Chrysostom Academy
About UsNurturing Minds and Souls: The Chrysostom Academy Experience
Chrysostom Academy, located in Bethlehem, Pennsylvania, is a distinguished private Orthodox Christian school dedicated to providing a rigorous classical education for students in grades 1 through 9, with plans to expand through 12th grade. Emphasizing both intellectual and spiritual growth, our curriculum is rooted in the liberal arts tradition, encouraging students to explore literature, history, and philosophy while nurturing a vibrant Orthodox Christian faith. At Chrysostom Academy, our dedicated educators strive to cultivate a close-knit community where tradition, innovation, and lifelong learning converge, preparing each student to face the future with wisdom, integrity, and a commitment to service.
Mission
Chrysostom Academy unites classical education and Orthodox Christian formation. Students benefit from the reliable disciplines of formal education and the nurturing environment of faith. Young minds are directed toward the Good, the True, and the Beautiful, and young hearts toward the Gospel and Holy Tradition to educate and form our students as complete persons.
Vision
Chrysostom Academy provides classical, Christian education so that students will grow in virtue, wisdom, and joy. Chrysostom Academy is dedicated to providing a comprehensive formal education in harmony with the Eastern Orthodox Church. Guided by a commitment to the timeless traditions of the Christian Church, mind, and worldview, Chrysostom Academy educated students of the Church, the Lehigh Valley, the United States, and the world.
Spiritual Life and Community
Central to our identity is the integration of faith and learning. Students participate in daily prayers and regular Divine Liturgy, embracing the rich liturgical traditions of the Orthodox Church. This spiritual framework supports moral development and encourages students to live out their faith in everyday actions. Our community welcomes students from diverse backgrounds, united by a commitment to educational excellence and spiritual growth.
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Notice Of Nondiscriminatory Policy
As To Students
St. John Chrysostom Academy admits students of any race, color, national and ethnic origin to all the rights, privileges, programs, and activities generally accorded or made available to students at the school. Chrysostom Academy does not discriminate on the basis of race, color, national and ethnic origin in administration of its educational policies, admissions policies, scholarship and loan programs, and athletic and other school-administered programs.
Our Location
On the hidden 40+ acre campus of the St. Francis Center for Renewal, Chrysostom Academy is conveniently located just moments from Route 22 and 191 in Bethlehem off of Bridle Path Road.
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Mr. John Heitzenrater, II A.B., M.H.M.
Headmaster – Chrysostom Academy
About Our Headmaster
John W. Heitzenrater II has nearly 17 years teaching and administrative experience in classical schools. Mr. Heitzenrater began his career teaching history and humanities at the Lady Margaret Roper School and St. Peter’s Orthodox Classical School in Fort Worth, Texas. In 2015, he joined Responsive Education Solutions and served as a founding headmaster, Director of K-12 History, Regional Director under the superintendent, and most recently as headmaster of the second largest Responsive Ed school with a student enrollment of approximately 915 students.
Mr. Heitzenrater received his A.B. magna cum laude from the College of St. Thomas More where he studied literature, philosophy, theology, classical languages, and history. In graduate school he attended the University of Dallas where he received his Master of Humanities with a concentration in history in 2016.
He and his family were received into the Orthodox Church on Lazarus Saturday 2019 after praying about and researching Orthodoxy for over two decades. He brings a love for student excellence, a passion for classical education, and a quest for virtue, holiness, and wisdom to students and families. He and his wife Christina have 11 children, seven girls and four boys, many of whom will attend St. John Chrysostom Academy.