The Roman emperor, Arcades, and his wife, have experienced such hatred, such bitterness,

such anger toward John Chrysostom. John was the bishop of Constantinople at the time.

His probably was one of the godliest men, if not the godliest man, of his time. And the anger was continuously to bubble in the

heart of the emperor until one day he brought together all of his advisors. And he said, what can I

do to destroy this man? And the advisors all got together, and they all came up with different

types of ways by which they can destroy

John Chrysostom.

One said, banish him and exile him to the desert.

Another said, put him in prison.

A third one said, confiscate all of his property.

But then a crafty and a wicked courtier came up and looked at all the advisors of the emperor.

And he said, I want to tell you that you're all making a great mistake.

You will never punish him by such proposals.

He said, if you banish him, he will feel God's presence in the desert as he feels him in the city.

If you put him in prison and load him with chains, he will pray and praise God in the prison as he will in his office.

If you confiscate his property, it will make no difference because he gives it all away anyway.

If you condemn him to death, you only open the gates of heaven to John Chrysostom.

And this malicious, wicked, devilish man turned to the emperor and he said,

Prince, let me suggest to you how you destroy this man.

If you really want to see Christostom suffer, force him to commit sin.

I know him well.

This man fears nothing in the world but sin. I know him well. This man fears nothing in the world but sin. When I read this, I have to confess to you.

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