A Narrative of the Translation From Comana to Constantinople of t

THE TWENTY-SEVENTH DAY

OF THE MONTH OF JANUARY

A Narrative of the Translation

From Comana to Constantinople of the Honored Relics of

Our Father Among the Saints John Chrysostom

From The Great Collection of the Lives of the Saints, Volume 5: January,

compiled by St. Demetrius of Rostov

Translated into English and published by Chrysostom Press www.chrysostompress.org

More than thirty years after John Chrysostom, Patriarch of
Constantinople, reposed in the town of Comana, the Most Holy Proclus
(the saint's disciple and successor as archbishop) was presiding over
the annual service in honor of the great universal teacher. In his
homily, delivered in the cathedral of the Imperial City, Proclus
extolled the Lord's favorite, saying, "Only if another John were to
appear could John fittingly be praised! When the faithful recall his
labors, struggles, and discourses, their thirst is slaked, as though by
a mighty river overflowing its banks. From John shine rays of God's
grace in which one man clearly discerns the sun of the Godhead, another
beholds the cleansing of Orthodoxy from heresy, another perceives the
deceptiveness of idolatry, another distinguishes truth from error,
another is confirmed in faith and virtue, and another observes gleaming
heavenly crowns. Oh, hierarch whose memory is like a fragrant breeze!
Oh, namesake of grace, whose deeds were truly divine! Oh, golden mouth
declaring the word of God! Oh, tongue which spoke of mysteries loftier
than the heavens! Oh, teacher proclaiming the gospel more loudly than
thunder! Verily like unto John the Forerunner, the preacher of
repentance, was this John. One was a herald, the other a trumpet. One
was unshakeable, the other invincible. One was a virgin, the other a
champion of purity. One baptized in the wilderness, the other lowered
his nets in cities. One denounced adultery, the other reproved the
avaricious. One was cast into prison, the other was exiled. One was
beheaded, the other desired beheading for the truth. Many were John
Chrysostom's struggles on earth, many are his crowns in heaven. He now
cries out with the Apostle Paul, 'I am a sweet savour of Christ,
having cleansed the whole world of the stench of error. In Ephesus I
expunged the delusion of Midas, in Phrygia I rendered childless the
mother of false gods, in Caesarea I did away with the houses of ill
fame, in Syria I abolished the assemblies of the godless, and in Persia
I sowed the seed of the word of God. Everywhere I have planted the
Orthodox faith. By my teaching I have disseminated the knowledge of God
throughout the earth; by my books I have spread the nets of salvation
far and wide. With John the Theologian I theologized concerning the
Word of the Father; with Peter I laid the foundation of an Orthodox
confession; with the fishermen I cast the net of piety into the world.'
O John, your life was truly sorrowful, but your death is precious, your
sepulcher glorious, and your reward great!"

Their hearts afire with love for Saint John Chrysostom, the people
could not wait for Saint Proclus to complete the eulogy, but with a
single voice cried to the Patriarch to bring his predecessor's remains
from Comana to the Imperial City. The shouts continued for so long that
the Most Holy Proclus abandoned all thought of concluding the encomium.
Straightway after the dismissal he went to the Emperor Theodosius, son
of Arcadius and grandson of Theodosius the Great, and begged him to
permit the translation of the honored relics of the holy Chrysostom,
saying, "Return, O Emperor, him who by Holy Baptism gave birth to you
in the gospel, and who received you in the temple as the Elder Symeon
did the Lord. The Church cries to you, 'My beauty has faded, my lips
are sealed, my splendor is dimmed! A wild boar has scattered the sheep
under the care of Chrysostom's shepherds, and carnivorous beasts have
devoured the spiritual offspring of him who served as my tongue. Moved
by envy, the foes of my servant have defiled the holy places of his
see. As in a forest of trees, with axes they cut down the
saint and took him away from me, silencing him in the grave. The
heretics said, We will stop the mouth that contradicted us at every
turn; we will discredit his arguments, for no longer does anyone dare
object to our teachings. How long, Your Majesty, will the foe belittle
me, on account of what was done to Chrysostom? Return to me him who
clearly reflected my Bridegroom Christ. Return your spiritual father to
me, your mother. Do not emulate her who bore you in the flesh: her
heart was merciless and her will inclined to evil. Rather, follow holiness of spirit, without which no man shall see the Lord.
Eudoxia is no more, but the Church abides forever. I am your eternal
mother. Return Chrysostom and make me rejoice, and you will have me as
your mediatrix before God. Gain Chrysostom as your intercessor, and
prove yourself to be a son of righteousness, made steadfast by the
prayers of your father.' "

Proclus won the
Emperor's consent, and a large delegation of high-ranking noblemen were
sent to Comana with a silver coffer to translate Saint Chrysostom's
holy relics. Arriving at the town, they presented to the local Bishop
and his flock an imperial decree requiring the surrender of the great
spiritual treasure. The townsfolk lamented bitterly, not wishing to
relinquish the sacred remains, but did not dare resist Theodosius'
command. When, however, the Emperor's men attempted to remove the
relics from the grave, they became heavier than a massive rock, and
despite all efforts, could not be drawn up. Supposing that the saint
wish to remain there, the nobles sent a letter to Theodosius explaining
what had happened. After taking counsel with the Most Holy Patriarch
Proclus and other godly men, the Emperor realized his mistake in having
ordered the transferal without prayer. He decided to write a letter to
Saint John as though he were alive, begging forgiveness for his
audacity and beseeching him to comfort the flock by returning to his
see. The text of the letter, written in the ruler's own hand, was as
follows:

"Theodosius the Emperor to my spiritual
father Saint John Chrysostom, the teacher of the whole world: Most
honored father, considering thy precious body to be lifeless, like the
bodies of other dead men, I commanded that it be brought here
immediately; but on account of mine unworthiness, matters did not turn
out as I had intended. Therefore, I am sending to thee, as to one truly
alive, this letter, which I myself have penned, asking with faith that
thou fulfill my request and thy people's. Bury mine impudent offense in
the abyss of thy wisdom, and forgive me, the penitent, O thou who
teachest all men repentance. Return to thy devoted children, bringing
us joy. I do not order thee to come, but humbly entreat thee, lest I be
put to shame a second time. O most honored father, come of thine own
will, that we may lovingly greet thee."

The
ruler gave the letter to couriers with instructions that it be placed
on Saint John's chest and an All-night Vigil be celebrated. After the
service, the nobles easily removed from the tomb the precious relics,
which were much lighter than before, and joyfully placed them in the
coffer. Covering the grave was a scarf which was taken by a homeless
beggar who slept outside churches and whose leg had withered after it
was bitten by a snake. When the beggar wrapped the cloth around his
shrivelled leg, it became as strong as the other, and he leaped about,
praising God.

With candles in hand, the people
assembled to venerate the relics one last time, and weeping and
lamenting, escorted them as they were taken away. At the docks in
Chalcedon the Emperor's men were met by Theodosius, the Senate, the
Patriarch and his clergy, and an innumerable multitude of people in
boats. The coffer was put on an imperial galley. While the flotilla was
returning to Constantinople, God commanded a tempest to arise, and all
the vessels were scattered, except the one carrying the honored relics.
Although its rudder was lost, the ship sailed directly to the opposite
shore, guided not by a human hand, but by the power of God. It reached
land at the vineyard of the widow whose defense had cost the holy
Chrysostom much grief and resulted in his banishment; thus, even after
his death the saint confirmed his zeal for righteousness and denounced
injustice. As the galley approached the beach, the sea grew calm, and
soon all the boats landed without having sustained the least damage.
The relics were unloaded, and the entire population of the Imperial
City came out to meet them, chanting hymns, holding candles, and
burning incense. First the sacred corpse was taken to the Church of the
Holy Apostle Thomas, then to the Church of Holy Peace. The Emperor and
Patriarch opened the coffer and found the remains of the blessed one
completely incorrupt, unspoiled as a cluster of beautiful, ripe grapes,
and emitting a wondrous fragrance. Theodosius removed his purple robe,
spread it over the relics, lay his head on the saint's breast, and with
tears in his eyes, groaned, "Holy father, forgive the sin committed
against thee, and suffer me not to be punished for my mother's hatred
and envy. Although the son of thy persecutress, I have done thee no
evil. Forgive her offense, that I may escape blame for my kinship with
her. I cast the imperial dignity at thy feet and lie helpless, awaiting
thine intercession. Pardon the reckless violence of her who wronged
thee, for she hath repented of her sin and asketh forgiveness through
my lips, saying, 'Remember, father, thine instructive discourses
against rancour, and consign my malice to oblivion. I wish to rise from
my fall, so extend a helping hand. Thou didst say, If anyone hath
slipped, let him rise and be saved. I cannot bear thy displeasure: even
my tomb quaketh, giving my bones no rest. I fear consignment to
Christ's left hand at the Dread Judgment and tremble, knowing that
everlasting punishment awaiteth me. By thy teachings thou hast saved
many: let me not remain alone without salvation. Reject me not who
crieth unto thee, but avenge thyself on mine enemy the devil, who
instructed me to sin against thee as Eve against God. Be not wroth with
me, O compassionate one! In thy lifetime thou didst not remember evils
done thee; do not remember them now that thou dwellest in heaven. I
transgressed against thee in the temporal realm; do thou have mercy on
me beyond the grave. My glory hath passed away and is useless to me;
wherefore, I beg thy help, O father, for thou abidest in divine light.
Before I am condemned at Christ's tribunal, forgive me, who am bereft
of any answer for myself.'"

As he spoke these
words on behalf of his mother, the Emperor drenched the relics with
tears and kissed them reverently. The Most Holy Proclus also kissed the
saint tenderly, crying, "Rejoice, O Christ-loving teacher most sweet! I
am thy child, nurtured on thy spiritual milk. As I am also thy
successor, my sheep are thine. They are still nourished by the
pasturage thou hast provided and will follow no shepherd other than
thee. Reveal thy presence and speak to us!"

The
crowd pressed forward to touch the honored coffer and kept vigil
through the night. In the morning the saint's remains were placed on
the Emperor's chariot and taken with much ceremony to the great Church
of the Holy Apostles. When the reliquary was placed on the bishop's
throne, the people exclaimed as with a single voice, "Mount thy
cathedra, O father!" Patriarch Proclus and others who were worthy saw
Saint John move his lips and heard him pronounce the archpastoral
blessing, "Peace be unto all!"

During the
celebration of the holy Liturgy, many sick folk were miraculously
healed through the relics, and the grave of the Empress Eudoxia ceased
quaking. Afterwards, the clergy deposited the saint's body beneath the
table of preparation in the sanctuary of the cathedral, glorifying
Christ God, Who, with the Father and the Holy Spirit, is praised unto
the ages. Amen.