John Chrysostom

John Chrysostom (lived 347—407) was an early church father and the Archbishop of Constantinople. His name, Chrysostom, means “golden-mouthed.” He was known for his preaching, public speaking, and denunciation of the abuse of authority. His preaching against extravagance in feminine dress made an enemy of Aelia Eudoxia, the wife of the emperor Arcadius, who, along with other enemies of Chrysostom, organized a synod to have him deposed and banished. Because there was an earthquake on the night of his arrest, Eudoxia took this as a sign of God’s anger, and Arcadius reinstated Chrysostom. But after Chrysostom spoke out about a silver statue of Eudoxia being built near the Hagia Sophia, he was banished again, sparking riots among his supporters. Fighting in the Hagia Sophia caused a fire, and it burned down.