None of the Fathers of the early church is better known or loved than St Chrysostom, and none of his works is more popular than On the Priesthood. Its stylistic brilliance demonstrates the appropriateness of Chrysostom enduring title, the golden-mouthed. Yet the rhetorical eloquence of the work is not simply camouflage for lack of substance. Chrysostom's unique gift for linking concrete observation and theological vision is nowhere more evident that in On the Priesthood. Its presence helps to account for the work's power to inspire and challenge Christians in all ages.