THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS IN THE WORKS OF SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM
THE OBLIGATIONS OF THE CHRISTIAN BELIEVERS IN THE WORKS OF SAINT JOHN CHRYSOSTOM

Summary/Abstract: Saint John Chrysostom (344/354–407 A.D.) was one of the main figures of the 4th- century Christian Church. There is no other Father that left a vaster literary heritage. As regards the work of Saint John Chrysostom, we may say that he has left a great work to posterity, unequalled both in size and in contents, comprising 18 volumes in Migne edition (Father Jacques-Paul Migne 1800–1875: French publisher of theological works, a Roman Catholic priest). The topics that Saint John Chrysostom’s approaches in his homilies, letters and other writings are extremely diverse, tackling all the complex problems of human soul. This article analyzes the works of the famous 4th-century preacher and orator, mainly his sermons and exegetical writings, focusing on the following subjects and points of view: the laity and social life, the ideal Christian society, the peculiarities of the society, family life, education, the duties of parents, the role of pagan schooling in education, the process of education by age groups, differences between Christian and pagan culture, the mission of the laity in family life, the issue of marriage, the identity of the laity in the Church and ways of experiencing the threefold function (munera) of the laity (as priest, prophet, and king).

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