The notions of martyrdom according to St. John Chrysostom

Abstract

It is well known that the topic of martyrdom is central to early Church history. What is not, however, as well known is the theology of martyrdom, particularly as it emerged after the full harvest of the era of persecutions. This investigation represents a modest attempt towards an exposition of such a theology of martyrdom by examining its meaning in one of the most eloquent early writers on the subject, St. John Chrysostom. By way of introduction, a brief survey of the meaning of martyrdom from its Jewish origins to the end of the third century is provided. There follows the two main parts of the thesis, the first and longest one dealing with the primary fiction of martyrdom, i.e. martyrdom by death, and the second one dealing with the secondary notions of martyrdom of asceticism and virginity and of martyrdom by association. In the first part, the major and minor nuances of the meaning of martyrdom are explored whereby its connection with the Crucified and Risen Christ is established. Detailed information is provided on the results and the occasion of martyrdom, as well as on the character of the martyr's death and the disposition of his soul, including the roles of God and the devil in it. The conclusion emphasizes the centrality of the notion of martyrdom in the early Christian perception of the Christian faith.