SKU: 62764329926

St. John Chrysostom icon (2)

Sale price$18.00 Regular price$20.00
Save 10%

Pay in installments of $5.00 with ShopPay, AfterPay and Klarna

Shipping Estimate
USA
  • USA
  • CAN

Ships within 48 hours · Estimated delivery Jul 18 - Jul 23

Promo Codes Available:

For Your Every Summer RSVP, with Code: SUMMER15

Description

St. John Chrysostom icon (2)Orthodox icon of Saint John the Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople (2), Saint Sophia Church Constantinople. Commemorated November 13. Saint John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, one of the Three Hierarchs [January 30], was born at Antioch in about the year 347 into the family of a military commander. His father, Secundus, died soon after the birth of his son. His mother, Anthusa, widowed at twenty years of age, did not seek to remarry

Orthodox icon of Saint John the Chrysostom, Patriarch of Constantinople (2),  Saint Sophia Church Constantinople.

Commemorated November 13.

Saint John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, one of the Three Hierarchs [January 30], was born at Antioch in about the year 347 into the family of a military commander. His father, Secundus, died soon after the birth of his son. His mother, Anthusa, widowed at twenty years of age, did not seek to remarry but rather devoted all her efforts to the raising of her son in Christian piety. The youth studied under the finest philosophers and rhetoricians. But, scorning the vain disciplines of pagan knowledge, the future hierarch turned himself to the profound study of Holy Scripture and prayerful contemplation.

St Meletius, Bishop of Antioch (February 12), loved John like a son, guided him in the Faith, and in the year 367 baptized him. After three years John was tonsured as a Reader. When St Meletius had been sent into exile by the emperor Valens in the year 372, John and Theodore (afterwards Bishop of Mopsuestia) studied under the experienced instructors of ascetic life, the presbyters Flavian and Diodorus of Tarsus.

The highly refined Diodorus had particular influence upon the youth. When John's mother died, he embraced monasticism, which he called the true philosophy. Soon John and his friend Basil were being considered as candidates for the episcopal office, and they decided to withdraw into the wilderness to avoid this. While St John avoided the episcopal rank out of humility, he secretly assisted in Basil's consecration. During this period St John wrote his Six Discourses on the Priesthood,  a great work of Orthodox pastoral theology.

The saint spent four years struggling in the wilderness, living the ascetic life under the guidance of an experienced spiritual guide. And here he wrote three books entitled, Against the Opponents of Those Attracted to the Monastic Life, and a collection entitled, A Comparison of the Monk with the Emperor (also known as Comparison of Imperial Power, Wealth and Eminence, with the True and Christian Wisdom-Loving Monastic Life), both works which are marked by a profound reflection of the worthiness of the monastic vocation.

For two years, the saint lived in a cave in complete silence, but was obliged to return to Antioch to recover his health. St Meletius, the Bishop of Antioch, ordained him deacon in the year 381. The following years were devoted to work on new theological writings: Concerning Providence (To the Ascetic Stagirios, Book Concerning Virginity, To a Young Widow (2 discourses), and the Book of St Babylos, and Against Julian and the Pagans. In the year 386 St John was ordained presbyter by Bishop Flavian of Antioch. St John was a splendid preacher, and his inspired words earned him the name Golden-Mouthed (Chrysostom).

For twelve years the saint preached in church, usually twice a week, but sometimes daily, deeply stirring the hearts of his listeners. In his pastoral zeal to provide Christians with a better understanding of Holy Scripture, St John employed hermeneutics, an interpretation and analysis of the Word of God (i.e. exegesis). Among his exegetical works are commentaries on entire books of the Holy Scripture (Genesis, the Psalter, the Gospels of Matthew and John, the Epistles of the Apostle Paul), and also many homilies on individual texts of the Holy Bible, but also instructions on the Feastdays, laudations on the Saints, and also apologetic (i.e. defensive) homilies (against Anomoeans, Judaizers and pagans).

As a priest, St John zealously fulfilled the Lord's command to care for the needy. Under St John, the Antiochian Church provided sustenance each day to as many as 3,000 virgins and widows, not including in this number the shut-ins, wanderers and the sick.  St John began his commentary on Genesis at the beginning of Great Lent in 388, preaching thirty-two homilies during the forty day period. During Holy Week he spoke of how Christ was betrayed, and about the Cross. During Bright Week, his pastoral discourse was devoted to the Resurrection. His exegesis of the Book of Genesis was concluded only at the end of October (388).

At Pascha in the following year the saint began his homilies on the Gospel of John, and toward the end of the year 389 he took up the Gospel of Matthew. In the year 391 the Antioch Christians listened to his commentary on the Epistles of the holy Apostle Paul to the Romans and to the Corinthians. In 393 he explained the Epistles to the Galatians, the Ephesians, Timothy, Titus, and the Psalms. In his homily on the Epistle to the Ephesians, St John denounced a schism in Antioch, I tell you and I witness before you, that to tear asunder the Church means nothing less than to fall into heresy.

The Church is the house of the heavenly Father, one Body and one Spirit.The fame of the holy preacher grew, and in the year 397 with the death of Archbishop Nectarius of Constantinople, successor to St Gregory the Theologian, St John Chrysostom was summoned from Antioch, and elected to the See of Constantinople. At the capital, the holy archpastor was not able to preach as often as he had at Antioch. Many matters awaited the saint's attention, and he began with the most important -- the spiritual perfection of the priesthood.

He himself was the best example of this. The financial means apportioned for the archbishop were channeled by the saint into the upkeep of several hospices for the sick and two hostels for pilgrims. He fasted strictly and ate very little food, and usually refused invitations to dine because of his delicate stomach. The saint's zeal in spreading the Christian Faith extended not only to the inhabitants of Constantinople, but also to Thrace to include Slavs and Goths, and to Asia Minor and the Pontine region.

He established a bishop for the Bosphorus Church in the Crimea. St John sent off zealous missionaries to Phoenicia, to Persia, and to the Scythians, to convert pagans to Christ. He also wrote letters to Syria to bring back the Marcionites into the Church, and he accomplished this. Preserving the unity of the Church, the saint would not permit a powerful Gothic military commander, who wanted the emperor to reward his bravery in battle, to open an Arian church at Constantinople. The saint exerted much effort in enhancing the splendor of the church services: he compiled a Liturgy, he introduced antiphonal singing for the all-night Vigil, and he wrote several prayers for the rite of anointing the sick with oil.

The saintly hierarch denounced the dissolute morals of people in the capital, especially at the imperial court, irrespective of person. When the empress Eudoxia connived to confiscate the last properties of the widow and children of a disgraced dignitary, the saint rose to their defense. The arrogant empress would not relent, and nursed a grudge against the archpastor. Eudoxia's hatred of the saint blazed forth anew when malefactors told her that the saint apparently had her in mind during his sermon on vain women.

A court was convened composed of hierarchs who had been justly condemned by Chrysostom: Theophilus of Alexandria, Bishop Severian of Gabala, who had been banished from the capital because of improprieties, and others. This court of judgment declared St John deposed, and that he be executed for his insult to the empress. The emperor decided on exile instead of execution. An angry crowd gathered at the church, resolved to defend their pastor. In order to avoid a riot, St John submitted to the authorities.

That very night there was an earthquake at Constantinople. The terrified Eudoxia urgently requested the emperor to bring the saint back, and promptly sent a letter to the banished pastor, beseeching him to return. Once more, in the capital church, the saint praised the Lord in a short talk, For All His Ways. The slanderers fled to Alexandria. But after only two months a new denunciation provoked the wrath of Eudoxia. In March 404, an unjust council was convened, decreeing the exile of St John. Upon his removal from the capital, a fire reduced the church of Hagia Sophia and also the Senate building to ashes.

Devastating barbarian incursions soon followed, and Eudoxia died in October 404. Even pagans regarded these events as God's punishment for the unjust judgment against the saint. In Armenia, the saint strove all the more to encourage his spiritual children. In numerous letters (245 are preserved) to bishops in Asia, Africa, Europe and particularly to his friends in Constantinople, St John consoled the suffering, guiding and giving support to his followers. In the winter of 406 St John was confined to his bed with sickness, but his enemies were not to be appeased. From the capital came orders to transfer St John to desolate Pityus in Abkhazia on the Black Sea.

Worn out by sickness, the saint began his final journey under military escort, traveling for three months in the rain and frost. He never arrived at his place of exile, for his strength failed him at Comana. At the crypt of St Basiliscus (May 22), St John was comforted by a vision of the martyr, who said, Despair not, brother John! Tomorrow we shall be together. After receiving the Holy Mysteries, the hierarch fell asleep in the Lord on September 14, 407.

His last words were, Glory to God for all things! The holy relics of St John Chrysostom were solemnly transferred to Constantinople in the year 438. The disciple of St John, the venerable Isidore of Pelusium (February 4), wrote: The house of David is grown strong, and the house of Saul enfeebled. He is victor over the storms of life, and has entered into heavenly repose. Although he died on September 14, St John's celebration was transferred to this day because of the Feast of the Elevation of the Holy Cross. 

Reference: O.C.A.

Shipping Notes
  • Free Standard Shipping on $100+ Orders to the USA.
  • Except Preorder products are shipped in 48 hours.
  • Delivery to the USA:
  1. Standard Shipping : 3-10 business days
  • If time is of the essence, please consider selecting expedited delivery for faster service.
Exchange/Return Notes
  • We offer a 30-day return/exchange service after receiving.
  • Final sale items are not eligible for returns or exchanges.
  • To process your return/exchange, please contact us at [email protected]
  • Please click here for more details>>> Return & Exchange Policy
SKU: 62764329926

Discover Niche Categories That Outsell

Top-Converting Item to Boost Your Average Order

4.2 ★★★★★
Based on 26 reviews
Sort
Highest Rating
Newest First
Oldest First
Product Reviews
A
Verified Purchase
Alannah Henry
Lowell, US
★★★★★ 5
Squeaky Toy for Aggressive Chewers
Color: A Violet, Size: For Larege Dogs
Size is great for our big dog, he loves to chew & squeak it. engagement, our dog loves playing fetch, hours of enjoyment.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 21, 2026
E
Verified Purchase
Elizabeth
New York, US
★★★★★ 3
Maybe not for super aggressive chewers
Color: A Violet, Size: For Larege Dogs, Color: A Violet, Size: For Larege Dogs
I had high hopes for this toy, I was so excited about it. I have aggressive chewers, two Malinois/Dutch Shepard mixes and a Pit. The Shepard's chewed pieces off of it in literally 5 minutes. At the ends there is a small lip and that's where they started chewing pieces off. I had ordered a second one before I gave them this one (early Christmas present) because when I received it I noticed it felt very sturdy and durable. They do like it so since they already chewed this one I'm going to see if I can shave that lip off and maybe they won't get anymore pieces off. That'll decide if I return the one that arrives tomorrow. Maybe not good for super aggressive chewers. It's very thick and seems well made. Might just be better for other dogs.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on December 21, 2025
B
Verified Purchase
Bethalyn
Charlottesville, US
★★★★★ 5
Fantastic for rough chewing
Color: Bule 0, Size: For Larege Dogs
Our big boy is rough with his toys and always seems to disintegrate his toys in seconds. I had seen this with hoping this will be the toy he doesn’t destroy. On day 2 now with the toy and he’s obsessed, even feel asleep with the toy in his mouth and still in one piece. Highly recommended for tough chewers.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2026
N
Verified Purchase
Nani
Belleville, US
★★★★★ 3
Good but not for my dog
Color: A Red, Size: For Larege Dogs
Dog loves it but already falling apart. Can't seem to find a truly safe dog toy that won't come apart with my aggressive chewer. Had to toss it before pieces got ingested. But great toy in the begining. Just not safe for pit/staff type dog that destroy and chew.
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on May 25, 2026
M
Verified Purchase
Mayberry mommy
Battle Creek, US
★★★★★ 5
Put your aggressive Chewer dog to the test!
Color: A Red, Size: For Larege Dogs
A very tough toy to stand up to my aggressive chewer lab! It's a great value! The squeak is not annoying, and she's got to clamp down hard on it. It's a nice throw toy! It bounces once or twice but it still brings out the pup in our Dog! Not too small a nice size for a Lab or retriever
WAS THIS REVIEW HELPFUL?YesReportShare
Reviewed in the United States on June 7, 2026

recommand products