Transfer of the relics of St. John Chrysostom
January 27/Feb 9
John Chrysostom - a great universal teacher and hierarch, passed away in 407 in the city of Comana on his way to the place of his exile, condemned by the machinations of Empress Eudoxia for his bold exposure of the vices that reigned in Constantinople. The transfer of his holy relics from Comana to Constantinople took place in 438, 30 years after the death of the saint, during the reign of Eudoxia's son, Emperor Theodosius II (408 - 450).
Saint John Chrysostom was dearly loved and deeply respected by the people, and sorrow for his untimely demise lived in the hearts of Christians. A disciple of Saint John, Saint Proclus, the Patriarch of Constantinople (434 - 447), while conducting the Divine Service in the Hagia Sophia, delivered a sermon in which, glorifying Saint John, he said: "Oh John! Your life was arduous, but your death is glorious, your tomb is blessed and your reward is abundant through the grace and mercy of our Lord Jesus Christ. Oh grace, overcoming boundaries, place, and time! Love conquered place, unforgettable memory annihilated boundaries, and miracles of the saint were not confined by place." Those present in the temple, deeply moved by the words of Saint Proclus, did not even allow him to finish the sermon and unanimously began to beseech the Patriarch to intercede before the emperor, so that the relics of Saint John could be transferred to Constantinople. The emperor, convinced by Saint Proclus, consented and ordered the transfer of Saint John's relics, but the people he sent could not lift the holy relics until the emperor, realizing his mistake, sent a letter to Saint John, humbly asking for his forgiveness for himself and his mother Eudoxia. The letter was read at the tomb of Saint John, and after that, the relics were easily lifted, placed on a ship, and delivered to Constantinople. The reliquary with the relics was placed in the church of the holy martyr Irene. The Patriarch opened the tomb: the body of Saint John was found incorrupt. The king, kneeling at the tomb with tears, asked for forgiveness. The people stayed by the reliquary all day and night. The next morning, the reliquary with the relics of the saint was transferred to the church of the Holy Apostles. The people exclaimed: "Receive your throne, father!" Then, Patriarch Proclus and the clerics standing by the reliquary saw that Saint John opened his mouth and said: "Peace to all."
In the 9th century, church hymns were written in honor of the feast of the transfer of Saint John Chrysostom's relics.
