A Source Book for Ancient Church History - Mirrors

§ 75. Social Significance of the State Church 433(m) Chrysostom, Hom. 66 in Matth. (XX, 30). (MSG, 58:630.)The Church took the lead in philanthropy and not onlyorganized relief of poor but constantly exhorted people tocontribute to the cause. See above, § 68, d.If both the wealthy and those next to them in wealth were todistribute among themselves those in need of bread and raiment,scarcely would one poor person fall to the share of fifty men,or even a hundred. Yet, nevertheless, though in such greatabundance of persons able to assist them, they are wailing everyday. And that thou mayest learn their inhumanity, recall that theChurch 150 has a revenue of one of the lowest among the wealthy,and not of the very rich; and consider how many widows itsuccors every day, how many virgins; for indeed the list of them [395]amounts to the number of three thousand. Together with these shesuccors them that dwell in prison, the sick in the caravansaries,the healthy, those that are absent from their homes, those that aremaimed in their bodies, those that wait upon the altar; and withrespect to food and raiment, those that casually come every day;and her substance is in no respect diminished. So that if ten menonly were thus willing to spend, there would be no poor.(n) Gregory of Nazianzus, Panegyric on Basil, ch. 63. (MSG,36:577.)Gregory of Nazianzus was the friend and schoolmate of Basil.The action of Basil in forcing upon him the bishopric ofSasima led to an estrangement and brought about the tragedyof Gregory's ecclesiastical career, his forced resignation ofthe archiepiscopal see of Constantinople. See Gregory'soration, “The Last Farewell” (PNF, ser. II, vol. VII, 385).150 I.e., of Antioch, where Chrysostom was a presbyter and delivered thesehomilies.