Changes

Our venerable and God-bearing Father '''John of Damascus''' (c. 676 - [[December 5]], 749) was also known as ''John Damascene, Chrysorrhoas,'' "streaming with gold," (i.e., the golden speaker). He was born and raised in Damascus, in all probability at the [[Holy Lavra of St. Savas (Jerusalem)|Monastery of Saint Sabbas]] (''Mar Saba''), South East of Jerusalem. His [[feast day ]] in the [[Orthodox Church]] is [[December 4]]. He is also recognized as a [[saint]] in the [[Roman Catholic Church]].[[Image:John_of_DamascusJohn of Damascus.jpg|right|frame|St. John of Damascus]]

== Biography ==Practically all the information concerning the life of John of Damascus available to us today has been through the records of [[JohnV of Jerusalem|John]], [[Patriarch of Jerusalem]]. Though these notes have served as the single source of biographical information, dating back to the 10th tenth century, these writings have been noted by scholars as having an exuberant lack of detail from a historical point of view and a bloated writing style.

Although he was brought up under the [[Islam|Muslim]] rule of Damascus, this was not to affect his or his family's [[Christian]] faith or cause any grievances with the Muslim countrymen who held him in high esteem. To the extent that his father held a high hereditary public office with duties of chief financial officer for the caliph, Abdul Malekunder, apparently as head of the tax department for Syria. When John reached the age of twenty-three, his father sought out to find a [[Christian]] tutor who could provide the best education for his children available at the time. Records show that while spending some time in the market place John's father came across several captives, imprisoned as a result of a raid for prisoners of war that had taken place in the coasts of Italy. This man, a Sicilian [[monk ]] by the name of Cosmas, turned out to be an erudite of great knowledge and wisdom. John's father arranged for the release of this man and appointed him tutor to his son. Under the instruction of Cosmas, John made great advances in fields of study such as music, astronomy and theology. According to his biographer, he soon equaled Diophantus in algebra and Euclid in geometry.

In spite of his [[Christian]] background, his family held a high hereditary public office with the [[Islam|Moslem]] rulers of Damascus, lead led by caliph Abd al-Malik. He succeeded his father in his position upon his death; ''John de Damascene'' was made ''protosymbullus'', or chief councilor of Damascus.  It was around his term in office that burst of insurgence by the [[iconoclasm|iconoclasts]] began to appear in the form of [[heresy]], actions which disturbed the Church of the East. In 726, in disregard of the protests of [[Germanus I of Constantinople|Germanus]], Patriarch of Constantinople, Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] issued his first edict against the veneration of images and their exhibition in public places. A talented writer and in the secure surroundings of the caliph's court, ''John de Damascene'' initiated his literary defense against the monarch in three ''Apologetic Treatises against those Decrying the Holy Images.'' This was the earliest of his works and the one which earned him a reputation. Not only did he attack the monarch, but his use of a simpler writing style brought the controversy to the common people, inciting revolt among those of Christian faith.

It was around his term in office that burst of insurgence by the [[iconoclasm|iconoclasts]] began Unable to appear in punish the form of [[heresy]], actions which disturbed the Church of the East. In 726, in disregard of the protests of Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinoplewriter openly, Emperor [[Leo the Isaurian]] issued his first edict against the veneration managed to get possession of images a manuscript written and their exhibition in public places. A talented writer and in the secure surroundings of the caliph's court, signed by ''John de Damascene'' initiated his literary defense against , which he used to forge a letter from John to the Isaurian monarch in three ''Apologetic Treatises against those Decrying offering to betray into his hands the Holy Imagescity of Damascus.Despite John'' This was s earnest advocation to his innocence, the earliest of caliph dismissed his works plea and the one discharged him from his post, ordering his right hand, which earned him a reputation. Not only did he attack the monarchused for writing, but his use of a simpler witting style brought the controversy to be severed at the common people, inciting revolt among those of [[Christian]] faithwrist.

Unable According to punish the writer openlytenth-century biography, his hand was miraculously restored after fervent prayer before an [[Leo icon]] of the Isaurian[[Theotokos|Virgin Mary]] managed . At this point the caliph is said to get possession have been convinced of a manuscript written his innocence and signed by ''inclined to reinstate him to his former office. However, John de Damascene''then retired to the Monastery of [[Sabbas the Sanctified|Saint Sabbas]] near Jerusalem, which where he used continued to forge produce a letter from John to stream of commentaries, hymns and apologetic writings, including the Isaurian monarch offering to betray into his hands ''[[Oktoechos]]'' (the city Church's service book of eight tones) and ''An Exact Exposition of Damascus. Despite Johnthe Orthodox Faith''s earnest advocation to his innocence, a summary of the caliph dismissed his plea and discharged him from his post, ordering his right hand, which he used for writing, to be severed at dogmatic writings of the wristEarly [[Church Fathers]].

According to the 10th-century biography, his hand was miraculously restored after fervent prayer before an icon of the [[Theotokos|Virgin Mary]]. At this point the caliph is said to have been convinced of his innocence and inclined to reinstate him to his former office. However, John then retired to the [[Monastery of Saint Sabbas]] near Jerusalem, where he continued to produce === Last days ===He died in 749 as a stream revered Father of commentaries, hymns and apologetic writings, including the ''[[Oktoechos]]'' (the Church's service book of eight tones) and ''An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith'', is now universally recognized as a summary of the dogmatic writings of the Early [[Church Fathers]]saint.

== List of works ===== Last Days The Precious Pearl: The Lives of Saints Barlaam and Ioasaph===He died in 749 as a revered Father [http://sites.google.com/site/preciouspearlfan ''The Precious Pearl: The Lives of the Church Saints Barlaam and is now universally recognized as a [[saintIoasaph'']].

== List of Works =====Early Workwork===* Three ''"Apologetic Treatises against those Decrying the Holy Images"'' [http://www.fordham.edu/halsall/basis/johndamascus-images.html] - These treatises where among his earliest expositions in response to the edict by [[Leo the Isaurian]] of Constantinople, which banned the worship or exhibition of [[icons|holy images]].

===Teachings and Dogmatic Workdogmatic work===* [http://www.archive.org/details/fathersofthechur009511mbp ''"Fountain The Fount of Knowledge"''], also ''"The Fountain Fount of Wisdom"'', this book is divided in three parts:

*# "Concerning Heresy" ''(peri aipeseon)'' - In this book, in the section ''On Heresies'', he dedicates a portion to the [http://orthodoxinfo.com/general/stjohn_islam.aspx ''Heresy of the Ishmaelites''], being the first apologetic work against [[Islam]] by a Christian.*# [http://www.ccel.org/ccel/schaff/npnf209.iii.iv.i.i.html "An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith" ] ''(Ikdosis akribes tes orthodoxou pisteos)'' - This third section of the book is known to be the most important work of ''John de Damascene'', and a treasured antiquity of [[Christianity]]. 

===Hymns and Minor Writingsminor writings===

==External linklinks==

[[ar:يوحنا الدمشقي]][[bg:Йоан ДамаДамаскин]][[el:Ιωάννης Δαμασκηνός]][[es:Juan Damasceno]][[fr:Jean Damascène]][[it:Giovanni di Damasco]][[mk:Свети Јован Дамаскин]][[ro:Ioan Damaschin]][[ru:Иоанн Дамаскин]]