The Golden Mouth Orator

Today the Church celebrates St. John Chrysostom (349-407) Archbishop of Constantinople.  I have an Icon of Chrysostom by the front door of my house so he is there to greet everyone who enters,  Chrysostom  was a consummate preacher and most of his writings are in the form of Sermons on diverse subjects.

Among his various talents he was also a Liturgist whom the Russian and Orthodox Churches still celebrate.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=W6ebE9GBSdQ&feature=related

He was probably one of the most prolific writers of his time along side Augustine of Hippo.  In fact some Collections of Early Church Fathers place Augustine and Chrysostom in the same series. 

See: http://www.ccel.org/ccel/chrysostom?show=worksBy

Here are some quotes from his writings, he surprisingly seems almost modern.

Men have the power of thinking that they may avoid sin.

Nothing is more fallacious than wealth. It is a hostile comrade, a domestic enemy.

Riches are not forbidden, but the pride of them is.

The highest point of philosophy is to be both wise and simple; this is the angelic life.

We follow the ways of wolves, the habits of tigers: or, rather we are worse than they. To them nature has assigned that they should be thus fed, while God has honoured us with rational speech and a sense of equity. And yet we are become worse than the wild beast.

Happiness can only be achieved by looking inward and learning to enjoy whatever life has and this requires transforming greed into gratitude.

Helping a person in need is good in itself. But the degree of goodness is hugely affected by the attitude with which it is done. If you show resentment because you are helping the person out of a reluctant sense of duty, then the person may recieve your help but may feel awkward and embarrassed. This is because he will feel beholden to you. If,on the other hand, you help the person in a spirit of joy, then the help will be received joyfully. The person will feel neither demeaned nor humiliated by your help, but rather will feel glad to have caused you pleasure by receiving your help. And joy is the appropriate attitude with which to help others because acts of generosity are a source of blessing to the giver as well as the receiver.

Let the mouth also fast from disgraceful speeches and railings. For what does it profit if we abstain from fish and fowl and yet bite and devour our brothers and sisters? The evil speaker eats the flesh of his brother and bites the body of his neighbor.

There are of course some things which can be interpreted as anti-feminist, but considering his time, I wonder about such interpretations.

And of course some poetry:

Let no one bewail his poverty,
For the universal Kingdom has been revealed.
Let no one weep for his iniquities,
For pardon has shown forth from the grave.
Let no one fear death,
For the Saviour's death has set us free.
He that was held prisoner of it has annihilated it.

By descending into Hell, He made Hell captive.
He embittered it when it tasted of His flesh.
And Isaiah, foretelling this, did cry:
Hell, said he, was embittered
When it encountered Thee in the lower regions.

It was embittered, for it was abolished.
It was embittered, for it was mocked.
It was embittered, for it was slain.
It was embittered, for it was overthrown.
It was embittered, for it was fettered in chains.
It took a body, and met God face to face.
It took earth, and encountered Heaven.
It took that which was seen, and fell upon the unseen.

O Death, where is thy sting?
O Hell, where is thy victory?