His nickname means "golden-mouthed" and has stayed with him for many centuries. St John Chrysostom, Archbishop of Constantinople, earned the name for his skill as a speaker. The Bulgarian Orthodox Church honours his memory today, 13 November. People called Yoan, Ivan, Yoana, Ivanka, Zlatan, Zlatka, Zlatko and other related names celebrate their name day.

One of the three Ecumenical Teachers

St John is one of the three Ecumenical Teachers, along with St Basil the Great and St Gregory the Theologian. In his day he was archbishop of the imperial capital, Constantinople, and one of its most famous preachers. His sermons gave him the name Chrysostom, and it has stuck to this day.

Clash with Empress Eudoxia

His high office did not protect him. John denounced Empress Eudoxia and paid for it with his seat as archbishop: he lost the post and was sent into exile.

He died on Holy Cross Day, 14 September, in 407 in Comana, on his way to a second exile. He was buried there, far from Constantinople, the city where he had preached and which had driven him out.

Eight centuries in the West, and back

His grave in Comana was not his last resting place. In 438, 31 years after his death, Emperor Theodosius II ordered his relics moved to Constantinople and placed in the Church of the Holy Apostles. The saint returned to the capital.

In 1204, some of the relics were taken west, where they stayed for eight centuries. Pope John Paul II returned part of them only in 2004. They are now kept in the patriarchal Church of St George in Fener, Istanbul.

13 November is the main day to honour the saint, who died on 14 September 407. The Church also honours him on 14 September (Holy Cross Day, the day he died), on 27 January (the transfer of his relics) and on 30 January (the Three Hierarchs), when he is honoured together with Basil the Great and Gregory the Theologian.

13 November is also World Kindness Day, which the World Kindness Movement launched in 1998. Happy name day to everyone named after St John Chrysostom!