John Chrysostom

Also: John of Antioch, Chrysostomos, John the Golden-Mouthed

Born probably between 344 and 354, in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey). Died in 407, in Comana Pontica (now Gümenek, near Tokat, Turkey).

The greatest preacher of the Greek church: his later name means "golden mouth". He was a priest at Antioch and bishop of Constantinople, and died in exile.

Wrote in Greek. A major author.

Places lived

349 to 397Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey)student, monk, deacon from 381, priest from 386years probableAbout 372 to 378 he lived as a monk in the hills beside the city.
398 to 404Constantinopolis (now Istanbul, Turkey)bishop
404 to 407Cucusus (now Göksun, Turkey)exileHe spent one winter at Arabissus near by. He died on a forced march to Pityus.

Works

39 works, in the order they were written. 35 works can be read here.

Letters to the Fallen Theodorec. 367 to 372 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · letterTwo pleas to a friend who had left the ascetic life.25,124 words
On Compunctionabout 375 to 386 · perhaps in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · treatiseTwo books to the monks Demetrius and Stelechius on sorrow for sin.42,161 words
Letter to a Young Widowabout 380 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · treatiseA letter of comfort to the young widow of Therasius that also advises her not to marry again.7,060 words
On the Priesthoodc. 381 to 391 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · dialogueA talk with a friend on why he fled from being made a priest, and how great that office is.48,014 words
Homilies on Genesisc. 385 to 388 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilySixty-seven sermons on the whole of Genesis.not yet on the site
Against the Jews386 to 387 · in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyEight sermons to stop Christians from joining the Jewish feasts.not yet on the site
Against Publishing the Errors of the Brethren386 to 397 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyA sermon that tells Christians not to spread the sins of others and not to curse their enemies in prayer.6,704 words
Homilies on First and Second Timothy386 to 397 · perhaps in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyTwenty-eight sermons on the two letters of Paul to Timothy.104,628 words
Homilies on Saint Ignatius and Saint Babylas386 to 397 · in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyTwo sermons for the feast days of the two martyr bishops of Antioch.9,629 words
Homilies on Titus386 to 397 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilySix sermons on the letter of Paul to Titus.22,837 words
Homily on "Father, if it be possible"386 to 397 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyA sermon on the prayer of Christ in the garden, against the Marcionites and Manichaeans.5,888 words
Homily on Lowliness of Mind386 to 397 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyA sermon on the Pharisee and the tax collector and on Paul's words about those who preach Christ from envy.7,942 words
Homily on the Paralytic Let Down through the Roof386 to 397 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyA sermon on the healing of the paralysed man and on Christ as equal to the Father.9,488 words
Three Homilies on the Power of Demons386 to 397 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyThree sermons that say the devil cannot force anyone and that evil comes from our own carelessness.18,658 words
To Those Who Had Not Attended the Assembly386 to 397 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyA sermon on "If your enemy is hungry, feed him", with a rebuke for those who stayed away from church.8,968 words
On the Incomprehensible Nature of God386 to 398 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyTwelve sermons against those who claimed to know God as he knows himself.not yet on the site
Five Occasional Sermons386 to 399 · place not known · homilyHis first sermon as a priest, and sermons on the New Year feast, against the circus and theatre, after an earthquake and on Christmas.not yet on the site
Homilies on Philemonbetween 386 and 404 · place not known · homilyThree sermons on the letter of Paul to Philemon.11,840 words
Homilies on Philippiansbetween 386 and 404 · perhaps in Constantinopolis (now Istanbul, Turkey) · homilyFifteen sermons that go through the letter of Paul to the Philippians.74,483 words
On Vainglory and the Education of Childrenabout 393 (uncertain) · perhaps in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · treatiseAn address to parents on how to bring up a child as a Christian.15,333 words
Homilies on the Statues387 · in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyTwenty-one sermons to a frightened city after a mob broke the statues of the emperor.159,029 words
Instructions to Catechumensc. 387 to 390 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · catechesisTwo talks to those about to be baptised.11,868 words
Discourses on the Rich Man and Lazarusc. 388 to 389 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilySermons on the parable of the rich man and Lazarus, on wealth and poverty.33,938 words
Homilies on Matthewc. 390 · in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyNinety sermons, the oldest full commentary on Matthew.461,959 words
Homilies on Johnc. 390 to 391 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyEighty-eight short sermons on the Gospel of John.318,091 words
Homilies on Romansc. 391 to 392 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyThirty-two sermons on Romans.226,946 words
Homilies on First Corinthiansc. 392 to 393 · in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyForty-four sermons on First Corinthians.258,898 words
Homilies on Second Corinthiansc. 392 to 393 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyThirty sermons on Second Corinthians.141,207 words
Commentary on Galatiansc. 393 to 395 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · commentaryA verse by verse commentary on Galatians.47,337 words
Homilies on Ephesiansc. 395 to 397 · probably in Antiochia (now Antakya, Turkey) · homilyTwenty-four sermons on Ephesians.124,596 words
Homilies on First and Second Thessalonians398 to 404 · probably in Constantinopolis (now Istanbul, Turkey) · homilySixteen sermons that go through the two letters of Paul to the Thessalonians.70,296 words
Homilies on Eutropius399 · in Constantinopolis (now Istanbul, Turkey) · homilyTwo sermons on the fall of a great man and the emptiness of power.17,237 words
Homilies on Colossians399 · probably in Constantinopolis (now Istanbul, Turkey) · homilyTwelve sermons that go through the letter of Paul to the Colossians.63,432 words
Homilies on the Acts of the Apostles400 to 401 · in Constantinopolis (now Istanbul, Turkey) · homilyFifty-five sermons, the only full commentary on Acts from the first thousand years.350,882 words
Homilies on Hebrewsc. 403 to 404 · probably in Constantinopolis (now Istanbul, Turkey) · homilyThirty-four sermons on Hebrews.155,759 words
Correspondence with Innocent, Bishop of Rome404 to 406 · place not known · letterTwo letters in which he asks Rome for help after he was deposed, and two answers of Innocent.5,538 words
Letters to Olympias404 to 407 · probably in Cucusus (now Göksun, Turkey) · letterSeventeen letters of comfort to the deaconess Olympias.15,148 words
No One Can Harm the Man Who Does Not Injure Himself406 to 407 · perhaps in Cucusus (now Göksun, Turkey) · treatiseAn essay from exile: only our own sin can hurt us.13,011 words
Paschal Homilydate not known · place not known · homilyThe short Easter sermon read each year in the Eastern churches.539 words

Works that carry this name, filed with the anonymous works

Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom by traditionfrom about 400; oldest copy about 800 · probably in Constantinopolis (now Istanbul, Turkey) · liturgyThe usual service of the Eucharist of the Byzantine churches, named after John Chrysostom.8,028 words

How we know the dates and places

Born probable: The usual date is about 349: J. N. D. Kelly, Golden Mouth (1995), appendix B
Place of birth sure: Palladius, Dialogue on the Life of Chrysostom 5; Socrates, Church History 6.3
Died sure: Palladius, Dialogue on the Life of Chrysostom 11 (14 September 407)
Place of death sure: Palladius, Dialogue on the Life of Chrysostom 11
Antiochia, years probable: Palladius, Dialogue on the Life of Chrysostom 5; Socrates, Church History 6.3
Antiochia, place sure: Palladius, Dialogue on the Life of Chrysostom 5; Socrates, Church History 6.3
Constantinopolis, years sure: Palladius, Dialogue on the Life of Chrysostom 5 to 10; Socrates, Church History 6.2 to 6.18
Constantinopolis, place sure: Palladius, Dialogue on the Life of Chrysostom 5 to 10; Socrates, Church History 6.2 to 6.18
Cucusus, years sure: Chrysostom, Letters to Olympias; Palladius, Dialogue on the Life of Chrysostom 11
Cucusus, place sure: Chrysostom, Letters to Olympias; Palladius, Dialogue on the Life of Chrysostom 11