John Chrysostom and the Transformation of the City
Overview
John Chrysostom was one of the most prolific and admired Christian preachers of the fourth century AD. Operating in both Antioch and Constantinople, he was constantly concerned for the spiritual welfare of his flock, especially when he saw them surrounded by the secular temptations of city life in the later Roman Empire. His preaching was tailored to combat these temptations and to encourage his congregation to live more obviously orthodox lives. Previous studies of Chrysostom have been almost entirely biographical in nature. This book conducts a much needed thematic exploration of his preaching, shedding light both on gender relations in late antiquity and also on the practical processes by which Christianity established itself as a dominant social structure in the Roman Empire.
Key Features
- Provides a thematic exploration of John Chrysostom’s preaching
- Shares insights into gender relations and representations in late antiquity
- Examines Chrysostom’s homilies in relation to the the transformation of public life
Contents
- Pagan and Christian Cities
- Nolo Episcopari and the Transformation of the City
- Christian Preaching and its Audience
- A Guide to Chrysostom’s Preaching Style
- Role Models for the Christian City
- Construction of Gender: Two Compelling Models
- Gendered Sins
- Natural and Social Order in the Oikos and Polis
- The Sins of the Wealthy
- Money and Chrysostom’s City
- The Wealthy Road to Redemption
- Conclusions
About Aideen Hartney
Aideen Hartney earned her PhD at the University of Liverpool and went on to teach ancient history at the University of Bristol. She is the author of Gruesome Deaths and Celibate Lives: Christian Martyrs and Ascetics.