Golden Mouth, Iron Throne (St. John Chrysostom)

δόξα σοι ὁ θεός, δόξα σοιdóxa soi ho theós, dóxa soi
κύριε, ἐλέησονkýr ie, eléēson
ἅγιε ἰωάννη χρυσόστομε, πρέσβευε ὑπὲρ ἡμῶνhágie iōánnē chrysóstome, présbeue hypèr hēmôn

Born in antioch, forged in flameBorn in antioch, forged in flame
Trained in rhetoric, baptized in painTrained in rhetoric, baptized in pain
He left the world, the desert's callHe left the world, the desert's call
Prayer and fasting, gave it allPrayer and fasting, gave it all

Returned with fire in tongue and breathReturned with fire in tongue and breath
Preached heaven's truth till threat of deathPreached heaven's truth till threat of death
Golden mouth they named his cryGolden mouth they named his cry
Thunder rolling from the skyThunder rolling from the sky

Not silk and goldNot silk and gold
Not palace liesNot palace lies
But sin exposedBut sin exposed
Before all eyesBefore all eyes

Golden mouth, John ChrysostomGolden mouth, John Chrysostom
Hammer of pride, terror of greedHammer of pride, terror of greed
Voice of the poor, scourge of deceitVoice of the poor, scourge of deceit
No mercy for corruptionNo mercy for corruption
Truth over throne, God over crownTruth over throne, God over crown
He tore the empire downHe tore the empire down

He rose to Constantinople's seatHe rose to Constantinople's seat
A shepherd walking marble streetsA shepherd walking marble streets
Found bishops drunk on wealth and fameFound bishops drunk on wealth and fame
Turned sacred office into shameTurned sacred office into shame

He struck the rich with prophet's flameHe struck the rich with prophet's flame
If you cannot find Christ in the beggar's faceIf you cannot find Christ in the beggar's face
You will not find him in the chalice's graceYou will not find him in the chalice's grace
The court grew cold, the knives drew nearThe court grew cold, the knives drew near
When truth is spoken, tyrants fearWhen truth is spoken, tyrants fear

Silk-clad sinnersSilk-clad sinners
Trembled in hallsTrembled in halls
When scripture roaredWhen scripture roared
Against their wallsAgainst their walls

Golden mouth, John ChrysostomGolden mouth, John Chrysostom
Voice of thunder, servant of ChristVoice of thunder, servant of Christ
Exposed the rot at any priceExposed the rot at any price
No mercy for corruptionNo mercy for corruption
Not even empress spared his bladeNot even empress spared his blade
When truth had to be saidWhen truth had to be said

Eudoxia rose on golden stageEudoxia rose on golden stage
Statue erected, imperial rageStatue erected, imperial rage
He thundered forth without retreatHe thundered forth without retreat
Again herodias ragesAgain herodias rages
Again she dancesAgain she dances
Again she demands john's headAgain she demands john's head

The court exploded, exile decreedThe court exploded, exile decreed
Dragged from the city, wounded and weakDragged from the city, wounded and weak
But chains could not silence his cryBut chains could not silence his cry
His letters marched where he could not go byHis letters marched where he could not go by

Banished preacherBanished preacher
Still led the fightStill led the fight
Ink becameInk became
His sword of lightHis sword of light

Golden mouth, John ChrysostomGolden mouth, John Chrysostom
Exiled but never defeatedExiled but never defeated
Thrown from thrones but not deletedThrown from thrones but not deleted
No mercy for corruptionNo mercy for corruption
Empire struck, but heaven crownedEmpire struck, but heaven crowned
The preacher heaven-boundThe preacher heaven-bound

σῶσον, κύριε, τὸν λαόν σουsôson, kýrie, tòn laón sou
καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σουkaì eulógēson tḗn klēronomían sou
νίκας τοῖς βασιλεῦσι κατὰ βαρβάρων δωρούμενοςník as toîs basileûsi katà barbarōn dōroúmenos

Dragged through snow, through hunger and painDragged through snow, through hunger and pain
Body broken, spirit unchainedBody broken, spirit unchained
Final words before death's doorFinal words before death's door
δόξα τῷ θεῷ πάντων ἕνεκενdóxa tṷ theṷ pántōn hénēken

His body fell but his war lived onHis body fell but his war lived on
Liturgies thunder from dusk till dawnLiturgies thunder from dusk till dawn
East and west still speak his nameEast and west still speak his name
Golden mouth, eternal flameGolden mouth, eternal flame

Every altarEvery altar
Every massEvery mass
Still echoesStill echoes
What he passedWhat he passed

Golden mouth, John ChrysostomGolden mouth, John Chrysostom
Father of preaching, voice of fireFather of preaching, voice of fire
Raised the church higher and higherRaised the church higher and higher
No mercy for corruptionNo mercy for corruption
Kings will fall but truth remainsKings will fall but truth remains
Christ forever reignsChrist forever reigns

Golden mouth, John ChrysostomGolden mouth, John Chrysostom
Empire trembled, heaven stoodEmpire trembled, heaven stood
He bled for truth as martyrs shouldHe bled for truth as martyrs should
Word, fire, gloryWord, fire, glory
From antioch to eternityFrom antioch to eternity
Golden mouth lives on in meGolden mouth lives on in me

ἅγιε ἰωάννη χρυσόστομεhágie iōánnē chrysóstome
πρέσβευε ὑπὲρ ἡμῶνprésbeue hypèr hēmôn
ἀμήνamēn