On the Incomprehensible Nature of God

Ten of the twelve homilies of St. John Chrysostom presented here were
delivered at Antioch over a period of several years beginning in A.D.
386. The final two homilies were delivered in 398 after Chrysostom
became patriarch of Constantinople. All but one of the homilies
aim at refuting the Anomoeans, heretics who revived the most radical
tenets of Arius and blatantly claimed that man knows God in the very
same way that God knows himself. Chrysostom's refutations and
instructions to the faithful are based on the Scriptures rather than on
human reasoning. He departed from this series of refutations only in the
sixth homily, which he delivered on December 20, 386, again at Antioch.
It consists of a panegyric of St. Philogonius, bishop of Antioch ca.
A.D. 319-23, who before his episcopal ordination had led a very
exemplary life, practiced law and contracted a marriage that was blessed
with a daughter. In addition to their theological content,
these homilies contain many other points of interest. On one occasion,
people applauded the speaker and were very attentive to the homily but
then left the church so that when Christ is about to appear in the holy
mysteries the church becomes empty (Hom III.32; Hom VII.2). During
another homily, pickpockets plied their trade so that Chrysostom urged
"let no one come into the church carrying money" (Hom IV.46). Chrysostom
also indicates that people kept talking to one another at the sacred
moment when Christ becomes present (Hom IV.36). He also mentions that
chariot races often proved more enticing than going to church (Hom
VII.1). Finally, valuable information on fourth-century Eastern
liturgies is found in Hom III.41, 42, and Hom IV.32.