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New page: right '''Saint John Damascene''' (b. 645, died 749) was a Syrian Christian that lived under Muslim rule all of his life. St. John wrote the first comprehensiv...
[[Image:johndamascene.jpg|right]]
'''Saint John Damascene''' (b. 645, died 749) was a Syrian Christian that lived under
Muslim rule all of his life. St. John wrote the first comprehensive compilation of
Christian theology. John defended the Church’s understanding of the veneration of
images and he was known as a fierce opposer of iconoclasts. John was dedicated to a
life of prayer who guarded the Church's faith and traditions zealously. He had an
extraordinary devotion to the Mary, Mother of God. In 1890, Pope Leo XIII proclaimed
John Damascene [[Doctor of the Church]].
==Early Life==
Nothing is known of John's mother. Born in [[Damascus]], John was baptized
immediately on his birth. <ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=66
St. John of Damascus] Catholic Online</ref> He lived at the time when Syria fell into
the hands of the Arabs. John's father was a faithful Christian, a wealthy man of
honorable rank that commanded the respect of the Arab conqueror, and were employed
in judicial offices of trust and dignity as an administrator of Christian law to the
Christian subjects of the Sultan. John's father was devoted to the redemption of
Christian slaves. Saracen pirates swept the Mediterranean and brought in Christian
captives from all quarters. An [[Italian]] monk named Cosmas had the misfortune to
fall into the hands of Saracens. The father of John, thought he would make a valuable
tutor for his son. Thanks to John's father, his life was spared by the Saracen
governor and placed his son under his guidance.
<ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=66 St. John of Damascus]
Catholic Online</ref> Under the tutelage of Cosmas, John made such rapid progress
that he soon equalled Diophantus in algebra and Euclid in geometry. Equal progress
was made in music, astronomy, and theology. On the death of his father, John
Damascene was given a government position, chief councillor of Damascus.
==Icon Edict==
In 726, Leo the Isaurian of the Eastern Church, issued his first edict against the
veneration of images. John oppose the Byzantine monarch and he also stirred the
people to resistance. In 730, a more stringent edict on icons was enforced. John
Damascene replied with even greater vigour than before. He wrote a letter to the
Byzantine emperor and warned to beware of the consequences of this unlawful action,
which stoked the anger of the emperor. The Sultan received a forged letter of John,
sent from the emporer, writing the crime of betraying the city of Damascus. The
Sultan ordered the authors hand to be severed at the wrist. The sentence was
executed, but through the intervention of the Blessed Virgin, the amputated hand was
miraculously restored. John Damascene heard the calling to a higher life, resigned
his official government position and went to the monastery of St. Sabas, eight miles
southeast of [[Jerusalem]]. After a probationary period, John V, Patriarch of
Jerusalem, made him a priest. In 754, the successor of Leo, Constantine Copronymus,
reconfirmed the principles of the Iconoclasts and cursed by name those who had
opposed them. John was singled out as he was called a "cursed favourer of Saracens",
a "traitorous worshipper of images", a "wronger of Jesus Christ", a "teacher of
impiety", and a "bad interpreter of the Scriptures". At the emperor's command, his
name was written "Manzer" (a bastard).
<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08459b.htm St. John Damascene] Catholic
Encyclopedia</ref> But the Seventh General Council of Nicea (787) made ample amends
for the insults of his enemies and he was surnamed Chrysorrhoas (golden stream).
==Great Works==
John is regarded as the first Scholastic, and his "De fide orthodoxa" as the first
work of Scholasticism. The most important and best known of all his works is called
"Fountain of Wisdom." It is said that this book is to Eastern schools what the Summa
of Aquinas became to the West. The "Fountain of Wisdom" is divided into three parts,
namely, "Philosophical Chapters", "Concerning Heresy", and "An Exact Exposition of
the Orthodox Faith." It is largely a summary of the Categories of Aristotle. The
purpose to give his readers only such philosophical knowledge as was necessary for
understanding. It is a record of the technical terminology used by the Greek Fathers,
not only against the heretics, but also in the exposition of the Faith for the
benefit of Christians. The first book of "The Orthodox Faith" treats of the essence
and existence of God, the Divine nature, and the Trinity. The second books' chapters
were devoted to Islam, Iconoclasm, Aposchitae and lists eighty heresies. He added
twenty heresies that had sprung up since his time. In treating of Islam, he
assails the immoral practices of [[Mohammad]] and the corrupt teachings inserted in
the [[Koran]]. "Concerning the Orthodox Faith", the third book of the "Fountain of
Wisdom", is the most important of John Damascene's writings and one of the most
notable works of [[Christianity]]. The collection of a single work, collected the
theological opinions of the ancient writers scattered through many volumes, and of
systematizing them in a logical whole in the modern day eighth century.
Under the general title of "Homilies" he wrote fourteen discourses. These sermons
concern Transfiguration, Assumption, Nativity, Epiphany, and Pentecost, Epistles to
the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians and others. The most famous of the
"canons" is that on Easter, which contains the liturgical hymns used by the Greek
Church in its Sunday services. John adapted choral music to the purposes of the
Liturgy.
==Death==
Little is known of John's death. It is believed he died in Jerusalem. His eloquent defense of images has earned him the title of "The Doctor of Christian Art." He is also known as the last great Father of the Eastern Church.
==Quotes==
"The saints must be honored as friends of Christ and children and heirs of God,'But
as many as received him, he gave them the power to be made the sons of God....' Let
us carefully observe the manner of life of all the apostles, martyrs, ascetics and
just men who announced the coming of the Lord. And let us emulate their faith,
charity, hope, zeal, life, patience under suffering, and perseverance unto death, so
that we may also share their crowns of glory."
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Catholic Church]]
'''Saint John Damascene''' (b. 645, died 749) was a Syrian Christian that lived under
Muslim rule all of his life. St. John wrote the first comprehensive compilation of
Christian theology. John defended the Church’s understanding of the veneration of
images and he was known as a fierce opposer of iconoclasts. John was dedicated to a
life of prayer who guarded the Church's faith and traditions zealously. He had an
extraordinary devotion to the Mary, Mother of God. In 1890, Pope Leo XIII proclaimed
John Damascene [[Doctor of the Church]].
==Early Life==
Nothing is known of John's mother. Born in [[Damascus]], John was baptized
immediately on his birth. <ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=66
St. John of Damascus] Catholic Online</ref> He lived at the time when Syria fell into
the hands of the Arabs. John's father was a faithful Christian, a wealthy man of
honorable rank that commanded the respect of the Arab conqueror, and were employed
in judicial offices of trust and dignity as an administrator of Christian law to the
Christian subjects of the Sultan. John's father was devoted to the redemption of
Christian slaves. Saracen pirates swept the Mediterranean and brought in Christian
captives from all quarters. An [[Italian]] monk named Cosmas had the misfortune to
fall into the hands of Saracens. The father of John, thought he would make a valuable
tutor for his son. Thanks to John's father, his life was spared by the Saracen
governor and placed his son under his guidance.
<ref>[http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=66 St. John of Damascus]
Catholic Online</ref> Under the tutelage of Cosmas, John made such rapid progress
that he soon equalled Diophantus in algebra and Euclid in geometry. Equal progress
was made in music, astronomy, and theology. On the death of his father, John
Damascene was given a government position, chief councillor of Damascus.
==Icon Edict==
In 726, Leo the Isaurian of the Eastern Church, issued his first edict against the
veneration of images. John oppose the Byzantine monarch and he also stirred the
people to resistance. In 730, a more stringent edict on icons was enforced. John
Damascene replied with even greater vigour than before. He wrote a letter to the
Byzantine emperor and warned to beware of the consequences of this unlawful action,
which stoked the anger of the emperor. The Sultan received a forged letter of John,
sent from the emporer, writing the crime of betraying the city of Damascus. The
Sultan ordered the authors hand to be severed at the wrist. The sentence was
executed, but through the intervention of the Blessed Virgin, the amputated hand was
miraculously restored. John Damascene heard the calling to a higher life, resigned
his official government position and went to the monastery of St. Sabas, eight miles
southeast of [[Jerusalem]]. After a probationary period, John V, Patriarch of
Jerusalem, made him a priest. In 754, the successor of Leo, Constantine Copronymus,
reconfirmed the principles of the Iconoclasts and cursed by name those who had
opposed them. John was singled out as he was called a "cursed favourer of Saracens",
a "traitorous worshipper of images", a "wronger of Jesus Christ", a "teacher of
impiety", and a "bad interpreter of the Scriptures". At the emperor's command, his
name was written "Manzer" (a bastard).
<ref>[http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/08459b.htm St. John Damascene] Catholic
Encyclopedia</ref> But the Seventh General Council of Nicea (787) made ample amends
for the insults of his enemies and he was surnamed Chrysorrhoas (golden stream).
==Great Works==
John is regarded as the first Scholastic, and his "De fide orthodoxa" as the first
work of Scholasticism. The most important and best known of all his works is called
"Fountain of Wisdom." It is said that this book is to Eastern schools what the Summa
of Aquinas became to the West. The "Fountain of Wisdom" is divided into three parts,
namely, "Philosophical Chapters", "Concerning Heresy", and "An Exact Exposition of
the Orthodox Faith." It is largely a summary of the Categories of Aristotle. The
purpose to give his readers only such philosophical knowledge as was necessary for
understanding. It is a record of the technical terminology used by the Greek Fathers,
not only against the heretics, but also in the exposition of the Faith for the
benefit of Christians. The first book of "The Orthodox Faith" treats of the essence
and existence of God, the Divine nature, and the Trinity. The second books' chapters
were devoted to Islam, Iconoclasm, Aposchitae and lists eighty heresies. He added
twenty heresies that had sprung up since his time. In treating of Islam, he
assails the immoral practices of [[Mohammad]] and the corrupt teachings inserted in
the [[Koran]]. "Concerning the Orthodox Faith", the third book of the "Fountain of
Wisdom", is the most important of John Damascene's writings and one of the most
notable works of [[Christianity]]. The collection of a single work, collected the
theological opinions of the ancient writers scattered through many volumes, and of
systematizing them in a logical whole in the modern day eighth century.
Under the general title of "Homilies" he wrote fourteen discourses. These sermons
concern Transfiguration, Assumption, Nativity, Epiphany, and Pentecost, Epistles to
the Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians and others. The most famous of the
"canons" is that on Easter, which contains the liturgical hymns used by the Greek
Church in its Sunday services. John adapted choral music to the purposes of the
Liturgy.
==Death==
Little is known of John's death. It is believed he died in Jerusalem. His eloquent defense of images has earned him the title of "The Doctor of Christian Art." He is also known as the last great Father of the Eastern Church.
==Quotes==
"The saints must be honored as friends of Christ and children and heirs of God,'But
as many as received him, he gave them the power to be made the sons of God....' Let
us carefully observe the manner of life of all the apostles, martyrs, ascetics and
just men who announced the coming of the Lord. And let us emulate their faith,
charity, hope, zeal, life, patience under suffering, and perseverance unto death, so
that we may also share their crowns of glory."
==References==
<references/>
[[Category:Saints]]
[[Category:Catholic Church]]