Frequently asked to preach, his sermons called for response on the part of his hearers. Jesus invited his hearers to accept God as a loving, merciful Father. In his lifetime, he preached at least 18,000 times to perhaps 10 million hearers. Common Manicheans called "Auditores" (Hearers) obeyed looser rules of nonviolence. St. Chrysostom especially had to make frequent appeals to his hearers to keep quiet. The dynastic rite of the witnessed birth must have been familiar to the hymn's hearers. Jesus warns that these wonders will occur in the lifetimes of the hearers (). The interior is handsomely fitted up, and has sittings for 1,500 hearers. Among his hearers was a woman who never missed a lecture of his. There are approximately equal percentages of male and female hearers.