What is the feast day of John Chrysostom?

By CopticBot.ai (Coptic Space Inc.) · Last reviewed 2026-10-10

In the Coptic Orthodox Church, the feast day of St. John Chrysostom, the Great Doctor of the Church and Patriarch of Constantinople, is commemorated twice in the Coptic Calendar:

1. The Feast of His Departure (Primary Feast)

17 Hathor

This usually corresponds to November 26th (or November 27th in leap years) on the Gregorian calendar.

• Significance: This day commemorates his falling asleep in the Lord in the year 407 AD while in exile. The Synaxarium read on this day recounts his courageous stand against the Empress Eudoxia, his defense of the poor, and his prolific writings, which earned him the title "Chrysostom" or "Golden-Mouthed".

2. The Coming of His Relics to Constantinople

16 Meshir

This usually corresponds to February 23rd (or February 24th in leap years) on the Gregorian calendar.

• Significance: This feast commemorates the return of his holy body from the place of his exile (Comana) to the city of Constantinople in the year 438 AD, during the reign of Emperor Theodosius II.

Liturgical Veneration

In the Coptic Orthodox tradition, St. John Chrysostom is held in the highest regard as one of the "Great Teachers" of the Universal Church. He is honored in several ways during the Divine Liturgy and the Midnight Praise:

• Commemoration of the Saints: He is mentioned by name in the Diptyche (The Commemoration of the Saints) in every Divine Liturgy, immediately following the names of the great Alexandrian fathers like St. Athanasius and St. Cyril. The priest says: "And our holy father John Chrysostom...".
• The Doxology: A specific Doxology is chanted in his honor during the Raising of Incense and the Midnight Praise on his feast days. It praises him as the "Trumpet of the Church" and the "Teacher of Repentance."
• His Writings: The Coptic Church uses many of his homilies and commentaries as authoritative interpretations of Holy Scripture. His influence on the theology of the priesthood and the Eucharist is central to our faith.

By commemorating him, the Coptic Church affirms its unity with the true Orthodox fathers who defended the faith against heretics and worldliness. His life and works are preserved and taught through the oral and written tradition of the deacons and the Moalemeen (such as Moalem Ibrahim Ayad, Moalem Gad Lewis, and Moalem George Mikhail), ensuring that his "Golden Mouth" continues to speak to the faithful in every generation.