Saint John Chrysostom (Part II)

My beloved brothers and sisters in Christ Our Only True Lord, God, and Savior,

CHRIST IS IN OUR MIDST! HE WAS, IS, AND EVER SHALL BE.

SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM (Part II0

The Divine Services

Saint John wished to bring about a spiritual revival, and encouraged the faithful to attend the Divine Liturgy. Although the Liturgy had been shortened already by Saint Basil the Great, still the people complained that it was too long, and they stayed away. Saint John, filled with grace, abbreviated the service even further. What abriddements were made is not definitely known, but they were of some consequence must be assumed, otherwise why was his name placed in conjunction with the Greek Liturgy? Possibly the Antiochene Liturgy formed some kind of outline for him. Constantinople had just finished recuperating from the Arian occupation, leaving the city with no bishop. Nectarios, a court official with little theological training, seems to have continued with what he found in place. Other scholars suggest that when Saint Gregory the Theologian occupied the throne, he had already introduced Saint Basil’s Liturgy, and that is what Chrysostom shortened. The Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom, as we know it today, developed somewhat over the centuries. The oldest text is now in the Vatican Library, and that one was in use between the years 788 and 797 A.D.

Whenever the Saint liturgized he beheld the Holy Spirit Who DESCENDED UPON THE PRECIOUS AND HOLY GIFTS WITH A SIGN, WHICH ONLY HIS PURE AND BLAMELESS SOUL BEHELD. Once when he was liturgizing with a certain Deacon, that same one was gazing long into the gynaeceum, which was that part of the church reserved for women, where one beautiful woman was a stumbling block for him. The Saint perceived this because he observed that the Holy Spirit had not Descended, as was customary. The Saint then dismissed the Deacon from the service, and then Saint John beheld the Spirit. After this occurrence, so that it might not happen at another time, he commanded the construction of a lattice for the gynaeceum (γυναικωνίτης). A place set apart for women. The women could look out toward the holy vema, but the clergy would not be able to see the women.

A Warning about the Spectacles

There were times when the crowds preferred the theater and the hippodrome to attendance at church. It was Great Wednesday, just before the Great Feast of Pascha. A severe storm hit the city. The frightened populace hastened to the churches, where prayers were offered up for their deliverance.

By Great Friday the storm that visited them was already old news and forgotten in the minds of many. Not a few were excited about the upcoming shows that Friday and Saturday in the circus and theater. Saint John was both grieved and vexed at how many of his congregation quickly forgot the visitation of God earlier that week; instead of preparing themselves for Pascha, they were ready to run to the spectacles. Many of the people received the wise counsels of their Prelate, and attended church for Great Friday and Great Saturday, refusing to patronize the spectacles.

Saint John often spoke of the stage, admonishing the people, "For when you go up to the theater, and sit feasting your eyes upon the naked limbs of women, for the time indeed you are delighted, but afterward, you have nourished thence a mighty fever. When you see women exhibited thus…and behold spectacles and hear songs of irregular loves…tell me, how will you be able to continue chaste afterward with these narratives, these spectacles, these songs filling your soul, and dreams of this sort henceforth succeeding? For it is the nature of the soul for the most part to raise visions of such things, as it wishes for and desires in the daytime. Now this whore goes with you, although not openly and visibly, but in your heart, and in your conscience. There she kindles the Babylonians furnace, in which the peace of your home, the purity of your heart, the happiness of your marriage, will be burnt up!

"Therefore I make it known and announce in a loud voice: If anyone after this sermon and admonition, runs to the sinful outrages of the theater, I shall not allow such a one to pass the threshold of this church, to partake of the Holy Mysteries, to approach the Holy Table. I will do as the shepherds do, who separate the mangy sheep from the flock, lest they contaminate others…If I have to be disagreeable and troublesome to you, it is in order that some day I may be able to answer without reproach before the Dread Judgment Seat of God."

The Bishop was not immune to pessimism when he saw little improvement. "See, every day I cry myself hoarse. ‘Stay away from the theater!’ and many laugh at me. A thousand times have I warned you, ‘Stop cursing and your dishonest dealings!’ But not one listens to me." He once asked the congregation, "How many, do you think, shall be saved, out of this our city? You will perhaps take it amiss, when I say this, but nevertheless I must say it: Among so many thousands one can scarcely find a hundred who will work out their salvation, and even of these I doubt!"

Saint John Cleans His Own House

As the new bishop, he began with his reforms in his own household. He studied the accounts of his palace carefully. He was pitiless with all extravagance and cut them out of the disbursements. His predecessor Nactarios entertained on a grand scale. Dubious efficiency was found in the episcopal kitchen. Items were entered that were never purchased, and those that were entered appeared in the record ten times over. Saint John interpreted these shoddy bookkeeping practices as theft of the property of the poor. The great banquets held by Nectarios were abolished, since Saint John considered such sumptuous living as robbing the temple. Those that were accustomed to the parties and fine dining found all this very disagreeable to their palate and life-style. They accused the bishop of lacking hospitality, especially in Constantinople, a city whose entertainment of guests was widely acclaimed. But Saint John was not one to sit at a richly laid table, in the midst of clamorous visitors, and play the cultivated host.

High society could not understand this monk on a bishop’s throne. Saint John ate alone, which behavior was regarded by his opponents as evidence of a wish to carouse and gorge unseen. But bishop John did offer modest hospitality and boarding for traveling ecclesiastics. Rich banquets and receptions ceased. He did not give any official or private dinners in his palace. He also turned down all dinner invitations. He preferred to eat alone. He often worked late into the night and would miss the usual time to sup. He was unpopular in smart society, but the money that he saved was used for the hospital which was attached to his see.

Saint John’s Reforms

After the renovations of his living quarters, "John devoted himself first to the REFORMATION OF THE CLERGY." says Sozomen. Believing that it was consistent with duty, he reproved and amended their ways and diet and every procedure of their manifold transactions. He ALSO EJECTED SOME OF THE CLERGY FROM THE CHURCH. He wished TO ROOT OUT WORLDLINESS, SELF-INDULGENCE, AND AVARICE. The bishop carried out an extensive purge in which he removed many clergymen for a variety of canonical violations, and because they had impediments in their ordinations.

Many were offended at the conduct of various bishops. Some acquired their offices through SIMONY. Some enriched their relatives through the Church property or wasted it in other ways. Some interfered in the Dioceses of others and were consecrated there. Two deacons were found guilty: one of adultery, the other of murder. Therefore Bishop John expelled them. Others were expelled for other valid canonical reasons. On another occasion three deacons stole Saint John’s Omophorion. Saint John said later, "Those sort of clerics are dishonorable, wicked men, who are capable of anything."

Saint John also did not wish to see monks living with consecrated women and housekeepers, the SYNEISAKTAI (living together), unless the woman were the monk’s mother, sister, or aunt, or other such person, above reproach. He wished the monks to live with monks and the virgins to live with virgins, in a communal life.

"…I speak not otherwise than it is, but as I find it in my own actual experience. I DO NOT THINK THAT ARE MANY AMONG BISHOPS THAT SHALL BE SAVED, BUT MANY MORE THAT PERISH. And the reason is that it is an affair that requires a great mind. Many are the exigencies which throw a man out of his natural temper; and he had need of a thousand eyes on all sides. Do you not see hwa a number of qualifications the bishop must have? To be apt to teach, patient, HOLDING FAST THE FAITHFUL WORD IN DOCTRINE [1 Timothy 3:2-9; Titus 1:7-9]. What trouble and pains does this require! And then, others do wrong, and he bears all the blame. To pass over everything else: If one soul depart unbaptized, does not this subvert all his own prospect of salvation? The loss of one soul carries with it a penalty which no language can represent…Do not tell me that the presbyter is at fault or the deacon. The guilt of all these comes perforce upon the head of those who orained them."

Saint John’s love for his flock as a true father is acknowledged when he tells them, "For where is our hope, if you do not make progress? …I seem to have wings when I hear anything good of you…This one thing is the burden of my prayers, that I long for your advancement. But that in which I strive with all is this, that I love you, that I am wrapped up in you, that you are my all, father, mother, brethren, children. Think not then that anything that has been said was said in a hostile spirit, nay, it is for your amendment." [Source: The Great Synaxaristes of the Orthodox Church]

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"Glory Be To GOD
For
All Things!"
– Saint John Chrysostomos
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With sincere agape in His Divine and Glorious Diakonia (Ministry)
The sinner and unworthy servant of God
+ Father George