St. John Chrysostom

OBJECTIVE

The objective of the Saint module is to teach eighth graders about the rich tradition of writers in the Coptic Orthodox Church throughout its history. They will learn how the different writers not only passed down wisdom which we must apply in our own lives, but also how their writings contributed to and ultimately shaped the Christian faith as a whole.

INTRODUCTION - 10 Minutes

St. John Chrysostom: Biography at a glance

If you have internet access and a screen, show the following as an introductory video (Stop around 7:44 - See Note to Servants below).

If not, review the following major events of the saint's life:

  • Born 347 AD in Antioch (Syria)
  • Son of high-ranking military officer
  • Raised Christian by his Mother
  • Studied Theology
  • When his mom passed away, he became a Hermit living in the mountains of Antioch (20 years old)
  • He lived an extreme ascetic life
  • Because his life was so extreme he became sick and had to leave the mountains after 2 years
  • Became a deacon in 381 and a priest in 386
  • As a priest he was a great preacher and writer
  • He spoke out against many things such as:
    • Pagan Idol worship
    • Abuse of wealth by the clergy
  • He also taught about
    • The Bible
    • Christian Spiritual Life
    • Morality
  • In 398, he became Archbishop of Constantinople
    • He gained popularity with the majority of people
    • His teachings against the abuse of wealth angered the wealthy and influential
      • For this he was banished and kept in confinement at Cucusus in Armenia
      • While in Exile he was able to write to his supporters.
  • He died in exile on September 14th, 407

(Note to Servants This video states that the St. John liturgy is used for most of the year. Please clarify to the students as needed that this refers to the Byzantine church, rather than the Coptic church.)

CONTENT AND ACTIVITY - 20 Minutes

For this lesson, split the class into groups and give each group a different quote (you can print them or write each on an index card). Allow each group or individual student a chance to read the quote and discuss/think about its importance. (Quotes are also copied in attached printable Activities sheet at end of lesson)

1)"If you cannot find Christ in the beggar at the church door, you will not find Him in the chalice."

2 "No matter how just your words may be, you ruin everything when you speak with anger."

3 "Do not be ashamed to enter again into the Church. Be ashamed when you sin. Do not be ashamed when you repent. Pay attention to what the devil did to you. These are two things: sin and repentance. Sin is a wound; repentance is a medicine. Just as there are for the body wounds and medicines, so for the soul are sins and repentance. However, sin has the shame and repentance possesses the courage."

4 "To destroy the fetus 'is something worse than murder.' The one who does this 'does not take away life that has already been born, but prevents it from being born.'"

5 "The love of husband and wife is the force that welds society together. Men will take up arms and even sacrifice their lives for the sake of this love....when harmony prevails, the children are raised well, the household is kept in order, and neighbors, friends, and relatives praise the result. Great benefits, both of families and states, are thus produced. When it is otherwise, however, everything is thrown into confusion and turned upside-down."

6 "The saints are exceedingly loving and gentle to mankind, and even to brute beasts...Surely we ought to show them (animals) great kindness and gentleness for many reasons, but, above all, because they are of the same origin as ourselves."

7 "Have you sinned? Come to Church. Tell God, 'I have sinned.' I do not demand anything else of you than this. Holy Scripture states, 'Be the first one to tell of your transgressions, so you may be justified.' Admit the sin to annul it. This requires neither labor nor a circuit of words, nor monetary expenditure, nor anything else whatsoever such as these. Say one word, think carefully about the sin and say, 'I have sinned.'"

8 "For Christians above all men are forbidden to correct the stumblings of sinners by force...it is necessary to make a man better not by force but by persuasion. We neither have authority granted us by law to restrain sinners, nor, if it were, should we know how to use it, since God gives the crown to those who are kept from evil, not by force, but by choice."

9 "Even if we have thousands of acts of great virtue to our credit, our confidence in being heard must be based on God's mercy and His love for men. Even if we stand at the very summit of virtue, it is by mercy that we shall be saved."

DISCUSSION (Challenge) - 10 Minutes

After a sufficient period of time, allow each group to read the quote and share what they learned with the class. Clarify any confusion and elaborate on the main points in the quotes.

RESOURCES

LESSON ATTACHMENTS

Grade 8 Week 2 Activity (Saints).pdf