How Saint John Chrysostom received the gift of understanding the divine Scriptures

In the monastery where Saint John Chrysostom was a monastic, there was an Elder, a native of Syros who was particularly virtuous. Saint John Chrysostom  very much appreciated him, had him as his role model in virtue and tried to imitate him.

Once, while the Elder was praying, he saw a vision at midnight which is difficult to say, but it is also terrifying for those who will listen. However, this narrative offers a sense of relief, both to the one who says it and to the one who hears it.

So Syros the Elder saw a white man, coming down from the sky and terrified in his face and holding a wrapped paper in his hand. This white man stood in front of John, who was praying at that time.

The Saint, as soon as he saw him, fell face down out of  fear, but he raised him up and said:

" Don't be afraid but have the courage!"

The saint then asked him to tell him who he was, and he replied:

"God has sent me to you and accept what I give you. I am Theologian and Evangelist John and take this paper. From today you will open your mind to understand and know the whole of the Bible.

The Saint replied:

"I am not worthy of such grace."

The Evangelist John, after blessing him,  with the sign of the cross, kissed him, gave him courage and ascended.

After that, this virtuous and insightful Elder, was for many days surprised and enraptured with the vision he saw. When other monks realized this, they asked him what he knew and the reason for the oppression.

This Blessed Elder told them to keep silent about this, so that they will not find out and in order to avoid people's honor, he left the monastery.

The monks were also amazed by this terrible narrative and were expecting to see how John's life would turn out, believing that great and paradoxical things would happen in his life.

And, as is well known, many great and paradoxical events occurred in the life of St. John Chrysostom, and as many other Fathers of the Church can assure us, he is the most important interpreter of the Scriptures!