Golden Mouth, Iron Throne (St. John Chrysostom)

δόξα σοι ὁ θεός, δόξα σοι
κύριε, ἐλέησον
ἅγιε ἰωάννη χρυσόστομε, πρέσβευε ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν

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

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

Not silk and gold
Not palace lies
But sin exposed
Before all eyes

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

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

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

Silk-clad sinners
Trembled in halls
When scripture roared
Against their walls

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

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

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

Banished preacher
Still led the fight
Ink became
His sword of light

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

σῶσον, κύριε, τὸν λαόν σου
καὶ εὐλόγησον τὴν κληρονομίαν σου
νίκας τοῖς βασιλεῦσι κατὰ βαρβάρων δωρούμενος

Dragged through snow, through hunger and pain
Body broken, spirit unchained
Final words before death's door
δόξα τῷ θεῷ πάντων ἕνεκεν

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

Every altar
Every mass
Still echoes
What he passed

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

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

ἅγιε ἰωάννη χρυσόστομε
πρέσβευε ὑπὲρ ἡμῶν
ἀμήν