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Saint John Chrysostom - Complete Collection of Creations


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At the turn of two eras

Saint John Chrysostom is an unsurpassed master of Christian eloquence and an inimitable teacher of morality. He was born only a few decades after the Edict of Milan (313), when the Christian Church emerged from forced seclusion and became privileged from being persecuted. She “receives under her sacred arches the seeking ancient world,” which brings its doubts, “great melancholy and great pride. The Church had to satisfy this melancholy and pacify this pride” [1].

This was a difficult and very important period for the entire subsequent development of Christianity. Faced with the ancient Hellenic culture, it “gradually assimilated new features that formed a portrait of that Christian-Greek-Eastern culture, which would later be called Byzantine” [2]. Pagans, Jews and barbarians began to turn to the faith of Christ in large numbers, bringing with them remnants of former beliefs and prejudices, and sometimes accepting it for practical reasons. So the great pagan empire in the 4th century gradually degenerated into a Christian state.

About wealth, slavery and the state

In his conversations and sermons, the saint repeatedly emphasizes the futility of material well-being and its unreliability. He speaks of wealth as a temptation when “the owner involuntarily learns to value it, falls into dangerous self-deception, and becomes attached to imaginary benefits. Not only wealth, unjustly and dishonestly acquired, is dangerous, but also any property... However, not in itself, but as an incentive for the will, as a reason to value the perishable and imaginary. Wealth is a dangerous burden..." [11].

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In particular, his dissatisfaction concerns the richness of church decoration, when, instead of caring for the souls of people, the Church is overly concerned about external amenities. Chrysostom recalls that “During the Last Supper, the Savior did not give his disciples to drink from a golden cup, but gave them the commandment of love for each other. Among other things, wealth comes from inequality, and therefore from injustice. According to St. John, everything belongs to God, so words like “mine,” “thine,” and the like should be banished from the Christian community. Problems of property are discussed comprehensively in his commentary on the Acts of the Apostles [12].

Touching upon the topic of slavery, which was relevant in ancient society, Chrysostom is inclined not to recognize it as a natural institution, being centuries ahead of his era in this. In his opinion, human nature is characterized by a free state: “In ancient times there was no slave; God, when creating man, created him not as a slave, but as a free one... therefore, the slave is a brother and has been awarded true freedom, having one (with us) spirit.” Slavery, according to the saint, acts only as a consequence of sin: “The ancestors committed a sin and introduced slavery with their sin, and the descendants with their sins only strengthened the introduced slavery” [13]. Therefore, since the world is full of sinful activities, the continuation of slavery remains an objective reality.


St. John Chrysostom (Chrysostom). 10th century enamel Byzantium.

Touching upon issues related to the existence of the state, Chrysostom said that earthly power was established by God as a result of sin. With universal sinfulness, power is necessary to maintain order. However, he did not approve of the authoritative methods of punishment practiced in the state, believing that they contradict the principles of Christian charity. Pastoral ministry, in his opinion, also “is power, but the power of words and conviction” - and this is the fundamental difference between spiritual and worldly power.

“The king compels, the priest persuades. One acts by command, the other by advice...” [14]. Recognizing the authority of secular power, the saint placed spiritual power much higher. In all cases of imperial intervention in church affairs, he fearlessly took the side of the Church, was not afraid to raise a word of denunciation against the authorities, and never resorted to its help to resolve purely church issues. In general, we can say that Chrysostom was alien to the principle of “symphony” that arose in Byzantium between the Church and the state; he was rather inclined to clearly delineate their spheres of influence.

On the Benefits of Listening to and Reading the Holy Scriptures

Through reading and listening to the Holy Scriptures we are imbued with the spirit of God's Grace. The more we read it, the more benefit it will bring us.

From long inactivity a person relaxes, but from exercise he gathers his strength and thoughts and receives the benefits. Reading the Holy Scriptures, we understand that we live unworthily, that we do not keep the commandments of the Lord. And this contrition is already bringing benefits. Realizing our imperfection, the wrongness of our lives, we will gradually learn to truly fulfill all the teachings of Christ with our lives. Listening and reading Scripture helps us calm our soul, our flesh, and get rid of many passions and superficial desires inspired by the world. For example, having learned that Jesus Christ walked in simple clothes, ate modestly, and always communicated with simple and poor people, we will understand that money and luxury do not give us any benefit or joy, and we will not be embarrassed if we ourselves are poor, we will protect ourselves from covetousness and envy. John the Baptist walked around in one shirt, lived in the desert and ate plants and honey. This will protect us from the sin of gluttony and guttural rage. The entire Bible is filled with examples of a modest, but also happy life. Therefore, you need to not only read it more often, but also bring it to life and imprint it in your heart. Through this we will achieve salvation and all the blessings of heaven.

About luxurious life

Jesus Christ called luxury thorns. For it torments both body and soul. Blinds the mind, chills the heart and torments the body. Nothing is as harmful to us as satiety. Excessive, immoderate drinking and eating reduces us to an animal level and cools the spirit. After all, the larynx is given to us not only for food, but also for more important things: reading prayers, singing psalms, thanking God. Excessive eating and drinking wine also brings us physical harm. Harm to our health. Therefore, it is necessary to observe moderation in everything.

A conversation about vanity in giving alms.

Vanity is one of the most terrible passions. It has many faces and is often invisible. We all see its gross manifestations. This is the desire to be known as rich, famous, handsome, smart, and the thirst for power, and so on. And there are more subtle manifestations of vanity. Trouble is when it stretches its fetters into good deeds: into fasting, into prayer, into almsgiving. When we do not want to please God, but to show ourselves to be good in front of people. But we must remember that glory before people is fleeting and illusory. Today there is, tomorrow there is no. Often people judge and insult those who seek recognition from them. Let us remember that whoever receives a reward on earth is unlikely to receive it in heaven, as it is written in the Bible.

The Lord himself gave us an example of true mercy. We must learn from Him and only wait for approval from Him. There is no benefit to us from human rewards, from their praise. They will forget about our affairs, some will not even know. God only sees everything and remembers everything, and will give us a worthy reward. Don't throw this treasure away for everyone to hear. Let works of mercy be hidden from the general public. To keep yourself from vanity, think that the people before whom you perform acts of mercy will consider you a people-pleaser, will ridicule you, and will envy your kindness. And this will be the best way to restrain yourself.

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