Today Is November 13

Today the Eastern Orthodox Church celebrates the feast day of John Chrysostom.

John Chrysostom (c. 347–407), a graduate of a monastic school, was appointed in 398 the Archbishop of Constantinople. An eloquent, earnest, knowledgeable and practical orator, (Chrysostom means, “golden mouthed”), he became the greatest preacher of his time.

Below is a 11th-century conch mosaic of John Chrysostom from the south-east apse of the nave of the Hosios Loukas monastery

John Chrysostom’s preaching talents came about through sheer hard work,  He spent four years in the desert, and two as a hermit in Bible study, during which he practiced austerities.

The “golden mouthed” former Archbishop died on September 14, 407. In the Eastern Orthodox Church there are several feast days dedicated to him. one of them, November 13, is the date news of John Chrysostom's death reached Constantinople

Even outside the Christian world, Chrysostom influence has been great. After World War II, Charles Malik, a Lebanese Christian philosopher and board member of Harvard university, proposed that the social teachings of John Chrysostom be adopted as policy for the founding charter of the United Nations.