Crumbs from the Table

When strongmen rulers appeal to the "moral majority", and claim to uphold traditional values against the onslaught of liberal decadence, they follow in the footsteps of rulers who have gone before them, not least Adolf Hitler.   The period between the First and Second World Wars in Germany is known as the Weimar Republic (1918-1933). This followed defeat in World War One, and various attempted uprisings at that time. The Weimar Republic was an attempt to introduce liberal democracy to Germany, however it ultimately served as the prelude to the rise of the Nazi Party and Adolf Hitler. As well as the infamous hyper-inflation and the inept divisions in party politics, the Weimar Republic was a time of moral decadence. Berlin was particularly notorious for this decadence, represented by figures such as Anita Berber (painted by Otto Dix - left) or night clubs such as the Eldorado or Moka Efti. The Nazi party was able to capitalise on popular revulsion towards the moral decadence o

John Chrysostom served as Archbishop of Constantinople 398-404. During this very short period of time he exercised enormous influence, particularly through his preaching. At this time, Gothic tribes were situated to the north of the new imperial capital, and many Goths were to be found in the city. The gospel had been brought to the Goths, who spoke a Germanic language, by an Arian missionary called Ulifas. Arian Christianity was a heretical version of the Christian faith which understand the Son of God to be a creature. To counteract the influence of such teaching, and zealous for the Goths to worship God Father Son and Holy Spirit, John Chrysostom arranged for St Paul's church to be set aside for worship in their native tongue. During Holy Week in the year 400, John Chrysostom visited the church and, through a Gothic interpreter, spoke at their service. The text of the sermon would appear to have been Psalm 19:4-5. Here is a translation of his opening remarks:  "I wish Greek