Saint John Chrysostom, the great ecumenical teacher and hierarch, died in the city of Comana in the year 407 on his way to a place of exile. He had been condemned by the intrigues of the empress Eudoxia because of his daring denunciation of the vices of those ruling over Constantinople. The transfer of his venerable relics was made in the year 438, thirty years after the death of the saint, during the reign of Eudoxia’s son emperor Theodosius II (408-450).
Saint John Chrysostom had the warm love and deep respect of the people, and grief over his untimely death lived on in the hearts of Christians. Saint John’s disciple, Saint Proclus, Patriarch of Constantinople (434-447), during services in the Church of Hagia Sophia, preached a sermon praising Saint John. He said, “O John, your life was filled with sorrow, but your death was glorious. Your grave is blessed and reward is great, by the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ O graced one, having conquered the bounds of time and place! Love has conquered space, unforgetting memory has annihilated the limits, and place does not hinder the miracles of the saint.”
Those who were present in church, deeply touched by the words of Saint Proclus, did not allow him even to finish his sermon. With one accord they began to entreat the Patriarch to intercede with the emperor, so that the relics of Saint John might be brought back to Constantinople.
The emperor, overwhelmed by Saint Proclus, gave his consent and gave the order to transfer the relics of Saint John. But those he sent were unable to lift the holy relics until the emperor realized that he had sent men to take the saint’s relics from Comana with an edict, instead of with a prayer. He wrote a letter to Saint John, humbly asking him to forgive his audacity, and to return to Constantinople. After the message was read at the grave of Saint John, they easily took up the relics, carried them onto a ship and arrived at Constantinople.
The coffin with the relics was placed in the Church of Holy Peace (Hagia Eirene). When Patriarch Proclus opened the coffin, the body of Saint John was found to be incorrupt. The emperor approached the coffin with tears, asking forgiveness for his mother, who had banished Saint John. All day and night people did not leave the coffin.
In the morning the coffin was brought to the Church of the Holy Apostles. The people cried out, “Father, take up your throne.” Then Patriarch Proclus and the clergy standing by the relics saw Saint John open his mouth and say, “Peace be to all.” Many of the sick were healed at his tomb. The celebration of the transfer of the relics of Saint John Chrysostom was established in the ninth century.
In the year 1204, the relics of St. John Chrysostom and St. Gregory the Theologian were appropriated by the Roman Church and were in her possession in the Vatican for 800 years. At last, in 2004, His Holiness Pope John Paul II, as a sign of fraternal love and regard for the Holy Church of Orthodoxy, returned the relics to the Patriarchal Cathedral of St. George in Constantinople. His All Holiness Patriarch Bartholomew accompanied the relics from Rome to the Phanar and immediately placed both on his own Ecumenical Throne, testifying to the fact that both Hierarchs occupied that honorable throne long before himself. After eight centuries, the two Hierarchs and great ecumenical teachers, at last, came home, not only as Bishops but as Saints of God to Whom be glory unto the ages of ages. Amen!
ST. jOHN cHRYSOSTOM (RED rIBBON) ST.GgEGORY THE THEOLOGIAN (GOLD RIBBON)
APOLYTIKION
Grace shining forth from your lips like a beacon has enlightened the universe; / it has shone to the world the riches of poverty; / it has revealed to us the heights of humility. / Teaching us by your words, O Father John Chrysostom, / intercede before the Word, Christ our God, to save our souls.
KONTAKION
Having received divine grace from heaven, / you teach all men to adore the one God in three persons. / O all-blessed John Chrysostom, we rightly praise you, / for you are our teacher, revealing things divine!