The sacred
Chrysostom is practically the only Father of the Church
for whom a significant number of biographies has been
written, by both his contemporaries as well as later
writers. Up until now, the (Byzantine) biographies
that we have are more than eight. Some of them are only
a variation of a previous bios, without however being a
servile imitation of the original.
At times we come
across entirely new - and perhaps even impressive -
elements in those texts; However, just how valid
these elements are, is left to scientific historical
research to verify. It is quite possible that some
of them may never be verified. Besides, there are other
texts that create the impression of having been inserted
by the biographer originally, in order to cater to a
specific, well-meaning expedience. By consenting
to one or another behaviour of the Saint, the biographer
indirectly teaches all those who honour him that they
too should emulate him in their own life and behave in
the same manner.
It is quite
possible that Kosmas Vestetor (who must have lived in
the 8th or 9th century) had recorded under similar
prerequisites an incident that is not encountered in any
of the other biographies of the sacred Chrysostom. After
the description of Saint Chrysostom's ordination as
Deacon and then as Presbyter, he then goes on to talk
about his literary work, and end up saying that the
Chrysostom was "a preacher to the people and an
interpreter of the divinely-inspired Scripture"
In the paragraph
that follows he mentions an incident with a simple woman
of the laity, who did not hesitate to interrupt the
Saint at the very moment that he was preaching, just
because she didn't understand what he was saying:
ŤOne day while
he [Chrysostom] was preaching to the people on the
subject of salvation, he used words with a
theoretical content in order to convey certain more
profound meanings. At that moment, a simple woman
from the people of the audience said the following
in a loud voice:
"My Father,
blessed is your speech and the meaning that you are
analyzing. Blessed also are all those who have
managed to understand your speech. But we who
have weak minds should also understand those
God-inspired teachings. I left all my work behind at
home and ran like a thirsty deer to quench my thirst
with your words that flow like a pleasant stream,
and listen to the meanings of your teachings, as
they spring forth like abundant waters. But
I'm going to leave now, because I didn't manage to
obtain even a single drop from them, as compensation
for the loss caused to my thirsty soul, and because
I left my household and wasted the bigger part of my
day with futile cares..."
When the
"Godly-minded" heard those words, he altered his
method of teaching and
thereafter applied the appropriate medication to the
traumas of the wounded."