Funerary Speech for John Chrysostom: Translated Texts for Historians

John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, was an important Early Church Father living in the latter half of the fourth century C. E. Much of his life and activities is contained in a funerary speech delivered by one of his former clergy members near Constantinople in the autumn of 407. That speech is the earliest and fullest account of his role as bishop of Constantinople between 397 and 404, and here it is translated into English for the first time.

            
Replacing the later Historical Dialogue on John by Palladius as the prime source text for understanding the life of John Chyrsostom, the Funerary Speech lends significant historical insights into early church history. Translators Timothy D. Barnes and George Bevan provide an ample introduction and extensive notes on the chronology of John’s life, as well as his posthumous reception and legacy. By doing so, they illustrate the importance of this relatively new text—and the figure whom it is about—in the history of Christianity.