Christian History Timeline: John Chrysostom
THE DATES of John Chrysostom’s birth and life until 381 are highly disputed. Many of his writings can be traced only to a general period in his life; the dates given here are generally accepted. Not all of his writings could be listed here.
EARLY YEARS 349–371
349 Born in Antioch of Syria to Christian parents Secundus and Anthusa
363–367 Studies rhetoric and literature under pagan teacher Libanius
368 (Easter) Baptized at Antioch
368–371 Studies in a kind of monastic school; may have assisted bishop Meletius of Antioch
c. 368–371 Writes Comparison between a King and a Monk and several other works in favor of monastic life
c. 371 Ordained lector and serves the church of Antioch
LECTOR & DEACON 372–385
372–378 Lives in a semi-isolated state and then as a hermit until bad health forces him to give up this way of life
378–381 Lector (reads Scripture in worship) at Antioch
380 or 381 Ordained deacon (assists with sacraments); writes treatise of consolation to a young widow
381–385 Writes On the Priesthood
380 or 382 Two treatises condemning the cohabitation of clerics and virgins
PRIEST OF ANTIOCH 386–397
385 or 386 Ordained priest by Bishop Flavian of Antioch
386–387 Preaches homilies (sermons) I–X On the Incomprehensible Nature of God and Against the Jews (i.e., Christians who follow Jewish religious practices)
387 Antioch riots; John preaches sermons On the Statues
388 or 389 Eight instructions for baptismal candidates
390–397 Homilies on Genesis, Matthew, John, and 6 NT letters
397 Homilies on selected Psalms and on Isaiah
ARCHBISHOP OF CONSTANTINOPLE 398–403
398 Consecrated bishop of Constantinople. Takes steps to reform imperial court, clergy, and people; homilies XI–XII On the Incomprehensible Nature of God
398–402 Homilies on Philippians and Colossians
399 Gives Eutropius sanctuary and preaches two homilies on the vanity of human power
400 Homilies on the Book of Acts
402 Group of Egyptian monks (the “Tall Brothers") appeal to John for help
403 John tried at the Synod of the Oak; convicted, deposed, and exiled; immediately recalled
403–404 Homilies on Hebrews
EXILE 404–407
404 Deposed and exiled to Cucusus (in eastern Turkey)
404–407 Writes more than 200 letters to friends
407 Sent to Pityus on the Black Sea and dies en route, at Comana in Pontus (in northeast Turkey)
State Falls, Church Rises
360–363 Emperor Julian ("the Apostate") attempts to restore pagan religion
379–395 Emperor Theodosius I ("the Great") gradually makes Christianity the official religion of the Roman Empire
381 Council of Constantinople declares the Holy Spirit divine; Constantinople becomes second seat of Christendom (after Rome)
390 Theodosius orders massacre in Thessalonica; confronted by Ambrose of Milan, he publicly repents
394 Bishop Ninian sets out from Rome to convert Scotland
407 Roman legions in Britain withdraw to protect Italy
410 Visigoths under Alric sack Rome; empire is psychologically shaken
413 Augustine begins writing City of God, the classic philosophy of history, in response to Rome’s sack
By Gerard H. Ettlinger
[Christian History originally published this article in Christian History Issue #44 in 1994]
Gerard H. Ettlinger is professor of theology at St. John’s University in Jamaica, New York. He is editor of a critical edition of the Greek text of Saint Jean Chrysostome: A’ une Jeune Veuve Sur le Mariage Unique (Sources Chrtiennes, 1968), and of Theodoret of Cyrus: Eranistes (Clarendon, 1975).Next articles
The Genius of Chrysostom’s Preaching
People loved to hear Chrysostom preach, and since his death, to read his sermons.
Carl A. VolzLetters from a Lonely Exile
Exiled to Cucusus, John wrote letters to his congregation.
Christopher A. Hall