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John Chrysostom
Church father, Archbishop of Constantinople and Christian saint (c. 347–407)
SaintFull write-upByzantine EmpirePre-congregation
Feast: 13 September (current Roman calendar, memorial) · 27 January (1962 Missal, III class)
Born
349
Died
407
Beatified
—
not needed: before formal processes
Canonised
By tradition
recognised before formal processes began
Who they were
John of Antioch was a born speaker; his teacher, the rhetorician Libanius, lamented 'if only the Christians had not stolen him!' He studied the Scriptures under Diodore, later bishop of Tarsus, with a special love for St Paul, and lived six years as a hermit in the desert, the last two in a cave. Ordained priest, he became famous for preaching the Scriptures to the people.
Made bishop of Constantinople, he made powerful enemies, led by Theophilus, Patriarch of Alexandria, and the empress Eudoxia. A synod held in his absence exiled him in 403; the people brought him back, but on 9 June 404 he was condemned again. Moved from place to place in exile, he died in 407 at Comana in Pontus.
The miracles
There was never a formal cause: John has been honoured as a saint since shortly after his death. He is a Doctor of the Church; 'Chrysostom', 'golden mouth', is the name later given him for his preaching.
Why that counted as sanctity
John used his gift of speech only for the Gospel, preached the truth to rich and powerful alike, and died in exile for it, convinced that God must be glorified in all things.
Connected on this site
- Diodorus of Tarsus Saint Teacher“Diodorus, of noble family, probably of Antioch, studied at Athens and became a monk and head of a monastery near Antioch, where St John Chrysostom was his disciple.” — this site's research
- Nicarete Saint Pupil“John Chrysostom.” — Wikipedia
- Nilus of Sinai Saint Pupil“365 – 12 November 430 or 451) was one of the many disciples and stalwart defenders of John Chrysostom.” — Wikipedia
- Proclus of Constantinople Saint Pupil
- Athanasius of Alexandria Saint“Athanasius is venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox Church, Oriental Orthodox Churches, Church of the East, the Anglican Communion, and Lutheranism and is traditionally honored as one of the four Great Greek Church Fathers along with Basil of Caesarea, Gregory of Nazianzus, and John Chrysostom.” — Wikipedia
- Babyle Saint“Ancient martyrologies join his memory, on 24 January, to that of three boy martyrs, and John Chrysostom, drawing on traditions current at Antioch, tells how Babila once barred the church doors to an emperor who had treacherously killed a hostage prince and then tried to take part in the liturgy with blood on his…” — this site's research
- Basil of Caesarea Saint“The Eastern Orthodox Church and Eastern Catholic Churches have given him, together with Gregory of Nazianzus and John Chrysostom, the title of Great Hierarch.” — Wikipedia
- Cyril of Alexandria Saint“In 403 he went with his uncle to Constantinople for the Synod of the Oak that deposed John Chrysostom.” — this site's research
- Eutropius of Constantinople Saint“At Constantinople, Saints Tigrius, priest, and Eutropius, lector, martyrs: falsely accused, under the emperor Arcadius, of having started the fire that burned down the principal church and the senate house in revenge for the exile of Saint John Chrysostom, they suffered martyrdom at the hands of the prefect…” — this site's research
- Gaudentius of Brescia Saint“A friend of St John Chrysostom, he died about 410.” — this site's research
- Geminianus Saint“Saint John Chrysostom later received the same hospitality.” — Wikipedia
- Gregory of Nazianzus Saint“In the Catholic Church he is numbered among the Doctors of the Church; in the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Eastern Catholic Churches he is revered as one of the Three Holy Hierarchs, along with Basil of Caesarea and John Chrysostom.” — Wikipedia
12 more
- Innocent I Saint“He defended the exiled John Chrysostom and consulted with the bishops of Africa concerning the Pelagian controversy, confirming the decisions of the African synods.” — Wikipedia
- Isidor d'Alexandria Saint“He fled to the desert and then to Constantinople to seek the protection of St John Chrysostom, and died there soon after, aged eighty-five, in 404.” — this site's research
- Isidore of Pelusium Saint“His many letters fight against unworthy clergy, defend the memory of St John Chrysostom and oppose Nestorianism.” — this site's research
- Margaret Pelagius Saint“Butler says the whole story must be set aside as a religious romance, built on a sermon of St John Chrysostom about an unnamed actress of Antioch and confused with a real virgin martyr, Pelagia of Antioch.” — this site's research
- Maruthas Saint“During his tenure as bishop he was a friend of Byzantine churchman John Chrysostom.” — Wikipedia
- Nectarius of Constantinople Saint“Nectarius of Constantinople (Greek: Νεκτάριος; died 27 September 397) was the archbishop of Constantinople from 381 until his death, the successor to Saint Gregory of Nazianzus and predecessor to John Chrysostom.” — Wikipedia
- Pelagia the Virgin Saint“At Antioch in Syria, Saint Pelagia, virgin and martyr, whom Saint John Chrysostom extolled with great praise.” — this site's research
- Philogonius of Antioch Saint“At Antioch in Syria, Saint Philogonius, bishop, who, a lawyer called by God one day to govern this Church, began together with the bishop Saint Alexander and other companions the struggle for the Catholic faith against Arianism and rested in the Lord full of merits; Saint John Chrysostom celebrated him in a famous…” — this site's research
- Phocas, bishop of Sinope Saint“A homily in his honour was composed by Saint John Chrysostom on the occasion of the translation of his relics to Constantinople.” — Wikipedia
- Pulcheria Saint“She used her position for the true faith against Nestorius and Eutyches, brought back the body of St John Chrysostom to Constantinople, and gave generously to churches.” — this site's research
- Theotimus of Tomis Saint“John Chrysostom.” — Wikipedia
- Tigrius of Constantinople Saint“At Constantinople, Saints Tigrius, priest, and Eutropius, lector, martyrs: falsely accused, under the emperor Arcadius, of having started the fire that burned down the principal church and the senate house in revenge for the exile of Saint John Chrysostom, they suffered martyrdom at the hands of the prefect…” — this site's research
Sources
- Vatican News - Saint of the day (Italian): John Chrysostom
- Wikidata Q43706 — dates, feast day and identifiers (CC0)
- English Wikipedia — John Chrysostom (CC BY-SA)
Checked against the sources listed on 21 September 2026. Corrections welcome.