The Cult of the Saints

Popular Patristics Series #31

by John Chrysostom

The cult of the saints is a phenomenon that expanded rapidly in the fourth century, and John Chrysostom's homilies are important witnesses to its growth. Until now, the majority of john's homilies on the saints and martyrs have been ignored. However, in this volume, Wendy Mayer investigates the liturgical, topographical, and pastoral aspects that marked the martyr cult at Antioch and Constantinople in John's time. The cult's original point of focus was the Christian martyrs--those followers of the Jesus-movement who died in confession of their faith, either at the hands of other Jews or at the hands of the Roman administration. Mayer pinpoints several conceptual shifts that identified and shaped this cult: the imitation of Christ's own death; the creedal declaration "I am a Christian," the sense of privilege bestowed upon martyrs; the ritual purity of relics; public veneration of the departed; and places made holy by martyrs' blood. This rich collection includes homilies on martyrs Meletius, Eustathius, Lucian, Phocas, Juventinus and Maximinus, Ignatius, Eleazar (and the seven boys), Bernike, Prosdoke and Domnina, Barlaam, Drosis, and Romanus. It also includes encomia on Egyptian martyrs and on all the martyrs. To round out the volume, a letter written by John from exile concerning the use of martyr rclics in a mission context and a letter in Latin in which Vigilius, Bishop of Tridentum, offers fresh Italian relics to John have been included. The cult of the saints is still very much alive in Roman Catholic and Eastern Christian piety. There are still parts of the world where the cult is observed in ways that differ little from those which were established at its very beginning. In thisrespect, the homilies that John Chrysostom preached on the feast days of his local saints and martyrs remain fresh and alive for us today.

Genres: Christianity, Religion, Theology, Christian, Catholic, History, Nonfiction

280 pages, Paperback

First published January 16, 2006

About the author

John Chrysostom (c. 347–407, Greek: Ἰωάννης ὁ Χρυσόστομος), Archbishop of Constantinople, was an important Early Church Father. He is known for his eloquence in preaching and public speaking, his denunciation of abuse of authority by both ecclesiastical and political leaders, the Divine Liturgy of St. John Chrysostom, and his ascetic sensibilities. After his death in 407 (or, according to some sources, during his life) he was given the Greek epithet chrysostomos, meaning "golden mouthed", in English and Anglicized to Chrysostom.

The Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Churches honor him as a saint and count him among the Three Holy Hierarchs, together with Basil the Great and Gregory Nazianzus. He is recognized by the Eastern Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church as a saint and as a Doctor of the Church. Churches of the Western tradition, including the Roman Catholic Church, some Anglican provinces, and parts of the Lutheran Church, commemorate him on 13 September. Some Lutheran and many Anglican provinces commemorate him on the traditional Eastern feast day of 27 January. The Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria also recognizes John Chrysostom as a saint (with feast days on 16 Thout and 17 Hathor).

John is known in Christianity chiefly as a preacher, theologian and liturgist. Among his homilies, eight directed against Judaizing Christians remain controversial for their impact on the development of Christian antisemitism.

Reviews

[Logan Prettyman]

Encouraging reminder that the saints live in the memory of the church so that past sacrifice have present power

[Nathan Duffy]

Great content from St. John, weird translator and introduction.

[Noah Calcagno]

Would recommend to anyone. The best orator of the Early Church giving us a peak into the manner and fervour with which they venerated the early saints and martyrs. Fruitful and encouraging read!

[Jarrett Vandiver]

Amazing set of sermons from the “Golden-mouth” preacher, St John Chrysostom (d. 407). These sermons are a collection of praise for the martyrs as examples for the Christian faith as well as directions to receive the intercession of saints through relics and prayer.

Here was one of my favorite sections (from his sermon on a martyr named Lucian.

“With these thoughts in mind he mocked the Devil's wickedness, despised his evildoing, and gave in to not one thing that he saw. So, when that foul [ demon ] saw nothing further happening to him, he escorted him back into court and tortured him and applied incessant questions. But to each question he replied only: " I am a Christian. " And when the executioner said: " What country are you from?, " said: " I am a Christian. " " What's your occupation? " " I am a Christian. " " Who are your parents? " To everything he said: " I am a Christian. " With this single unadorned statement he struck the Devil's head and constantly and unremittingly inflicted wounds on him. Even though he had taken part in the education [ offered ] in the outside world, he knew clearly that there was no need for rhetorical skill in such contests as these, but faith. Not for cleverness of argument, but a God-loving soul. " One statement is sufficient, " he said, " to rout the Devil's entire phalanx. "

[James MacInnes]

St John Chrysostom is lowkey the GOAT of the Greek Church Fathers. His rhetoric flows like a river; easy for a beginner to understand, yet also so rich with spiritual insights, even a lifelong Christian will come away from his sermons greatly rewarded.

This collection of homilies is a series of speeches given for the commemoration of martyrs (St. Phocas, Sts. Juventinus and Maximus, St. Prosdoke, St. Barlaam, St. Ignatius of Antioch, the Old Testament Maccabean martyrs etc).

As John shows us, the martyrs aren't just a bunch of random dead people, but our fellow co-labourers in Christ who have died and been united with God. Their suffering and death is God's glory and a brotherly example for us to endure the slings and arrows of life with joy; both the extraordinary struggles and the ordinary drudgeries can strengthen our souls the way a whetstone sharpens a sword.

[Tynan Brooks]

The sermons themselves are very interesting, showing both the antiquity of saintly veneration and the ways in which this fit within the Nicene Church. As a collection, though, it starts to repeat itself a bit too much.

[Mimi]

A series of homilies on saints and martyrdom.

[w gall]

St. John inspires and exhorts through the accounts of the martyrs.

[Eric]

Lots of sermons of martyrs and it is apparent that Chrysostom is defending the early practice of commemorating the saints - even protomartyrs such as the Maccabeans. I did not finish the book because I lost interest and got what I wanted. Three stars only because it's not what I really wanted to read at the time. It is a fine collection.