Introducing St. Chrysostom's Church, Chicago

How old is St. Chrysostom’s?      

      St. Chrysostom’s Church was founded in 1893. The current church building was enlarged and renovated in the 1920s.

 Who was St. Chrysostom?     

     St. John Chrysostom, who had the Greek nickname of “golden tongued,” was the Bishop of Constantinople and was one of the Fathers of the Early Church. He was born in about 347 and died in 407.

     The mosaic above the altar in the side chapel, to your left when looking at the high altar, is a painted copy of a mosaic icon of St. John Chrysostom in Hagia Sophia in Istanbul. This copy was actually made inside Hagia Sophia sometime in the 1930s when scholars were uncovering the ancient Christian mosaics.

     Why is an Episcopal Parish named for St. Chrysostom?  We are not sure why the name was originally chosen.  But it is a link to the ancient undivided Christian Church, and to the tradition of Biblical preaching and study and theology in the early church.  Of course, members of St. Chrysostom’s, Chicago remember we are disciples of Jesus, not of any one of his saints, however distinguished.

What worship services are offered?

      September-May there are normally four Sunday services.

     The 8:00 AM is a quiet and meditative celebration of the Holy Eucharist with Sermon. There is no music.

     The 9:00 AM service is designed to allow the littlest and noisiest to attend worship. (Children are welcome at any of our services, but the guideline at this one is that no one minds the normal noises accompanying a large number of small children!) This is a celebration of the Holy Eucharist, with organ and hymns, singing “Jesus loves me” near the end. Children are invited to join one of the clergy at the steps for a children’s homily. Our goal is that the service lasts about 45 minutes.

     The 11:00 AM is Holy Eucharist and Sermon on the first and third Sundays of each month (and on major Feast Days) and Morning Prayer and Sermon on the second and fourth Sundays. There is a choir of professional singers.