READERS familiar with the Book of Common Prayer will know the Prayer of St Chrysostom, which concludes the prayers after the third collect at morning and evening prayer. Archbishop Cranmer took it from the Orthodox Divine Liturgy ascribed to St John Chrysostom, whose works were popular with 16th-century reformers. Popular in the city, John soon lost the support of the Empress Eudoxia and the court by criticising aspects of her behaviour and preaching against the weaknesses of women. Whitworth’s book has the enthusiastic commendation of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, distant successor of John Chrysostom as Bishop of Constantinople, and the assurance of his blessing on its readers. The Empress and the Bishop: The triumphs and tragedy of John ChrysostomPatrick WhitworthSacristy Press £25 hbk, £16.99 pbk(978-1-78959-385-3 hbk)(978-1-78959-370-9 pbk)Church Times Bookshop £22.50, £15.29
