John Damascene

St. John Damascene

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. 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.

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).

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."