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St. John Chrysostom was born at Antioch in 347 A.D. After his formal education he embraced the monastic life but, became known for his preaching. St. John was elected bishop of Constantinople in 397. He is considered one of the four great doctors of the eastern Church. Twice he was forced into exile by the hatred of the imperial court. St. John died on September 14th, 407. He is the Patron Saint of Orators, Preachers, and Speakers.

The four Great Doctors of the Eastern Church, Sts John Chrysostom, Basil the Great, Gregory of Nazianzus, and Athanasius were recognized in 1568 by Pope St. Pius V.

A Doctor of the Church, (from the Latin docere, to teach), is a saint from whose writings the whole Church is held to have derived great advantage and to whom "eminent learning" and "great sanctity" have been attributed. The honour is always bestowed posthumously.

Sts Ambrose, Augustine, Jerome, and Pope Gregory Iwere the original Doctors of the Church and were named in 1298. They are known collectively as the Great Doctors of the Western Church.