On the Priesthood

On the PriesthoodSt. John Chrysostom (347 407 A. D.), was the Archbishop of Constantinople at the height of its power in the Byzantine Roman empire. He is famous for his sermons, the records of which stretch over tens of thousands of pages. His epithet ___________ (Chrysostom) means "golden mouthed" in Greek and is indicative of his great eloquence. In this work, which is made up of six books, he examines the priesthood in the context of having tricked his friend

St. John Chrysostom (347 Ð 407 A.D.), was the Archbishop of Constantinople at the height of its power in the Byzantine-Roman empire. He is famous for his sermons, the records of which stretch over tens of thousands of pages. His epithet ___________ (Chrysostom) means "golden-mouthed" in Greek and is indicative of his great eloquence.

In this work, which is made up of six books, he examines the priesthood in the context of having tricked his friend Basil into joining the priesthood, while St. John, for a time, kept away from it. St. John defends his actions in the first two books and then discourses about the priesthood in general, in the last four books. This work is rendered into modern English from the work, "Saint Chrysostom: On the priesthood; Ascetic treatises; Select homilies and letters; Homilies on the statues, New York: Charles Scribner's Sons, 1889. Edited by Philip Schaff; Translated by W R W Stephens (1839-1902)." The original footnotes and Bible references have been preserved along with the introduction to the work by Philip Schaff. Also, artwork from 10th - 19th century of the personages referred to in the text has been added to aid the reader.