Saint John Chrysostom

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Saint John is the father and teacher of the Eastern Orthodox Church and was born in Antioch in 347 AD. His father was General Sekoundos and his mother was Anthousa. He was soon orphaned by his father, and his mother - a widow then 20 years old - raised him and educated him in the best Christian way. He had a very intelligent mind and studied many sciences in Antioch - close to the then famous orator Livanius - but also in Athens, together with his beloved friend Megas Vassilios. After completing his studies, he returned to Antioch and retired to the desert for five years, where he practiced prayer, studying the Holy Scriptures. However, he fell ill and returned to Antioch, where he was ordained a deacon - in 381 AD, at the age of 34 - by Archbishop Meletius of Antioch. Later, by the successor of Meletius Flavianos, he was anointed an Elder at the age of 40. His fame reached Vassilevousa and so, on December 15, 397 AD, with a joint vote of King Arkadi and the Clergy, he became Patriarch of Constantinople, something he never sought. In addition, Chrysostom's work is the Divine Liturgy, which we perform almost every Sunday, with only a few - since then - conversions. Saint Chrysostom, during his patriarchate, was a ruthless controller of every illegality and evil. But this caused him to create formidable enemies, and in fact, Empress Eudoxia herself, because she controlled her illegalities. He managed to exile the Saint twice, who after many hardships and other sufferings died in 407 AD. It is worth noting that Chrysostom died on September 14, but due to the feast of the Exaltation of the Holy Cross, the feast of his memory was postponed to November 13.
Saint John Chrysostom icon