November 12- Vespers of St John Chrysostom

Saint John Chrysostom was the 37th occupant of the throne of Constantople from 398-404. He was eloquent in his words and prophetic in his speech. The speech got him in trouble with the Empress Eudoxia a couple of times. He was exiled and brought back due to popular uprising. He was exiled a second time and on the way to his place of exile. His last words were "Glory to God for all things!"

Saint Gregory of Nazianzus the Theologian was the 35th occupant of the throne from 379-381. In the midst of the Arian controversy he was relegated to a smaller Church since most of the Church's in the City were occupied by Arians. He defended the Orthodox position with his orations- for which the Church gave him the appellation "Theologian." His trials and travails for the Orthodox cause against Arianism exhausted him and he willingly retired from the throne at th Council of 381 and returned back to Nazianzus.

The relics of these two great Saints were taken to the west by the Crusaders in the 1200's. In 2004, Pope John Paul II returned portions of the relics to His All-Holiness in ceremonies at the Vatican. At the Patriachal Church they were symbolically enthroned on the Patriarchal Throne. They are kept at the side of the Patriarchal Cathedral.

Saint John Chrysostom is commemorated on November 13. As the ecclesitical day begins at Sundown with Vespers I was privileged to attend the Great Vespers commemorating this holy father of the Church. His All-Holiness presided from the side throne and not the main throne. In front of the main throne were placed the relics of St John Chrysostom and a bishops staff was tied to the throne. The Great Vespers lasted for a little less than an hour. Wish that our Vespers could not go over that length of time. Our Psaltes in the Los Angeles area can learn a thing or two from this.


I did not stay much longer. I had to catch the ferry to Heybeyliada known to Greeks as Halki- one of the Princes Islands.