About the request of Gainas and the response of Bishop John Chrysostom
1. A certain Gainas, of Scythian
(Gothic) origin and barbarian in mind, using tyrannical reasoning, was
commander of the army (magister militum) at that time and had many
subordinates (soldiers) of the same tribe (i.e., Goths). With them, he led both
the cavalry and the infantry of the Romans.
Not only did all others fear him,
but even the emperor, seeing the tyranny he exercised.
2. Sharing in the desolation
(heresy) of Arius, Gainas requested that the emperor grant him one of the
divine sanctuaries, but the emperor said he would consider it and promised that
he would take care of it.
The emperor then summoned the
divine John and informed him of this request. He also reminded him of Gainas’s
power, alluded to the tyranny he exercised, and begged him to calm the
barbarian’s fury through generosity.
3. But this noble man replied:
“Do not promise such a thing, O emperor, nor command it, nor give what is holy
to the dogs (Mt 7:6). I will not endure that those who proclaim the word of God
and glorify Him be cast out, and that I should thus give their divine temple to
those who blaspheme Him.
4. “By no means should you fear
this barbarian, O emperor, but rather summon us both, me and him, and you shall
listen in peace to what will be discussed. As for me, I will confront his
tongue and will convince him not to ask at all for that which it is not fitting
to be given to him.”
Hearing this, the emperor
rejoiced and on the following day summoned them both.
5. Gainas demanded the
fulfillment of the emperor’s promise, while John replied, saying that it is not
permitted for the emperor, who is chosen to uphold the right faith, to dare
anything against the divine. When Gainas said that he too must have a house of
prayer, the great John answered: “Every house of God is open to you, and no one
prevents you from praying, if you so desire.”
6. “But I,” said Gainas, “am from
another community (sect). With them I ask to have a place of worship, and I
demand this with even greater right, since I have supported many military
actions for the Romans.”
“But you,” said John, “have
received rewards greater than your labors, for you are commander of the army (magister
militum) and have also been deemed worthy of the consular mantle.
7. “So, you must consider what
you were before and what you have become now; what was your former poverty and
what is your present wealth? What kind of clothing did you wear before crossing
the Danube, and what do you wear now? Consider that your labors are few, while
your rewards are very great, and do not be ungrateful for the honors with which
you have been adorned.”
8. Using such words, the teacher
of the world (John Chrysostom) shut the mouth of Gainas and forced him to be
silent.
After some time, Gainas revealed
the tyranny he had long harbored in his heart, for when he led the army into
Thrace, he plundered and looted as many settlements as he could.
9. Hearing about these things,
all were terrified—both the leaders and the subjects—and no one was willing to
draw up the army in battle order against him, nor did anyone dare to go to him
as an envoy without fear, for each one looked with distrust upon what was
barbaric in his mind.
About the mission of St. John
Chrysostom to Gainas
1. Then, setting aside all the
others who were afraid, they persuaded this very courageous man (John
Chrysostom) to go as an envoy to Gainas. And John Chrysostom paid no heed to
the opposition Gainas had shown him, nor to the enmity that had arisen because
of it, and he set out in haste toward Thrace.
2. Recognizing this envoy and
recalling the courage he had shown him for the right faith, Gainas received him
from afar with respect; he placed his right hand upon his own face, and even
brought his children to the holy feet of the saint. Thus, dignified bearing
(virtue) succeeded in bringing shame and amazement even to the most hardened
enemies.
(From Theodoret of Cyrrhus,
Ecclesiastical History, Book V, PSB 44, pp. 238–239.)
Romanian source: https://theodosie.ro/2019/09/28/dreapta-credinta-in-vietile-sfintilor-2-sf-ioan-gura-de-aur/
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