CHRIST IS THE ONLY HOPE OF SALVATION

Why is Christ called the way in Scripture?

So that you may learn that through Him we ascend to the Father.

Why is He called the cornerstone?

So that you may learn that He supports us all.

Why is He called the lamb?

So that you may learn that He was sacrificed for our sake.

Why is He called life?

Because while we were dead in sin, He raised us up.

Why is He called light?

Because He brought us out of the darkness of deception.

Why is He called garment?Because we are clothed with Him in Baptism.

Why is He called table?

Because we partake of Him with the holy mysteries.

Why is He called house?

Because we live within Him.

Why is He called inhabitant?

Because we are His temples.

St. John Chrysostom

Communing on Feast Days

 

I know that many of us, because of the custom of doing so during the Feast, will approach the divine Table. You must, however, as I have said so many times not receive Communion just because of a certain Feast; but you must purify your conscience and then partake of the divine Table. For the sinner and unclean person is not worthy even durng a Feast to partake of that holy and dread flesh. But the one who has washed away his sins through true repentance is clean, both during the Feast and at all times, and he is always worthy to partake of the divine Mysteries and enjoy the gifts and graces of God. I do not know why, but many overlook this. Such people, even if they are full of many sins, when they see that a Feast has arrived, rush because of the particular day and receive the sacred Mysteries, which they are not worthy even to look upon. - St. John Chrysostom

Nothing makes God more compassionate towards us than confession of our sins. - St. John Chrysostom

 

St. John Chrysostom

Every where, beloved, we have need of faith, faith the mother of blessings, the medicine of salvation; and without this it is impossible to possess any one of the great doctrines. Without this, men are like to those who attempt to cross the open sea without a ship, who for a little way hold out by swimming, using both hands and feet, but when they have advanced farther, are quickly swamped by the waves; in like manner they who use their own reasonings, before they have learnt any thing, suffer shipwreck; as also Paul says, Who concerning faith have made shipwreck. - St. John Chrysostom

St. John Chrysostom Relics

Saint John Chrysostom died in exile in 407. 31 years after his death, his honest relics were transferred to Constantinople. On the day of St. John's death, his disciple, St. Proclus of Constantinople, uttered a laudatory word to his mentor. Touched by this speech, the people begged the Patriarch to intercede with Emperor Theodosius II (408-450) for the transfer of the relics. The emperor allowed it, but the messengers could not lift the coffin. Then the emperor sent a message to St. John, in which he asked for forgiveness for the sins of his mother, Empress Eudoxia, who brought much sorrow to the saint. When the letter was read, the envoys easily lifted the coffin and delivered it to the capital by ship. The relics were placed in the church of the martyr Irina, then they were transferred to the church of the Holy Apostles. When the coffin was opened, the incorruptible relics of the saint were found.

In the photo: the right hand of St. John Chrysostom (Philotheos Monastery) and his imperishable ear (Vatoped) 

St. John Chyrsostom

The Church is not organized for those who gather in it to be divided, but for those who are divided to be united. - St. John Chrysostom.

This phrase is a fatal blow to the devil!

"This phrase is a fatal blow to the devil!
"Thank God for all things!"
It is too great for the one who tells it in every danger, a prerequisite for safety and pleasure.
For as soon as one recites it, the cloud of sorrow immediately dissipates.
Don't stop saying it and practicing others in it.
So the storm that found us, and if it becomes even bigger, it will turn into peace.
So those who are tested will get a higher reward alongside their release from suffering.
This phrase made Job victorious, this phrase fled the devil, and after filling him with shame made him depart, this is an elimination of all agitation."

(From the 193 Letter of St. John Chrysostom).
It is noted that with this phrase St. John Chrysostom left his last breath! (i.e. Glory be to God for everything!)

It means we did not put our souls into His hands.

If during the Divine Liturgy we indulge in everyday concerns and our attention at this hour is entertained by them, leaving the praise of God, then it means that we did not put our souls into His hands.
If we leave the morning prayers, instead indulging in sleep and resting on couches, and spend the time of evening praise in drunkenness and drinking, as if nailed to their place, then again, it means that our souls are not in the hands of God.
If during the Divine service, and especially on the holy days of the Lord, we leave the church and prowl around the city, arranging our affairs and meetings and walking around the squares and streets, then our souls are not in the hands of God.
If, being present at the Divine Liturgy, we abandon prayer and praise and talk with each other about worldly affairs and concerns, it means that we have not delivered our souls into the hands of God.
Saint John Chrysostom

Commemorating St. John Chrysostom (Nov. 13/26)

Thou wast a divinely inspired instrument through which the Holy Spirit hath sounded forth unto us; for with a magnificent voice the sound of thy doctrines hath passed throughout the ends of the earth. And as an emulator of the apostles, O venerable one, thou didst attain unto their choir as thou desired. Pray thou to the
Lord, O all-blessed one, that He grant peace to the world and that our souls be saved.
We magnify thee, O holy hierarch, father John Chrysostom, and we honor thy holy memory; for thou dost entreat Christ our God on our behalf.
Prayer to St. John Chrysostom
O great Hierarch John Chrysostom!
Thou hast received many and various gifts from the Lord, and, as a good and faithful servant, hast shown good increase of all the talants given to thee: for this cause thou wast truly a teacher of the universe, for every age and calling learneth from thee. Thou art a model of obedience for children, a luminary of chastity for the young, an teacher of industry to grown men, an instructor of forgiveness to the aged, a rule of abstinence for monastics, a leader inspired by God for those at prayer, an enlightener of the mind for those who seek wisdom, an inexhaustible source of the living Word for well-spoken orators, a star of mercy for the charitable, a model of wise rule for those in authority, an inspiration to boldness for those zealous in the truth, a teacher of patience for those persecuted for truth's sake: thou art become all to all, so that in any way thou mightest save some. But above all these, thou hast sought after love, which is the bond of perfection, and by that as by Divine power thou hast united all these gifts into one in thyself; and the same love, which reconciles the divided, thou hast preached unto all the faithful in expounding the words of the Apostles.
As for us sinners, each having our own gifts, we lack the unity of the Spirit in the bond of peace; we are vain, provoking one another, envying one another: therefore our divided gifts come not unto peace and salvation, but rather unto enmity and to our judgment. For this cause we fall down before thee, O hierarch of God, in the grip of dissensions, and in contrition of heart we ask: By thy prayers, drive away from our hearts all pride and envy that divide us, so that in many members there may be one churchly Body, and so that according to the word of thy Prayer we may love one another and in one accord confess the Father, Son and Holy Spirit, the Trinity One in Essence and Undivided: now and ever, and unto ages of ages.
Amen.

Let us not regard praise as an unimportant matter....

Let us not regard praise as an unimportant matter, but let our life exalt it before the mouth, and our behavior before the tongue. Then we can silently praise God, sing praises to Him with our very lives. - St. John Chrysostom

St. John Chyrsostom

"If you do not have love for a person, then act as if you love him, and the Lord will give you love for your labors." - St. John Chrysostom

St. John Chrysostom

When you begin to correct a bad habit, then at least once, at least two, three times, at least twenty times you have transgressed the law, do not despair; get up and take up the same work again and you will certainly remain the winner.

St. John Chrysostom, Instructions to the partaker of the Holy Mysteries

St. John Chrysostom complained bitterly in his conversations that many communicants left the church before the end of the liturgy: they barely received the Holy Eucharist when they hurried home, without having heard the hymns and prayers of thanksgiving for the communion of the Holy Mysteries in church. "Would you like me to tell you," says the Archbishop of Constantinople, "whose work do those who leave before the end, without having performed the hymns of thanksgiving at the end of the meal resemble? It may seem cruel of me to say this, but it must be said because of the carelessness of many. Judas, having partaken of the last supper that last night, went out hastily, while all the others were still reclining. These are the imitators of those who go out before the last thanksgiving."

St. John Chrysostom

 

“If you had lived in that golden time, when Jesus Christ visibly dwelt among men, would you not have prepared a bed for Him in your home, would you not have given alms, would you not have paid attention to serving, would you not have seated Him at your table? You ofer greater service if you do this for a poor man, because the

radiance of His pleasing face and the features of His goodness

involuntarily draw the hearts of all who follow after Him to Him. However, if you show Him mercy in the person of a man who is poor, ragged, bare, and flthy, then your faith is more than living, your love is more than noble, and your piety is more than disinterested, because therein self-love has no place.” - St. John Chrysostom