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Lecture 8 Happiness and Crisis

Lecture 8 Happiness and Crisis. Dr. Ann T. Orlando 21 March 2013. Outline. Defining Crisis Introduction to St. John Chrysostom Introduction to St. Olympias Crises during the time of John Chrysostom Themes in Letter to Olympias. Crisis. From OED: A time of intense difficulty or danger

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Lecture 8 Happiness and Crisis

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  1. Lecture 8 Happiness and Crisis Dr. Ann T. Orlando 21 March 2013

  2. Outline • Defining Crisis • Introduction to St. John Chrysostom • Introduction to St. Olympias • Crises during the time of John Chrysostom • Themes in Letter to Olympias

  3. Crisis • From OED: A time of intense difficulty or danger • From Greek (via Latin), krisis, decision • In Greek also root word for judge, judgement • Often connotes a turning point (as in medicine)

  4. Aspects of a Crisis • Unexpected; unplanned • Imminent threat of harm • Requires a response • Used specifically in • Medicine • Mental health • Economic • Political • Corporate

  5. Biographical Sketch St. John Chrysostom • Born, 349, and educated in Antioch • Studied rhetoric with Libanius, famous pagan philosopher and orator in Antioch • Joined Diodore’s school • After hiding from those seeking to ordain him, he was ordained in 386 • Acquired sobriquet “Golden Mouth” for his preaching in Antioch • Became Patriarch of Constantinople in 397 • Almost immediately ran afoul of both Imperial and Church politics • Political and doctrinal disputes between Alexandria and Antioch • Imperial politics, especially in terms of concern for the poor • Because of political problems, John was exiled (twice) • Died in 407

  6. Legacy of John Chrysostom • Divine Liturgy developed by him commonly used in Orthodox Church • We have more of his works extant than any other Greek Father; • 6 volumes in English in NPNF Series 1 • And nearly 600 works in the pseudo-Chrysostom corpus • John, along with Athanasius, Basil and Gregory Nazianzus is considered one of the Four Doctors of the Greek Church

  7. John Chrysostom and Scripture • Like most from Antioch, he was skeptical about allegorical interpretations of Scripture • But also accepted that there were multiple meanings or layers of Scripture; the below the surface meaning being theoria • John wrote many commentaries on Scripture, most of which are extant • But John was especially known for his rhetoric, rather than hermeneutics

  8. Politics in Constantinople • In less than 50 years, Constantinople most powerful city in Empire • At Council of Nicea (325), Rome, Alexandria and Antioch were singled out as patriarchies • At Council of Constantinople (381), Rome, Constantinople (referred to as the new Rome), Alexandria and Antioch were listed as key patriarchies • Growing animosity between Constantinople and Alexandria • After Theodosius’ death (395), Empire divided between his two weak sons, Honorius (West) and Arcadius (East)

  9. Crisis: Empress Eudoxia (398-404) and St. John Chrysostom • Eudoxia married to Theodosius’ son, Emperor Arcadius • John Chrysostom preached vehemently against courtly excess, especially targeting Eudoxia, who has a silver statue of herself placed in front of Hagia Sophia • With help from Alexandrian Patriarch, Eudoxia gets John removed from Constantinople over the Tall Brothers controversy • Tall brothers were accused of being Origenists • Also a political dispute between Alexandria and Constantinople • Pope Innocent supports John • John, however, does not help himself politically by preaching a sermon in exile in which he says, referring to Eudoxia, “once again Herodias is dancing and seeks the head of John” • John dies in exile

  10. St. Olympias (368 – 410) • Olympias was a very wealthy widow in Constantinople • Widows owned much of the wealth in the Empire • If a woman survived childbirth, she would probably outlived her husband • Move away from client-patron model to family model may have strengthened legal standing of women • Church supported right of women to inherit and control money and property • Founded a monastery near Hagia Sophia • Practiced voluntary poverty, asceticism • Moved away from civic building to philanthropy as an expression of public support • Gave money to support work of Gregory of Nyssa and John Chrysostom • When John was exiled, so was she; dies in 410

  11. Assignments • Read John Chrysostom, “A Letter to Olympias, To Prove that No One Can Harm the Man Who Does Not Harm Himself” NPNF Vol. 9 available at http://www.newadvent.org/fathers/1902.htm • Brown, Through the Eye of a Needle, Chapter 24 • Write Short Paper: Ramon

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