Alexandria
After Theodosius’ death (395), Empire divided between his two weak sons, Honorius (West) and Arcadius (East)

10. City of Constantinople (4th – 6th C)

11. Hagia Sophia http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/ikon/chora7.gif

12. Empress Eudoxia (398-404) and St. John Chrysostom
Eudoxia married to Theodosius’ son, Emperor Arcadius
John Chrysostom preached vehemently against courtly excess, especially targeting Eudoxia, who has a silver statue of herself placed in front of Hagia Sophia
With help from Alexandrian Patriarch, Eudoxia gets John removed from Constantinople over the Tall Brothers controversy
Tall brothers were accused of being Origenists
Also a political dispute between Alexandria and Constantinople
Pope Innocent supports John
John, however, does not help himself politically by preaching a sermon in exile in which he says, referring to Eudoxia, “once again Herodias is dancing and seeks the head of John”
John dies in exile

13. Chrysostom’s Homilies on Eutropius
The chief eunuch of the Empress Eudoxia, Eutropius, fell from favor and hid in Hagia Sophia
As the chief eunuch to the Empress he was very powerful
He had been an opponent of Chrysostom, but now sought refuge
Note the choice of Scripture passage

14. Positive Role of Women in Church: St. Olympias
Olympias was a very wealthy widow in Constantinople
Widows owned much of the wealth in the Empire
If a woman survived childbirth, she would probably outlived her husband
Move away from client-patron model to family model may have strengthened legal standing of women
Church supported right of women to inherit and control money and property
Founded a monastery near Hagia Sophia
Practiced voluntary poverty, asceticism
Moved away from civic building to philanthropy as an expression of public support
Gave money to support work of Gregory of Nyssa and John Chrysostom
When John was exiled, so was she; dies in 408
But at turn of 5th C, Olympias is not unique: Proba and Augustine; Paulina and Jerome; Melania the Younger and Cyril of Jerusalem

15. Deaconess
Olympias was consecrated a deaconess by John Chrysostom’s predecessor, Patriarch Nectarius
Earliest mention of deaconesses (ministers/helpers in the Church)
Phebe in Rom 16:1
Pliny’s 2nd C letter to Trajan referred to deaconesses
Functions as helpers to the bishops
Care for the poor
Preparation for women at baptism
By 3rd and 4th C ecclesial documents refer to deaconesses as having some specific functions in Church
Apostolic Constitutions refers to a type of ordination (bishop laying hands on) deaconesses
Widows were to be subordinate to deaconesses
But deaconesses had no liturgical role (unlike deacons or priests); thus not ‘ordained’ to participation in any sort of Levitical priesthood

16. Assignment Read two homilies on Eutropius
Read Hill’s “St. John Chrysostom, Preacher on the Old Testament”
CCC