Biography
Feast Days: January 27 (February 9), January 30 (February 12) (Synaxis of the Three Hierarchs), September 14 (27), November 13 (26)
Childhood and Youth
He was born in Antioch into a noble family around the year 347.
His father, Secundus, was a prominent military commander. However, he did not have much influence on his son’s upbringing, as he died when John was still a young child.
John’s mother, Anthusa, was a woman of noble birth. Widowed at the age of twenty, left alone with two children and an estate requiring proper management, she faced considerable difficulties. In similar situations, many women of her time did not hesitate to remarry, but Anthusa firmly declined all marriage proposals. She found the strength both to raise her children and to overcome other challenges. Her high moral standards earned her admiration even among pagans.
Anthusa’s daughter, John’s sister, apparently died soon after. As for John, his mother provided him with what was likely the best possible upbringing given the circumstances.
Along with moral instruction, John received an excellent secular education. He studied philosophy under Andragathius and literature, rhetoric (and other disciplines) under the famous Libanius, one of the greatest experts in oratory and eloquence. During his studies, John repeatedly amazed his teacher with his talents. Later, Libanius spoke of him as his finest student.
It is likely that Anthusa instilled in her son, the future Chrysostom, the truths of Holy Scripture from an early age. This helped him avoid becoming overly engrossed in pagan literature or being seduced by the glamour of secular pagan life.
Early Years. The Path to the Church
After acquiring the necessary education, John Chrysostom began practicing law and achieved remarkable success in this field. Blessed with talent, education, and high social standing, he could have built a distinguished career. But God had a different path for him.
Although John’s parents were Christians, he was not baptized in early childhood. At that time, delaying a child’s Baptism was not considered unusual. Many parents believed it was better for their children to join the Church consciously.
After some time, deeply engrossed in the study of Holy Scripture and the writings of the Church Fathers, John abandoned his legal career and renounced his title as a rhetorician.
This decision was influenced by Bishop Meletius of Antioch, who saw in him a potential servant of God and recognized the great benefit he could bring to the Church. For three years, John was instructed in the truths of the Christian faith and then received Baptism from Meletius.
By this time, John had firmly resolved to dedicate his life to serving God. Many of his peers, desiring to draw closer to the Lord, aspired to monastic life, settling in remote places where they sought guidance from experienced ascetics, devoted themselves to studying God’s word, prayer, contemplation, and physical labor. Monastic life was incomparable to life in a large, noisy, and corrupt city.
John, like many of his companions, held monks in high esteem. Yet he did not retreat to the desert. At least two factors contributed to this: the persistent pleas of his mother, who saw her only son as her sole comfort, and the guidance of Bishop Meletius.
Further Spiritual Formation
Shortly after John's baptism, Bishop Meletius ordained him as a reader. At that time, the role of a reader often served as a preparatory step before ordination to the priesthood.
Meanwhile, in 370, Meletius was exiled from the city due to the policies of Emperor Valens, who favored the Arians and persecuted their staunch opponents.
During this period, Antioch was still home to other renowned teachers: Carterius and Diodorus, who later became Bishop of Tarsus. Among the students of this theologian, alongside John, Theodore of Mopsuestia stood out for his knowledge. However, while Theodore sought to emphasize and even sharpen the distinctive features of Diodorus’ theology, John, on the contrary, avoided extremes and softened contentious points.
Over time, John gained renown among the local populace, who wished to see him—like his friend Basil—elevated to a higher ecclesiastical rank. Yet, in humility, he considered himself unworthy of hierarchical advancement and resisted such aspirations. Meanwhile, his friend Basil was consecrated as a bishop.
Around 374–375, after the death of his beloved mother, John fulfilled his long-held desire: he withdrew to a monastic community. There, in fasting, vigils, and heartfelt prayer, he spent about four years.
Then, by God’s providence, he retreated further and lived as a hermit in a secluded cave. The harsh ascetic life and unceasing spiritual labors took a toll on his physical health—he developed a stomach ailment that would afflict him until the end of his earthly life.
With his health broken, he was compelled to abandon his solitary life and return to Antioch. The year was 380.