A very interesting book on a godly servant of our Lord and His body (the church) on this earth. What I most liked was John's defense of the plain word of God, especially against those who wanted to make it fashionable. The trend in the church, as it is in the world, is to make things comfortable and entertaining, to be spectators rather than disciples (or crucificants [those about to be crucified]). The desire is to be entertained, not changed. The lessons are to enhance the prestige of the teacher/preacher and motivate (since that is a way to enhance one's prestige) not to move one closer to the cross in their own life. That was not John Chrysostom (Golden Tongue). He did not care about preaching about what his benefactors wanted to hear, but what he saw in the word and in the church. While the church already had some bad, if not deadly, habits - such as men over groups of churches and the ensuing power struggles, and a mixing of the secular government imposing its will on the church, John seemed to be most happy teaching a local group of congregants, the same as were the apostles. It was also a time before things became even more defunct in the church. Christians were still immersed in the waters of baptism to be clothed in Christ (Gal3:26-7); they understood that it was a call to their own personal cross [Mar8:34-8]; and the church still sang as a group encouraging and teaching one another without instruments or a choir [as the Orthodox church still does]. All in all, a delightful (and quick) read. Hopefully it will encourage one to seek out more of the teachings and preachings of John Chrysostom and seek the primitive church with the gospel (1Cor15:1-4) front and center, not the popular image of the church with all the accoutrements of the fashionistas. * I don't think you will find the word crucificants in a dictionary. I just made it up.