A new study finds that Saint John Chrysostom used Greek mythology to challenge pagan gods, retelling familiar stories in ways that undermined the beliefs they supported. Writing in fourth-century Antioch, the future Christian preacher portrayed Greek god Apollo and other deities through accounts that made their actions appear absurd, according to researcher Fabrizio Petorella.
Petorella, affiliated with the University of Pisa and the Accademia dei Lincei in Italy, examined Chrysostom’s “Discourse on Blessed Babylas and Against the Greeks.” The work, probably written in the late 370s, defended Christian miracles and celebrated Babylas, a martyred bishop of Antioch. It also challenged Emperor Julian’s efforts to connect traditional Greek education with pagan religion.
One story concerns Daphne, a young woman pursued by Apollo. In Chrysostom’s account, she escapes when the earth shelters her and a tree grows in her place. Apollo embraces the tree and becomes attached to the suburb of Antioch that bears her name.
Saint John Chrysostom, one of Christianity’s most influential figures
Saint John Chrysostom (c. 347–407 AD) was an early Christian theologian, preacher, and Archbishop of Constantinople, renowned for his eloquence and powerful sermons. Born in Antioch, he became one of the most influential figures in early Christianity and earned the name “Chrysostom,” meaning “Golden-Mouthed” in Greek, because of his exceptional oratory skills. He is revered as a saint and one of the Three Holy Hierarchs of the Eastern Orthodox Church.
Apollo’s oracle fell silent in Chrysostom’s account
The tale sets up Chrysostom’s account of Babylas’ remains being taken to Daphne, where Apollo’s oracle allegedly fell silent. Chrysostom attributed the silence to the martyr’s presence, presenting the episode as evidence of Christianity’s victory over pagan worship.
Another myth involves Ares and Aphrodite, whose affair Apollo discovers and reports to her husband, Hephaestus. Hephaestus traps the couple and summons other gods to witness their humiliation. Chrysostom recounts the scandal while criticizing Libanius, a pagan teacher who complained about the destruction of Apollo’s temple but avoided detailing the incident.
“Why do you conceal the noble achievements of your gods?” Chrysostom asks, according to the translation reproduced in the study. Petorella sees the question as part of the writer’s effort to expose the gods to ridicule.
Petorella says both myths share a distinct style. Indirect statements and repeated words give the stories the rhythm of simple folk tales.
How John Chrysostom turned Greek mythology into a literary argument
The study notes that these techniques were familiar from ancient Greek rhetorical training. By reporting rather than directly affirming the tales, Chrysostom could distance himself from their claims without pausing to refute each story point by point.
Petorella also suggests a possible echo of the historian Herodotus’ story of Arion, a musician rescued by a dolphin, but says that connection remains uncertain. The broader argument concerns a struggle over education after Julian sought to exclude Christians from traditional teaching.
John Chrysostom, Petorella argues, turned Greek mythology and the literary methods of pagan schooling into tools for defending Christianity and criticizing pagan gods. His approach also echoed Gregory of Nazianzus’ argument that Greek learning did not belong exclusively to pagans.
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