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Saint John Chrysostom Quotes

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Saint John Chrysostom (c. 347 – September 14, 407) was an early Church Father and Archbishop of Constantinople, renowned for his eloquent preaching and oratory, earning the epithet 'Chrysostom' meaning 'golden-mouthed.' Born in Antioch, he received a classical education and later became a hermit. His sermons emphasized moral reform, social justice, and biblical exegesis, often criticizing luxury and corruption. His conflicts with the imperial court and clergy led to multiple exiles, and he died during a forced march. His extensive writings, including homilies, commentaries, and letters, profoundly influenced Eastern Christianity. He is venerated as a saint and Doctor of the Church in Eastern Orthodoxy, Catholicism, and other traditions.

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Famous Saint John Chrysostom Quotes

“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.”

Ifs Doe Body Evil Brother Speech Mouths Fishes Profit Neighbor Flesh Bites Speakers Brothers And Sisters Disgraceful Fowl

Author:Saint John Chrysostom

“Laughter does not seem to be a sin, but it leads to sin.”

Doe Seems Sin Laughter

Author:Saint John Chrysostom

“A man's readiness and commitment are not enough if he does not enjoy help from above as well; equally help from above is no benefit to us unless there is also commitment and readiness on our part.”

Ifs Men Wells Doe Enough Helping Enjoy Benefits Commitment Readiness

Author:Saint John Chrysostom

“God does not forsake you. It is because he wishes to increase your glory that oftentimes he permits you to fall sick. Keep up your courage so that you may also hear him say: Do you think I have dealt with you otherwise than that you may be shown to be just?”

Thinking May Doe Fall Wish Glory Sick Increase Permit Forsake

Book:Discourses Against Judaizing Christians (The Fathers of the Church, Volume 68)

Source: Discourses Against Judaizing Christians (The Fathers of the Church, Volume 68)

“This is what an excellent teacher does; he does not follow his disciples' fancy everywhere, but leads them to his own mind, and pulls up the thorns, and then puts the seed in, and does not answer at once in all cases to the questions put to him.”

Mind Doe Answers Cases Teacher Seeds Excellent Fancy Disciple Thorns Pull Ups

Book:A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church: St. Chrysostom: Homilies on the Acts of the apostles and the Epistle to the Romans

Source: A Select Library of the Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers of the Christian Church: St. Chrysostom: Homilies on the Acts of the apostles and the Epistle to the Romans

“If the Lord should give you power to raise the dead, He would give much less than He does when he bestows suffering. By miracles you would make yourself debtor to Him, while by suffering He may become debtor to you. And even if sufferings had no other reward than being able to bear something for that God who loves you, is not this a great reward and a sufficient remuneration? Whoever loves, understands what I say.”