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Homepage >> About Us Introducing St. Chrysostom's, 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? “Chrysostom” was the Greek nickname (meaning the “golden tongued”) of St. John Chrysostom, who was Bishop of Constantinople and one of what are called 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. Anywhere from 25-40 people normally attend. The 9:00 AM service begins its ninth year this fall. It 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. Between 60 and 90 attend. 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 professional choir. Between 100 and 160 attend. The 5:15 PM is also a quiet celebration of the Holy Eucharist, without music, often using one of the newer authorized rites. On the fourth Sunday there is a healing service. About 15-30 attend. How big is St. Chrysostom’s Parish? In the 2006 Annual Parochial Report (and the report for 2006 to the Annual Meeting of the Parish in January 2007) we had 274 pledges in 2006. (Note that a pledge to support the parish financially can be one person, or two, or six). The Parochial Report lists 727 communicants (adults and youth) in good standing of which 248 are under 16. In 2006 our pledge and plate income was $679,940. Our investment/endowment income was $140,953. Total operating revenues in 2006 (including the two figures just cited: pledge and plate and investment/endowment income) were $898,319. In addition, $453,923 was received for capital projects and $41,231 for outreach and mission programs in 2006. Come join us!
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