The Oratio Funebris is an important and fascinating document for understanding the life of John Chrysostom and the history of religious conflicts in Constantinople.Reflecting the marginalization that John's followers suffered in the wake of his deposition and exile, the Oratio funebris responds to the challenge of reinforcing communal identity through a shared experience of persecution.The studies collected in this volume examine the rhetorical qualities of the speech and its strategies employed to cope with the ongoing crisis and experiences of violence. The volume is therefore of interest to all researchers concerned with the role of rhetoric and violence in Late Antiquity.