Akathist to Saint John Chrysostom

The Akathist to Saint John Chrysostom is a prayer that helps us deepen our understanding of the life of this great saint. Saint John Chrysostom was a renowned preacher and theologian who lived in the 5th century. His sermons were known for their profound understanding of the Bible and ability to explain it in simple terms. Reading this akathist helps us better understand the value of Saint John’s life and receive his spiritual guidance.

Kontakion 1

Exalted leader of the Church of Christ, golden-tongued teacher John! Adorned with virtues from youth, thou hast labored well, and having suffered persecution for the sake of Christ, didst end thy life in exile; for this reason thou art exceedingly glorified in the heavens, O wise ordainer of the order of the Church. Therefore we also with reverence do honor thee, crying:

Rejoice, O great saint John Chrysostom.

Ikonos 1

Bearing an angelic image, thou dwelt in the flesh as if bodeless, John; anding up labors for the salvation of many brethren, thou didst glorify the Father of Heaven through good deeds. Therefore we bring unto thee such praises:

Rejoice, ornament of the Orthodox Church;

Rejoice, blessed child of noble parents.

Rejoice, even in childhood nourished by thy mother’s love according to the Word of God;

Rejoice, having submitted the mind to the yoke of Christ from youth.

Rejoice, having diligently served God;

Rejoice, teacher of the universe.

Rejoice, mentor of all Christians of all times in prayer;

Rejoice, renewer of the monastic life in Constantinople;

Rejoice, illuminator of the Goths and the Scythians;

Rejoice, God-strengthened zealot of righteousness;

Rejoice, having entered into the joy of thy Lord;

Rejoice, diligent intercessor for us.

Rejoice, O great saint John Chrysostom.

Kontakion 2

Having seen the pure life of thy parents, Secundus and Anthusa, Christ was pleased to glorify them, and gave thee, John, to be their comfort; so that the faithful, remembering thy virtues, may exalt the righteous couple who raised thee, and, being zealous like them, may sing to God:

Alleluia

Ikonos 2

Having enlightened the mind by instruction, and being raised in godliness from infancy, thou wert a joy and consolation to thy mother when she was deprived of her husband and daughter. Therefore we offer to thee such praises:

Rejoice, as a star of good conduct as a child;

Rejoice, the joy of thy guardian angel.

Rejoice, for thou didst never grieve him;

Rejoice, beloved of those close to thee.

Rejoice, having excelled in learning and thereby astonishing at the sages of this world;

Rejoice, for even while being a student, thou didst shame and bring to the blasphemer Anthhemius.

Rejoice, having seen the bitter tears of the oppressed in the courts;

Rejoice, having turned away from those who work iniquity.

Rejoice, having sought the saving path of non-evil;

Rejoice, having beencludedcluded in the desert after the death of thy mother.

Rejoice, having diligently prayed to God for thy parents who had departed there;

Rejoice, for today, rejoicing with the Theotokos and the saints, thou art exalted and praised by the earthborn.

Rejoice, O great saint John Chrysostom.

Condak 3

By the power of the Word and deeds of Christ, you have acquired, O John, the precursor of the same name, the strength to labor in the wilderness. For there, by fasting, you subdued the fleshly passions, and by prayer, you were filled with the Spirit, and, as a warrior, you clothed yourself with all the armor of God, trusting in the strong God: Alleluia.

Icos Z

Having a leather belt and an unbroken girdle around your loins, O Christ’s Forerunner, you were nourished by the locusts in the wilderness, O John, as a man full of strength, you came out of it. Therefore, we cry out to you:

Rejoice, O Prophet Elijah-like in abstinence;

Rejoice, O imitator of Christ’s poverty;

Rejoice, O one who strengthened the flesh with unbreakable chastity;

Rejoice, O one who chased away despair with divine thinking;

Rejoice, O one who preserved an unblemished heart with the memory of God’s all-seeing;

Rejoice, O one who humiliated the wiles of the devil with vigilance;

Rejoice, O one who, having overcome temptations yourself, taught others to follow your example;

Rejoice, O wise one who strengthened those who strive in spiritual endeavors;

Rejoice, O one who preserved your friend Theodore from falling into grievous sin;

Rejoice, O one who established your fellow bishop Basil in the service;

Rejoice, O one who showed the exiled a place of quiet refuge;

Rejoice, O protector of the monastic life;

Rejoice, O great Saint John Chrysostom;

Condak 4

You conquered a new storm of temptations, O John, by dwelling alone in the cave; and, having gone out into Antioch from the wilderness because of illness, you were ordained a deacon by the holy Melitius, and you zealously devoted yourself to the care of the poor. Seeing this, the faithful joyfully sang to God:

Alleluia

Icos 4

Having heard from the faithful the glorious words about you, O holy Flavian, by the gift of the priesthood, you brought yourself down to us, O John. Therefore, the people of Antioch rejoiced and, rightly honoring your labors, they thus glorified you:

Rejoice, O one who rejected all care for yourself;

Rejoice, O protector of the poor;

Rejoice, O warm refuge for the cold;

Rejoice, O comforter of the sorrowful;

Rejoice, O one who mourns over the ignorance of people;

Rejoice, O sweet singer of the praise of the virgin life;

Rejoice, O one who enlightened many Jews;

Rejoice, O one who, with righteous teaching, proclaimed salvation to those seeking it;

Rejoice, O one who, by your life, did not bring shame to this teaching;

Rejoice, O lamp of piety;

Rejoice, O equal to the apostles;

Rejoice, O one who was justly given the lot of a shepherd to care for souls;

Rejoice, O great Saint John Chrysostom;

Kontakion 5

Having preserved those redeemed from eternal death by His God-giving blood, when thou did receive the mantle of priesthood, John, thou did well perform the work of a herald, showing great sobriety, rebuking, forbidding, and imploring with all patience and teaching, and singing to God:

Alleluia

Ikos 5

Seeing the strife within the city, and grieving for it, thou did not know peace, John; for thou did enlighten the unbelievers with the Gospel, while sanctifying the faithful with the mysteries of the Church and teaching the mysteries of faith; thou did worthy earn the name “Golden-Mouthed,” hearing these things from all:

Rejo, good shepherd;

Rejo, thou who produced many children of the Church of Christ through holy baptism;

Rejo, thou who bestowed the seal of the gift of the Holy Spirit through the anointing of peace;

Rejo, thou who stood humble before the Holiest Table;

Rejo, thou who fed thy children with the food of incorruptibility;

Rejo, thou who cleansed the hearts through repentance;

Rejo, thou who unioned marriages in the Lord;

Rejo, thou who healed through the anointing of olive oil;

Rejo, thou who was the true interpreter of the Word of God;

Rejo, thou who rebuked heresies;

Rejo, thou who brought forth true theology;

Rejo, thou who filled [hearts] with love;

Rejo, great saint John, the Golden-Mouthed.

Kontakion 6

Thou did appear as a preacher of repentance, John, having caused the people of Antioch to fall [into fear]; mercy; by thy words thou led them to sing to God with a pure heart:

Alleluia

Ikos 6

Thou did enlighten Antioch with joy, having obtained forgiveness from the king through thy words. Though thou wert soon darkened by sorrow, thou were called the Archbishop of the City, John. For this we cry out to thee:

Rejo, like Isaiah, who suffered in grief for the city of his fatherland;

Rejo, like Jeremiah, who mourned over the wickedness of the people;

Rejo, like Ezekiel, who called the lawless to return;

Rejo, like lightning, which did bring down pride;

Rejo, like thunder, which did terrify those living lawlessly;

Rejo, thou who exposed greed;

Rejo, thou who showed the ruin of vanity;

Rejo, thou who de-shamed the coldid polytheism of the Greeks;

Rejo, thou who appeased troubled hearts;

Rejo, thou who prospered with Bishop Flavian, the righteous elder;

Rejo, thou who inclined the protector of the desert-dwellers to mercy;

Rejo, like Jonah, who saved Nineveh, equal [to him].

Condak 7

Although the Church of Constantinople, as the Bride of Christ, was worthy of adornment, you have adorned it with all beauty, O John. You have repelled the assemblies of the Arians by your all-night vigils and have wisely established the Divine Liturgy, as a fragrant ointment, pouring forth prayers, by which those who are being saved are being built up, and we sing to you, O God, in praise:

Alleluia

Icos 7

A new sign of God’s mercy has been wrought through you, O holy one: by your prayers, the faithful of all ages, conversing with God, are being enlightened for salvation. Receive, therefore, from us these hymns of praise:

Rejoice, as David, enriching the Church of God with prayers;

Rejoice, as the brother of God, Jacob, writing the order of the Divine Liturgy;

Rejoice, imitating the great Basil;

Rejoice, as a friend of the Holy Spirit;

Rejoice, for through you the Holy Spirit has written words of salvation;

Rejoice, for by your prayers, we thank the Father, who has awakened us from sleep;

Rejoice, for through your words, we ask the Holy Spirit to forgive our sins, as we go to sleep;

Rejoice, for with your lips, we entreat the Son of God, that we may not receive communion of the Divine Mysteries in judgment;

Rejoice, O servant of God, calling the poor to the Lord’s Supper;

Rejoice, preacher of the Crucified One, for the sake of peace and salvation;

Rejoice, as your word is clothed in the garments of glory, with the mysteries of faith;

Rejoice, hymnographer and wonderful teacher;

Rejoice, O great John Chrysostom;

Condak 8

A pilgrim, in the depths of earthly sorrow, you showed the example of humility, self-control, and purity, O John, in your life in the royal city: there you renewed and created the monasteries of the ascetics and gave the rules of the monastic life to the virgins, who were unspotted; and from them, as a fragrant incense, a great hymn was raised to God:

Alleluia

Icos 8

Working with all your soul for Christ, you did not desire to please men, O John. You prepared a noble table for the dignitaries, multiplied tables for the poor, and established hospitals for the sick, teaching us to pray to you:

Rejoice, O Nicholas, holy bishop of Myra, rival;

Rejoice, acquiring greatness through humility;

Rejoice, acquiring wealth through poverty;

Rejoice, becoming an example to the monks through these virtues;

Rejoice, nourishing the hungry;

Rejoice, as Abraham, receiving strangers;

Rejoice, as a friend to the homeless orphans;

Rejoice, as a guardian of the helpless old men and women;

Rejoice, scattering your abundance to the needy;

Rejoice, as you appeared to each one in their afflictions, as an angel of comfort;

Rejoice, opening the hands of the rich to acts of charity;

Rejoice, for your Mother, the Mother of God, has rejoiced at the depth of your mercy;

Rejoice, O great John Chrysostom;

Condak 9

Every tongue shall save, though, preachers of the Gospel to the Scythians, our forefather, thou didst send, John, from the city of Constantine, in which thou didst establish a church in the name of the Apostle Paul, that they, rejecting the heresy of Arius, may sing hymns to God in Orthodox manner:

Alleluia

Icos 9

Having sent virtues of Orthodoxy to the unfaithful, to the churches of the faithful, in Asia, thou didst personally proceed, John, and visiting them, thou didst rebuke the negligent, and praise the zealous, and thou didst arrange everything with foresight. Therefore, we praise thee:

Glorify, O thou light of Orthodoxy;

Glorify, O good shepherd, who dost feed the sheep that have gone astray;

Glorify, for thy name is now glorified in the lands of the Scythians;

Glorify, for in thy name the churches of God are now raised up;

Glorify, thou partaker of the apostolic ministry;

Glorify, thou who dost pasture the flock of God, according to the word of the Apostle Peter;

Glorify, thou who dost visit without need, but by the will and by God;

Glorify, thou who dost root out bribery;

Glorify, thou who dost not tolerate the transgressors of the ecclesiastical rules;

Glorify, thou who dost justly expel the idle slaves;

Glorify, for thou hast labored for the good, and hast been glorified and strengthened;

Glorify, thou who hast been proved to be a good ruler of the Church;

Glorify, O great John Chrysostom, holy hierarch;

Condak 10

Thou didst not cease to serve the salvation of thy flock, John, when thou returned from Asia to Constantinople. Even the queens and the nobles, thou didst boldly rebuke for their wicked life, and thou didst suffer many afflictions; for by thee, they were rebuked, and they could not shut thy righteous mouth, but they plotted secretly to destroy thee, O thou who dost cry out to God:

Alleluia

Icos 10

Thou didst appear as a wall to the innocent monks, John: for this reason, great wickedness was revealed against thee, which they had plotted against thee. For the deceitful Theophilus, with the queen, didst falsely accuse thee at the synod, and didst depose thee, not remembering thy labors for the good of the fatherland. We, however, thankfully remember these things, saying:

Glorify, O thou who didst show wonderful love to the earthly fatherland;

Glorify, O thou who didst free Constantinople from the barbarian invasion;

Glorify, O thou who didst tame the fierce leader of the Goths, Gontharis;

Glorify, O thou who didst protect the Church, which had received the gifts of the emperors;

Glorify, O thou who didst not permit the church of Evthymia to be taken away;

Glorify, O thou who didst save Evthymia, who was persecuted in that very refuge;

Glorify, O thou who didst endure the unjust synod of the Nitrian monks;

Glorify, for the word of Scripture says, “Love is long-suffering”; and it was justified in thee;

Glorify, O thou who didst prevent the plots against thee;

Glorify, O thou who didst not take up the sword against thy enemies;

Glorify, O thou who didst submit to the authorities, and for this reason

Condak 11

By the joyful hymn, you have soon changed the lamentation of your people, O compassionate one, for you are led into exile, suddenly a loud thunder will resound, lightning will flash, and the earth will be shaken by the wind. Seeing this and trembling, the queen will repent and humbly return to you, saying to God:

Alleluia

Icos 11

You, O queen, have soon come to despise the bright lamp of Orthodoxy, when you were revealed to be a likeness of the Church, placed near the temple: for this reason, the second time condemned, you were imprisoned in Chucuz, Ioanne. Accept from us these hymns of praise:

Rejoice, by the word of Jeremiah, from youth, you have been lifted up by the divine ascension;

Rejoice, by the word of Christ, having placed the hand of spiritual work on the plow;

Rejoice, not having turned back until the end;

Rejoice, thundering against the wicked queen;

Rejoice, as the Forerunner, hated by Herodias;

Rejoice, secretly saved by the angel from the murderers;

Rejoice, kept in your house by the love of your people;

Rejoice, humiliated by the unjust judges;

Rejoice, going into exile with patience and without complaint;

Rejoice, mourned by the faithful;

Rejoice, wounded and scourged for the Lord who was crucified;

Rejoice, as the Martyrs with the Forerunner rejoice in your patience on heaven;

Rejoice, great Saint Ioanne Zlatoust.

Condak 12

You have preserved the grace of God even in exile, Ioanne, for there, like the holy Apostle Paul in chains, you preached the Gospel to the Phoenicians and Persians, comforting the faithful with letters. And thus you saved the Church even to the end, for your golden mouth has spoken the final words: Glory to God for all! Your soul has been transferred to heaven by holy angels, triumphantly crying:

Alleluia

Icos 12

By singing joyfully, the faithful have transferred your holy relics, Ioanne, to Constantinople, and from there your glory has spread to the farthest lands and has filled the whole world, teaching all to say to you:

Rejoice, stranger, having entered the heavenly homeland;

Rejoice, guided by the prayers of all the churches;

Rejoice, having completed your course in the distant Pityunt, in Comana;

Rejoice, as the holy martyr Basil predicted your end;

Rejoice, having heard: Brother, we will meet together tomorrow;

Rejoice, having been strengthened by the reception of the Holy Mysteries for the ascension to heaven;

Rejoice, having been separated from your laborious body in peace;

Rejoice, not having been touched by corruption;

Rejoice, as the Bloodless Sacrifice is offered today in these temples;

Rejoice, dweller of the heavenly heights, illuminated by eternal light;

Rejoice, appearing with the holy Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian, teaching all to praise you together;

Rejoice, glory of the universal Church;

Rejoice, great Saint Ioanne Zlatoust.

Condak 13

Oh, great Saint John Chrysostom! Look upon us from the heavenly heights, who have been cast down, and accept this hymn of praise, offered to you from our love. Intercede with the Lord God, that He may pour out upon us His merciful grace, which heals the weak, and strengthens those who are in the Orthodox faith. Bring back those who have strayed from the Church, and fill those who are impoverished with His boundless mercy. Grant that we may all be worthy to pray to Him with you and all the saints, now and forever:

All glory be to God

This Condak is read three times, followed by the First Ikos, “The angelic form bearing…”, and the First Condak, “The leader, raised up…”.

Prayer

Oh, great Saint John Chrysostom! You received many and varied gifts from the Lord, and, as a faithful and good servant, you multiplied the talents given to you. Therefore, you were truly a universal teacher, from whom all ages and all stations of life learn. You were a model of obedience as a youth, a beacon of chastity in your youth, a guide to diligence in your manhood, a teacher of patience in old age, a rule of self-control for monks, a leader inspired by God for those who pray, a source of wisdom for those seeking it, a fountain of living water for those who speak well, a star of mercy for those who show kindness, a model of wise leadership for those in authority, a source of courage for those who defend justice, and a teacher of patience for those who are persecuted for the sake of justice. You were all things to all people, that you might save each one.

You have won the love that is the perfection of all virtues, and with it, as with a divine power, you have gathered all the gifts into one person, and with the same love, you have reconciled the divided, and have preached the apostolic words to all the faithful in their interpretation. We, however, sinful men, each having our own gift, do not have the unity of the spirit in the bond of peace, but are proud, provoking one another, and envying one another. Therefore, our gifts are not united in peace and salvation, but in strife and condemnation. For this reason, we turn to you, O holy Saint, beset by discord, and in the depths of our hearts, we pray: Through your prayers, remove from our hearts all pride and envy, which divide us, that we may be one body in many, and, according to your prayer, love one another, and confess the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, the Undivided and Eternal Trinity, now and forever and ever. Amen.

Troparion, Tone 8

May the radiance of Your words, like the brilliance of fire, illuminate the universe with the light of Your grace; and, O Father John Chrysostom, teach us not to covet the fleeting treasures of the world, but to ascend to the heights of humility, and, by Your own example, to chasten our souls, that we may be saved by the Word of Christ, our God.

Kondak, Tone 6

Having received the divine gift from on high, You taught all to worship the One God in the Holy Trinity, O blessed and venerable John Chrysostom; and, as a divine guide, You shine forth, worthy of praise: for You are a teacher, revealing the divine.