Johannes Chrysostomus in Konstantinopel (398-404)

What caused the fall of St. John Chrysostom, Bishop of Constantinople from 398-404 AD? Claudia Tiersch examines the Bishop's conduct in office, his interaction with the urban, court and church structures in Constantinople and describes his relationship to various social groups in the capital city. The author sees the decisive factors for the increasing resistance to him, especially from the highest circles, in the Bishop's socially non-conformist life-style and in his consistent demands for a reform of earthly structures according to biblical norms , in which Chrysostom did not show any compatibility between Christian ideals and social norms. As a result of this, members of the social elite increasingly regarded him as a threat to society.