CHRYSOLITE CHRYSOSTOM. 



with rubies and sapphires in Ceylon. Distinct crys- 

 tals were afterwards brought from Siberia, but their 

 original situation still remains unknown. It is now 

 known to exist, in beautifully distinct crystals, at two 

 places in the United States at Haddam (Conn.) and 

 Saratoga (N. Y.) They are found at botli these lo- 

 calities, hi a granitic rock. The form of the crystal 

 is, for the most part, a rectangular prism, and a 

 low six-sided table (with re-entering angles,) formed 

 by the crossing of three, prismatic crystals. Chryso- 

 beryl scratches quartz ; is of an olive-green colour, 

 and .vitreous lustre, and is often possessed of a bluish 

 opalescence. Specific gravity, 3.754. It is compos- 

 ed of alumine 68.66, glucine 16.00, silex 5.99, pro- 

 toxide of iron 4.73, and oxide of titanium 2.66. 



CHRYSOLITE ; a greenish, yellowish or brown- 

 ish stone, sometimes transparent, sometimes only 

 translucent, which possesses the power of double 

 refraction in a high degree. It is composed of silex 

 and magnesia. The chrysolite employed in the arts 

 comes chiefly from the Levant, and is sometimes used 

 in jewellery, but is not highly esteemed. Werner 

 thinks that the yellow chrysolite of the ancients is the 

 modern topaz. 



CHRYSOLORAS, EMANUEL; a distinguished 

 Greek of Constantinople, born about the middle of 

 the 14th century, the first who, in modern times, 

 transplanted Greek literature into Italy. The em- 

 peror John Palasologus sent him, in 1391, to Italy 

 and England, to ask tor assistance against the Turks. 

 Having thus become known in Italy, he returned 

 there, about the year 1395, and was appointed pro- 

 fessor of Greek literature at Florence. He remained 

 about three years in Florence, where he collected 

 around him a great number of scholars, of all ages 

 and ranks, ana excited universal enthusiasm as much 

 by his dignity, and the grace of his elocution, as by 

 the extent of his learning. From his school proceed- 

 ed Leonardo Bruno, Poggius, Francis Philelphus, and 

 other distinguished revivers of classical studies. He 

 afterwards taught with equal success in Milan, whence 

 the Greek emperor Manuel, who, in 1400, had come 

 to Italy, sent for him to Pavia, Venice, and lastly to 

 Rome. Pope Gregory XII. employed him in public 

 affairs, and sent him, with others, to the council of 

 Constance, where he died in 1415. He should not 

 be confounded with his nephew and companion in 

 Italy, John Chrysoloras. 



CHRYSOSTOM, JOHN, St ; a celebrated father 

 of the church, born in Antioch, in the year 344. 

 Secundus, his father, had the command of the impe- 

 rial troops in Syria. In those times, eloquence was 

 still the means of obtaining the highest honours in 

 Greece. Chrysostom studied this art, with Libanius, 

 the most famous orator of his time, and soon excelled 

 his master. After having studied philosophy with 

 Andragathius, he devoted himself to the Holy Scrip- 

 tures, and determined upon quitting the world, and 

 on consecrating his life to God in the deserts of Sy- 

 ria. At the age of 20, he conducted a legal case 

 with extraordinary success ; but he soon retired 

 from public business, and, by fasting and penance, 

 endeavoured to obtain the mastery of his passions. 

 He remained three years in Antioch. He was unit- 

 ed, by the ties of an ultimate friendship, with Basil, 

 Theodore afterwards bishop of Mopsuesta, and with 

 Maximus, subsequently bishop of Seleucia. Theo- 

 dore having quitted for a time his holy vocation, 

 Chrysostom wrote two beautiful exhortations, in or- 

 der to recall him to his duty. The bishops of the 

 provinces had determined on electing him or Basil 

 as bishop; but Chrysostom fled, and concealed him- 

 self; consequently Basil was elected, who complain- 

 ed, however, much of his friend's withdrawal. Chry- 

 so&tom defended himself in his beautiful work on 



the office of priests. He was then only 26 years 

 old. 



In 374, he retired to the anchorites who dwelt on 

 the mountains in the vicinity of Antioch. He de- 

 scribed the life which he led with them in the follow- 

 ing manner : " They rise with the first crowing of 

 the cock, or at midnight. After having read psalms 

 and hymns hi common, each, hi his separate cell, i 

 occupied in reading the Holy Scriptures, or in copy- 

 ing books. Then they proceed to church, and, 

 after mass, return quietly to their habitations. They 

 never speak to each other ; their nourishment is bread 

 and salt ; some add oil to it, and the invalids vege- 

 tables. After meals, they rest a few moments, and 

 then return to their usual occupations. They till the 

 ground, fell wood, make baskets and clothes, and 

 wash the feet of travellers. Their bed is a mat 

 spread on the ground ; their dress consists of skins, 

 or cloths made of the hair of goats and camels. They 

 go barefooted, have no property, and never pronounce 

 the words mine and thine. Undisturbed peace dwells 

 in their habitations, and a cheerfulness scarcely known 

 in the world." After four years, Chrysostom quitted 

 these hermits to seek a still greater seclusion. He 

 dwelt in a cavern, where he remained two years with- 

 out lying down. His penance and wakefulness, to- 

 gether with the dampness of his abode, threw him 

 into a severe illness, which forced him to return to 

 Antioch (381). In the same year he was appointed 

 deacon by the bishop of Antioch, and, in 386, conse- 

 crated priest. He was chosen vicar by the same 

 dignitary, and commissioned to preach the word 

 of God to the people. Till then, the bishops 

 only had instructed the people in the gospel. 

 His eloquence attracted Jews, heathens, and heretics. 

 He was, says Sozomenes, the ornament of his church, 

 and of the whole East, when the Emperor Arcadius 

 determined, in 397, to place him in the Episcopal 

 see of Constantinople. To prevent the inhabitants 

 of Antioch from opposing his intentions, the Emperor 

 caused him to be secretly conveyed to Constantin- 

 ople, where Theophilus, patriarch of Alexandria, or- 

 dained him. He commenced his official labours by 

 limiting the expenses of his house, founded and sup- 

 ported many hospitals, improved the morals of the 

 clergy, and converted a number of heathens and 

 heretics. He gave so generously to the poor, that 

 he was universally called John the almsgiver. He 

 devoted himself to attendance on the sick. He sent 

 bishops as missionaries to the Goths, to the Scyth- 

 ians, and to Persia and Palestine. His eloquence 

 twice prevented an insurrection. 



In 399, Chrysostom held a council in Constantin- 

 ople, at which several Asiatic bishops were deposed 

 as guilty of simony. Severin, Bishop of Gabala, in 

 Syria, dared to attack Chrysostom from the pulpit, 

 and to stir up the people against him ; but his charges 

 were rejected as calumnies. Chrysostom had two 

 dangerous enemies the empress Eudoxia, whose in- 

 justice and extortions gave cause to many complaints, 

 and Theophilus, patriarch of Alexandria, who was 

 jealous of his influence. The latter assembled several 

 bishops at Chalcedon, who were to investigate the 

 complaints made against Chrysostom. But he re- 

 fused to appear, alleging tliat they had acted against 

 the laws of the church ; and, on his part, assembled 

 forty bishops at Constantinople. His enemies, how- 

 ever, prevailed. His removal was determined upon, 

 and sanctioned by Arcadius, who banished him from 

 the country. Chrysostom quitted the city secretly, 

 that he might not be prevented by his adherents, and 

 purposed retiring to Bithynia ; but the people threat- 

 ened a revolt. In the following night, an earthquake 

 gave general alarm. In this dilemma, Arcadius re- 

 called his orders, and Eudoxia herself invited Chry- 



