Abstract
The article focuses on John Chrysostom's homily Contra ludos et theatra and sets it both in the context of Chrysostom's work and also in the context of the period discussions about theatre. It clarifies the basic arguments by which the preacher criticizes the as idolatry, but also draws attention to the lessobvious inspiration from Plato's teaching on mimesis: Chrysostom elaborates on the Platonic concept of passions and employs literary images known from Plato's writings.
He portrays theatre as a disease transmitted among spectators in a way described in Plato's Ion, applying the so-called "magnet" theory of perception, the most widespread perception theory throughout the antique era. The analysis of the text is followed by the translation of the homily.