About Saint John Chrysostomos
The Holy Monastery is dedicated to the most-revered, eloquent fourth-century Orthodox Christian hierarch, St. John Chrysostomos, who is considered by all of Christendom to be perhaps the greatest preacher who ever lived. He was the Archbishop of Constantinople, one of the world's five ancient Christian patriarchates. A prolific writer and prodigious pastor, St. John Chrysostomos (which means "golden-mouthed" in Greek) left behind an enormous heritage of commentaries that span the Old and New Testaments, including homilies and gospels on the Pauline epistles and other sermons that are rich in scripture and dogma, but at the same time gracefully simple so that all can apply his teachings to their lives.
Born in Antioch, Syria, in 354 of noble Greek ancestry, St. John was a brilliant scholar and orator, but in his private life he lived as an austere ascetic (including his years as Patriarch, during which he existed mostly on a diet of greens, barley bread and water, and slept standing). As a monk and cleric, he was mighty in prayer and filled with a profound, selfless love and devotion for Christ and his fellow man. Even early in his life as a young monk the grace of God and His divine gifts of miracle-working were clearly evident as the Lord had given him the power to heal illnesses among the many people who sought his blessing and counsel.
Though his reign as Patriarch of Constantinople lasted less than a decade, of which three years were spent in exile, St. Chrysostomos made an immense and lasting impact on the Church spiritually, liturgically, ecclesiastically, and in terms of social welfare and charity. He was greatly loved, respected, and admired by the people of his time as a champion, provider and defender of the persecuted, the poor, orphans and widows, and for his unbending adherence to high principles and unwavering courage to speak out against and reform abuses in church and society. Because of his unrivaled faith and devotion to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ and His Church, he met with fierce persecution from the evil one, who managed to procure the hearts and minds of the royalty, and several bishops, priests and deacons, all of whom joined forces to defame, dethrone and eventually exile St. John. After enduring overwhelming tribulations from his enemies, and unspeakable hardship and suffering, the holy Archpastor gave up his soul into the embrace of his beloved Jesus Christ, having experienced a martyric but truly honorable death, on September 14, 407 - the Feast Day of the Elevation of the Precious & Life-Giving Cross - in exile in Comana, Armenia, with his last words being, "Glory to God for all things!"
“Prayer is the place of refuge for every worry, a foundation for cheerfulness, a source of constant happiness, a protection against sadness.”