Lecture 8 Happiness and Crisis

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