Father was a high ranking military officer and died when he was young. He was brought up a Christian by his mother. Began his education under a pagan teacher named Libanius?. Learned theology under Diodore?, the bishop of Tarsus?.
He came to Antioch? as a presbyter in 381. He gained much fame and popularity for the eloquence of his public speaking - his name (given to him after his death) come from chrysostomos, "golden mouthed". Around the time he arrived in Antioch, the bishop had to interviene with the Emperor Theodosius I on behalf of citizens who had gone on a riotout rampage in which statues of the Emperor and his family were mutilated. During the weeks of Lent? in 397, John preached twenty one sermons in which he entreated the people to see the error of their ways. These apparently had a lasting impression on the people: many pagans reportedly converted to Christianity as a result of them. In the event, Theodosius' vengence was not as severe as it might have been.
He was notable for his insightfull expositions of Bible passages and moral teaching. The most valuable of his works are his Homilies on various books of the Bible. He spoke out out against abuse of wealth and personal property. He emphasised alms giving. He was most concerned with the spiritual and temporal needs of the poor.
In 397 he was called (against his will) to be the bishop in Constantinople. His time at there meant an end to lavish entertainments. He was popular with the common people, but unpopular with the wealthy and the clergy because of this. In a sermon soon after his arrival he said "people praise the predecessor to disparage the successor". His reforms of the clergy were also unpopular with these groups. He told visiting regional preachers to return to the churches they were meant to be serving - without any pay out.
An alliance was formed against him by Eudoxia?, the wife of the eastern Emperor Arcadius and the bishop of Alexandria Theophilus? (who had opposed his apointment to Constantinople in the first place). They held a synod? in 403 to charge John. The teachings of Origen were involved in these acusations. Theophilus had disciplined some of his monks over their support of Origen's teachings. They fled to and were welcomed by John. This was used against him in this synod. It resulted in his deposition and banishment. However, he was called back almost immediately by Arcadius. The people were very angry about his departure. Also: there was an earth tremour which was seen as a sign of God's anger.
This was not the end of controversy in John's life, though. A statue of Eudoxia was erected near a cathedral?. John denounced the dedication ceremonies. He spoke against her in harsh terms: "Again Herodias? rages; again she is confounded; again she demands the head of John on a charger" (an alusion to the events surrounding the death of John the Baptist). Once again he was banished, this time to Cucusus? in Armenia.
The bishop of Rome (Innocent I at this time) protested at this banishment, but to no avail. John wrote letters which still held great influence in Constantinople. As a result of this, he was further banished to Pityus? (on the eastern edge of the Black Sea). However, he never reached this destination as he died during the journey.
He was not an important theologian, but an excellent preacher. He rejected the contemporary trend for allegory, instead speaking plainly and applying Bible passages and lessons to everyday life.
His banishments demonstrated that secular powers dominated the eastern church at this period in history. It also demonstrated the rivalry between Contantinople to displace Alexandria as the preminant eastern see, while in the west, Rome had been unquestioned from the fourth century onwards.
Two of his writings deserve special mention. He harmonized the liturgical life of the church by revising the prayers and rubrics of the Divine Liturgy, or celebration of the Holy Eucharist. To this day, Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate the Divine Liturgy of John Chrysostom, together with Roman Catholic churches that are in the Eastern or Byzantine rites. These same churches continue to read his Catechetical Homily at every Easter, the greatest feast of the church year. The Eastern Orthodox Church counts him among the Three Holy Hierarchs, together with Saints Basil the Great and [Gregory the Theologian]?.
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