Justin Appel
Dear Friends,
In our Episcopal daily calendar, today is the memorial of St. John Chrysostom. Today, we remember St. John as a preacher — the Greek root, Χρυσόστομος means ‘Golden-mouthed’, attesting to the eloquence of his public speaking, in which he promoted a style of biblical interpretation combining both the literal and the allegorical senses of the text. He was known for his invectives against wealth and high living, and for his emphasis on almsgiving and caring for the poor.
We also remember St. John for his role in the preservation of the liturgy that bears his name: the Divine Liturgy of Saint John Chrysostom. This liturgy, a complex and beautiful Byzantine synthesis of monastic and cathedral elements, became the normal Sunday liturgy in the Eastern Church, as it remains so to this day.
Here are three morsels to teach you more about St. John Chrysostom, depending on your interest and time:
For those in a hurry, simply read the quote below to familiarize yourself with St. John’s direct and pointed preaching style.
If you have a few minutes, and want to know more about St. John’s life, here's an 11-minute biographical discussion with Sister Vassa Larin, a Russian Orthodox nun living in Vienna - and who studied liturgy with Bob Taft (a venerable pedagogue of Eastern rites). She is also very funny.
If you love exploring, and have never experienced an Eastern liturgy, here’s a colorful 33-minute introduction to the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, produced by the Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia. This overview highlights the structure of the Divine Liturgy and explains the symbolic value of ritual elements -- along with several quotes from St. John. This is a great way to integrate his liturgical commentary with actual practice.
Yours in Christ,
Justin
We run eagerly to dances and amusements, we listen with pleasure to the foolishness of singers, we enjoy the foul words of actors for hours on end without getting bored, and yet when God speaks we yawn. We scratch ourselves and feel dizzy. Most people would run rabidly to the horse track, although there is no roof there to protect the audience from rain. Even when it rains or when the wind is lifting everything, they don’t mind the bad weather or the cold or the distance. Nothing keeps them in their homes. When they are about to go to church, however, then the soft rain becomes an obstacle to them, and if you ask them who Amos or Obadiah is, or how many prophets or apostles there are, they can’t even open their mouths. Yet, they can tell you every detail about the horses, the singers, and the actors. What kind of state is this?
St. John Chrysostom