While John Chrysostom "Golden-mouthed" is more known as a preacher, he was also a monastic writer in his youth at Antioch. He developed notoriety as an outstanding preacher later, and then at Constantonople.

Monasticism
Greek = monachos, solitary. This contributed a new dimension to the churches both as an institution, and spiritually. This calls for a renunciation of all attachments to the world. This is in the imitation of Christ and the martyrs. The monastic movement is a retreat to the "desert: that is, [it] sought physical and social separation from the city, town, and village, and so from the normal life of the churches as well."

John as Monastic
John had started towards a life as a clergy after choosing not to go into law for moral purposes after completing his rhetorical study under the sophist Libanius. But John's pursuit was interrupted by an aesthetic/monastic experience. In 372, he withdrew from the city, and went to live the life of a monk in the hills of Antioch. Four years were spent with the company of a Syrian monk, but he withdrew to a cave by himself for the final two years of solitude.

Syrian Asceticism
In the late Fourth Century - Syrian asceticism takes a "more extravagant even theatrical form of asceticism characteristic of Syrian monks." They wore chains, iron collars, slept on the ground - little or no clothing, ate roots, grasses or wild fruits.
The Desert in Syria was hardly a desert - and is better translated as the outskirts of town. Thus, monastic centers were easily accessible to the populace. Thus becoming a monk was an obvious option. Furthermore - Chrysostem seemed to enjoy behavior which denied human nature - monks breath line between humanity and divine. This allows monks to have a distinct place in the kingdom of God.

"But the monk was also a model, and example of the ethical and spiritual possibilities available to all human beings." He was an ideal patron, and an ideal Christian. Even after abandoning monastic behavior, he holds up the monks as living images of Christian perfection telling his people to "go there often." -Ibid.

In 381, Jon was ordained as deacon under Bishop Meletius.

Bishop Meletius
He was Bishop of Antioch and a major player in the conflict with Alexandria. Meletians claimed to "hold the faith of Nicaea" However, in Antioch, there was a split of three groups. The first remained faithful to Bishop Eustathius, who adhered to Nicaea, but was now dead. The second and largest were those who supported the lawful successor of Eystathius, Meletius - who in the early 360's had not returned from exile. The third group was loyal to Euzoius, an Arian who Constantius had summoned to Antioch.

Preacher
We find John as a preacher preaching against the world, carrying his monastic history with him. In searching for topics, he looks to the immediate situation to discover what is evil and in need of rebuking Jewish people and their "demonic" temples. John's orginal text can be read here.

 

Nicaean Creed

We believe in One God, the Father Almighty, Maker of Heaven and Earth, Of all things visible and invisible.

We believe in One Lord, Jesus Christ the only son of god. God from god, light from light, true god from true god. Begotten not made, of one being with the father, Through him all things were made.

For us men and for our salvation he came down from heaven, By the power of the Holy Spirit he was made man. For our sake he was crucified died and was buried. He rose again in fulfillment of the scriptures And is seated at the right hand of the father. He will come again in glory to judge the living and the dead And of his kingdom there will be no end.

We believe in the Holy Spirit, the lord and giver of life Who proceeds from the father and son, Through the father and son is glorified, He has spoken through the prophets.

We believe in one holy catholic and apostolic church We believe in communion of saints, the resurrection of the dead And the life of the world to come.

 

Valuable links

http://www.ccel.org/fathers2/NPNF2-03/Npnf2-03-14.htm - John's original text

http://members.nbci.com/MedPaige/monasticism.html - Monasticism

http://www.luc.edu/faculty/ldossey/constantine.htm - Constantine and the conversion of empire

http://www.harvard-magazine.com/archive/00mj/mj00.rn.church.html - Fourth-century Church tales

 

References

Hunter, David. A Comparison Between A King and a Monk/ Against the opponents of the monastic lifestyle: Two Treatises by John Chrysostom. The Edwin Mellen Press Lewiston/, 1988, pg. 2.

Walker, Williston et al. A History of the Christian Church Charles Scribner's Son's, New York, 1985. pg. 154.

Baus, Karl et al. The Imperial Church from Constantine to the Early Middle Ages. The Seabury Press, New York, 1980, pg. 60.