John was born in 347 at Antioch, Asia Minor and died in 407. His father died when he was young and he was raised by his very pious mother. Well educated; he studied rhetoric under Libanius, one of the most famous orators of his day. He was a monk, preacher and priest for a dozen years in Syria. While there he developed a stomach ailment that troubled him the rest of his life.

      It was for his sermons that John earned the title "Chrysostomos" (golden mouthed). They were always on point, they explained the scriptures with clarity, and they sometimes went on for hours. He was made a reluctant bishop of Constantinople in 398, a move that involved him in imperial politics. He criticized the rich for not sharing their wealth, fought to reform the clergy, prevented the sale of ecclesiastical offices, called for fidelity in marriage and encouraged practices of justice and charity.

      He became Archbishop and Patriarch of Constantinople and revised the Greek Liturgy. He was proclaimed Doctor of the Church in 451.

      John's sermons caused nobles and bishops to work to remove him from his diocese. He was twice exiled from his diocese despite the efforts of the Holy See and finally he was banished to Pythius, but he died on the way there.