Abstract
The book presents a Czech translation of twelve John Chrysostom's baptismal catecheses (CPG 4460-2 and 4464-4472) with notes and an introduction that comprises three chapters. The first and longest introductory chapter reflects on characteristics of hagiographic narratives and then provides a hagiographic narrative of John Chrysostom's life adapted to the present day.
It focuses on a few events of his life which can characterize his personality and great career and tells the story of his final failure which led to his exile. It depicts him as a saint of everyday life.
The subsequent chapter briefly explains particular stages of the catechetical and baptismal practice of the Church of Antioch. The final part of the introduction deals with John Chrysostom's catecheses.
It discusses the problem of date and place of their delivery and explains their complicated textual history and a comparatively recent formation of the collection.