St. John Chrysostom: The Prophet of Charity

http://www.orthodoxytoday.org/articles4/FlorovskyChrysostom.php ^ | Unknown | Georges Florovsky

[stfassisi]

Chrysostom was always thinking about real men. There was some kind of individualism inherent in his approach to people, but he valued unanimity most highly--the spirit of solidarity, of common care and responsibility, the spirit of service. No person can grow in virtue, unless he serves his brethren. For that reason he always emphasized charity. Those who fail to do charity will be left outside the bridal chamber of Christ. It is not enough, he says, to lift our hands to heaven-stretch them to the needy, and then you will be heard by the Father. He points out that, according to the Parable of the Last Judgment, the only question which will be asked then, is that about charity. But again it was not just a moralism with him. His ethics had an obvious mystical depth. The true altar is the body of men itself. It is not enough to worship at the altars. There is another altar made of living souls, and this altar is Christ Himself, His Body. The sacrifice of righteousness and mercy should be offered on this altar too, if our offerings are to be acceptable in God's sight. The deeds of charity had to be inspired by the ultimate dedication and devotion to Christ, who came into the world to relieve all want, and sorrow, and pain.

[stfassisi]

Prayer of Saint John Chrysostom

O Lord, deprive me not of Thy heavenly blessings;
O Lord, deliver me from eternal torment;
O Lord, if I have sinned in my mind or thought, in word deed, forgive me.
O Lord, deliver me from every ignorance and heedlessness, from pettiness of the soul and stony hardness of heart;
O Lord, deliver me from every temptation;
O Lord, enlighten my heart darkened by evil desires;
O Lord, I, being a human being, have sinned; do Thou, being God, forgive me in Thy lovingkindness, for Thou knowest the weakness of my soul.
O Lord, send down Thy grace to help me, that I may glorify Thy holy Name;
O Lord Jesus Christ, inscribe me, Thy servant, in the Book of Life, and grant me a blessed end;
O Lord my God, even if I have done nothing good in Thy sight, yet grant me, according to Thy grace, that I may make a start in doing good.
O Lord, sprinkle on my heart the dew of Thy grace;
O Lord of heaven and earth, remember me, Thy sinful servant, cold of heart and impure, in Thy Kingdom.
O Lord, receive me in repentance;
O Lord, leave me not;
O Lord, save me from temptation;
O Lord, grant me pure thoughts;
O Lord, grant me tears of repentance, remembrance of death, and the sense of peace;
O Lord, grant me mindfulness to confess my sins;
O Lord, grant me humility, charity, and obedience;
O Lord, grant me tolerance, magnanimity, and gentleness;
O Lord, implant in me the root of all blessings: the fear of Thee in my heart;
O Lord, vouchsafe that I may love Thee with all my heart and soul, and that I may obey in all things Thy will;
O Lord, shield me from evil persons and devils and passions and all other lawless matters;
O Lord, Who knowest Thy creation and that which Thou hast willed for it; may Thy will also be fulfilled in me, a sinner, for Thou art blessed forevermore. Amen

[Uri’el-2012]

John Chrysostom was a rabid anti-semite.

Yah'shua was/is/will always be a Jew.

Yah'shua will rule and reign the world from Jerusalem on the throne of King David, another Jew.

During the millennium the whole world will celebrate the Feast of Sukkoth.
See Zechariah 14:18

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai

[OpusatFR]

Thank you!

“O Lord, deliver me from every ignorance and heedlessness, from pettiness of the soul and stony hardness of heart;”

Great reminder! (Especially on RF and election season)

Guilty as charged!

The great saints are so humble, aren’t they?

God gives us such great gifts in them.

[stfassisi]

“”John Chrysostom was a rabid anti-semite””

I think you should do research on this before you make such blatant claims,Dear Friend

This is a good article to start with
http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/phronema/antisemitism.aspx

I would think that my Dear Friends Kost50 and Kolokotronis can add more than I can on this?

[Salvation]

St. John Chrysostom: The Prophet of Charity

Benedict XVI’s Nearly Unnoticed Letter on St. John Chrysostom (Fr. Z)

On Chrysostom's Social Doctrine

On St. John Chrysostom's Antioch Years

Synaxis of The Three Hierarchs: Basil the Great, Gregory the Theologian, & John Chrysostom, Jan.30

The Translation of the Relics of St. John Chrysostom (Jan 27 or Feb 9 Julian calendar)

The Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom (c. 400 AD)

The Easter Sermon of St. John Chrysostom (c. 400 AD)

The Life of Saint John Chrysostom

PASCHAL Homily of St John Chrysostom

The Golden Mouthed Preacher-St.John Chrysostom [Bishop,Doctor of Catholic and Orthodox Churches]

[kosta50]

I think you should do research on this before you make such blatant claims,Dear Friend This is a good article to start with http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/phronema/antisemitism.aspx

The article is very good, much better than anything I could have written on the fly, in being able to put the whole issue into proper historical and cognitive context, but it also states that on this topic any discussion will do very little to change people's minds. I have to agree with that.

[Uri’el-2012]

XS>“”John Chrysostom was a rabid anti-semite””

I think you should do research on this before you make such blatant claims,Dear Friend

This is a good article to start with http://www.orthodoxinfo.com/phronema/antisemitism.aspx

Rather than read the "spin" about John,
I prefer to read John's own words.

Saint John Chrysostom (c.347-407) : Eight Homilies Against the Jews

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai

[Kolokotronis]

Apolytikion in the Plagal of the Fourth Tone

The grace of your words illuminated the universe like a shining beacon. It amassed treasures of munificence in the world. It demonstrated the greatness of humility, teaching us by your own words; therefore, O Father John Chrysostom, intercede to Christ the Logos for the salvation of our souls.

Kontakion in the Plagal of the Second Tone

You received divine grace from Heaven, and by your own lips taught all to worship the One God in Trinity. All-blessed, venerable John Chrysostom, deservedly, we praise you for you are a teacher clearly revealing things divine.

In the Orthodox Church we commemorate +John Chrysostomos on November 13 on the New Calendar.

[FormerLib]

Your allegations against Saint John Chrysostom are completely false.

[FormerLib]

All completely refuted in the article forwarded to you in post #5.

[kosta50]

Your source alleges that there is no good reason to explain +John Chrystostom's homilies. Out of context, as stfassisi's link (Post #5) indicated, it is indeed difficult to understand what motivated him.

What is lacking is the historical context. Your source also fails to make clear that the homilies were directed against Judaiziers (Christians who followed the Law), and not the Jews.

As the brief introduction below indicates, there was a sudden resurgences in the Sabbaterianism in Antioch to which +John Chrysotsom's anger was directed.

[T]he expectation of a restoration of Jerusalem also generated a wave of eschatological fervor among judaizing Christians toward the end of the fourth century.

The importance of the city and the temple for judaizing Christians during this period can be seen in the interpretation of prophetic texts that speak of the return of the Jews to Jerusalem.

Commenting on Isaiah 35:10, “the ransomed of the Lord shall return and come to Zion with singing,” Jerome says that the “Jews and our Judaizers” interpret this text to refer not to the “advent of the Savior” but to the second coming, when the Jews will enter Zion with gladness.

Similarly, commenting on Zachariah 14:10–12, “Jerusalem shall be inhabited for there shall be no more curse,” he observes that the Jews and judaizing Christians say that this refers to the building of the city and a time when “circumcision will be practiced, sacrifices offered, all the precepts of the Law observed, so that Jews will no longer become Christians but Christians will become Jews” (Comm. in Zach. 14:10).

[Uri’el-2012]

Your source alleges that there is no good reason to explain +John Chrystostom's homilies. Out of context, as stfassisi's link (Post #5) indicated, it is indeed difficult to understand what motivated him.

What is lacking is the historical context. Your source also fails to make clear that the homilies were directed against Judaiziers (Christians who followed the Law), and not the Jews.

As the brief introduction below indicates, there was a sudden resurgences(sic) in the Sabbaterianism(sic) in Antioch to which +John Chrysotsom's anger was directed.

Reason or motivation aside, John is vehemently and rabidly anti-semitic.

Looking for reason or motivation is only done to excuse his words.

John does not in any way exhibit or demonstrate the chesed (lovingkindness)
of Yah'shua(Jesus) toward YHvH's chosen People.

As you noted there was a resurgence of following a worship as commanded by YHvH.

John was angry because the believers in Antioch wanted to worship YHvH as He has commanded them.

John wanted them to reject YHvH and instead embrace the Paganism of Constantine's Roman church.

I recommend that you avoid the "spin" and read the words of John Chrystostom
and judge John on his own words without the spin.

Saint John Chrysostom (c.347-407) : Eight Homilies Against the Jews

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai

[kosta50]

John wanted them to reject YHvH and instead embrace the Paganism of Constantine's Roman church

The Church believed in Christ Jesus. That's really "pagan!" The Church opposed those who enticed Christians to embrace Judaism. That's not racist. The issue was religion, not ethnicity. His homilies are against Judaiziers, not Jews.

[Uri’el-2012]

XS>John wanted them to reject YHvH and instead embrace the Paganism of Constantine's Roman church

The Church believed in Christ Jesus. That's really "pagan!" The Church opposed those who enticed Christians to embrace Judaism. That's not racist. The issue was religion, not ethnicity. His homilies are against Judaiziers(sic), not Jews.

14 posted on September 15, 2008 5:46:40 AM MDT by kosta50

John Chrystostom condemned the worship of YHvH, the creator of the universe.

John argued for worship of the Man-made religion of Pagan Rome: Sunday, Easter.

What you call "church" is a man-made enterprise.

It was given a charter to operate as a state-sponsored enterprise
by the Pontiff, Constantine, the Pagan Emperor.

The Roman "church" rejected the YHvH commanded Feast of Passover( Nissan 14 )
and instead embraced the Pagan Easter(Pascha) on a very different date on a very
different calendar than than which was defined by the creator of the universe.

A careful reading of John Chrystostom's homilies against the Jews,
one would see it is racist as he calls YHvH's Chosen People unkind names.
These name are not based on the Charity of Yah'shua.

Clearly John Chrystostom is neither a Prophet nor is he Charitable.

YHvH commanded worship on Shabbat and not on the Pagan "Sunday" of the Roman "church".

YHvH commanded worship on Passover and not on the Pagan Easter(Pascha) of the Roman "church".

shalom b'SHEM Yah'shua HaMashiach Adonai

[Petronski]

Saint Constantine the Great abandoned paganism for Christianity circa AD 313.

Sunday is the day Christ Rose from the Dead, and is thus a fitting day to worship Him. This is not pagan.

Easter is the annual celebration of the Resurrection of Christ. Again, decidedly NOT pagan. Quite the opposite of pagan, actually.

[Petronski]

What you call "church" is a man-made enterprise.

The Catholic Church was ordained by God the Father, the first Person of the Holy Trinity, founded by Jesus Christ, the second Person of the Holy Trinity, and is guided to this day by the Holy Spirit, the third Person of the Holy Trinity.

[Uri’el-2012]

[kosta50]

John Chrystostom condemned the worship of YHvH, the creator of the universe

Last time I checked, St John Chrystostom believed in the the Creator of the Universe, the Word of God, Pentrocrator, aka Christ. I assume you know what Pentocrator means.

[kosta50]

John argued for worship of the Man-made religion of Pagan Rome: Sunday, Easter.

Every religion is man-made because human beings try to make sense of the incomprehensible God. The problem every religion runs into is when it begins to claim that it was God who "chose" one over another, and literally "dictated" books, or personally wrote them.

Sunday is when Jesus resurrected. Your Sabbaterians have their own fuzzy math. I really don't care. Christianity is the New Covenant. We are not bound by Judaism.

Christmas is not the day when Jesus was born, and the New Year is not On Sep 14, as the OT claims, and no one seems perturbed about either one not being celebrated "as YHvH commanded."