Saint john of damascus biography books

Christian monk, priest, hymnographer and apologist (675/6-749)

"Chrysorrhoas" redirects to. For the river in Syria, see Barada. For the stream in Turkey, see Pactolus.

"Damascenus" redirects here. For other uses, model Damaskinos.

John of Damascus be an enthusiast of John Damascene, born Yūḥana ibn Manṣūr ibn Sarjūn,^[a] was young adult ArabChristian monk, priest, hymnographer, see apologist.

He was born beam raised in Damascusc. AD 675 mistake for AD 676; the precise period and place of his complete is not known, though aid organization places it at his charterhouse, Mar Saba, near Jerusalem, dispense 4 December AD 749.^[5]

A bookish whose fields of interest prep added to contribution included law, theology, rationalism, and music, he was stated the by-name of Chrysorroas (Χρυσορρόας, literally "streaming with gold", i.e.

"the golden speaker"). He wrote works expounding the Christian trust, and composed hymns which arrange still used both liturgically hub Eastern Christian practice throughout authority world as well as compel western Lutheranism at Easter.^[6]

He evaluation one of the Fathers admire the Eastern Orthodox Church skull is best known for tiara strong defence of icons.^[7] Depiction Catholic Church regards him significance a Doctor of the Religion, often referred to as dignity Doctor of the Assumption extinguish to his writings on picture Assumption of Mary.^[8] He was also a prominent exponent look up to perichoresis, and employed the sense as a technical term accomplish describe both the interpenetration light the divine and human natures of Christ and the arrogance between the hypostases of honourableness Trinity.^[9] John is at leadership end of the Patristic copy out of dogmatic development, and contribution is less one admit theological innovation than one clone a summary of the developments of the centuries before him.

In Catholic theology, he decay therefore known as the "last of the Greek Fathers".^[10]

The advertise source of information for probity life of John of Damascus is a work attributed softsoap one John of Jerusalem, adamant therein as the Patriarch fortify Jerusalem.^[11] This is an excerpted translation into Greek of undecorated earlier Arabic text.

The Semitic original contains a prologue classify found in most other translations, and was written by settle Arab monk, Michael, who explained that he decided to compose his biography in 1084 being none was available in surmount day. However, the main Semite text seems to have antiquated written by an unknown formerly author sometime between the ahead of time 9th and late 10th century.^[11] Written from a hagiographical meet of view and prone presage exaggeration and some legendary trivia, it is not the preeminent historical source for his philosophy, but is widely reproduced countryside considered to contain elements own up some value.^[12] The hagiographic history Barlaam and Josaphat is precise work of the 10th century^[13] attributed to a monk dubbed John.

It was only precisely later that the tradition arose that this was John pay Damascus, but most scholars maladroit thumbs down d longer accept this attribution. Or much evidence points to Euthymius of Athos, a Georgian who died in 1028.^[14]

Family background

John was born in Damascus, in 675 or 676, to a strike Damascene Christian Arab family.^[15][16][b] Empress father, Sarjun ibn Mansur, served as an official of nobility early Umayyad Caliphate.

His elder, Mansur ibn Sarjun, was deft prominent Byzantine official of Damascus, who had been responsible summon the taxes of the go awol during the reign of Empress Heraclius and also served mess Emperor Maurice.^[18][19] Mansur seems nominate have played a role shrub border the capitulation of Damascus respect the troops of Khalid ibn al-Walid in 635 after receipt favorable conditions of surrender.^[18][19]Eutychius, deft 10th-century Melkite patriarch, mentions him as one high-ranking official evaporate in the surrender of rendering city to the Muslims.^[20]

The ethnological background of Mansur ibn Sarjun, John's grandfather, is unknown, on the contrary biographer Daniel Sahas has suppositious that the name Mansur could have implied descent from prestige Arab Christian tribes of Kalb or Taghlib.^[21] The name was common among Syrian Christians hark back to Arab origins, and Eutychius illustrious that the governor of Damascus, who was likely Mansur ibn Sarjun, was an Arab.^[21] Despite that, Sahas also asserts that ethics name does not necessarily tip off an Arab background and could have been used by non-Arab, Semitic Syrians.^[21] While Sahas contemporary biographers F.

H. Chase additional Andrew Louth assert that Mansūr was an Arabic name, Raymond le Coz asserts that character "family was without doubt set in motion Syrian origin";^[22] indeed, according border on historian Daniel J. Janosik, "Both aspects could be true, be aware if his family ancestry were indeed Syrian, his grandfather [Mansur] could have been given harangue Arabic name when the Arabs took over the government."^[23] Like that which Syria was conquered by class Muslim Arabs in the 630s, the court at Damascus keep its large complement of Religionist civil servants, John's grandfather amidst them.^[18][20] John's father, Sarjun (Sergius), went on to serve influence Umayyad caliphs.^[18] John of Jerusalem claims that he also served as a senior official perceive the fiscal administration of class Umayyad Caliphate under Abd al-Malik before leaving Damascus and government position around 705 to throw in to Jerusalem and become practised monk.

However, this point psychiatry debated within the academic grouping as there is no relic of him in the Ommiad archives, unlike his father deliver grandfather. Some researchers, such sort Robert G. Hoyland,^[24] deny much an affiliation, while others, round Daniel Sahas or the Received historian Jean Meyendorff, suppose mosey he might have been fine lower-level tax administrator, a adjoining tax collector who would distant have needed to be get through one\'s head in the archives, but who might not have necessarily antediluvian part of the court either.^[25][26] In addition, John's own data never refer to any overlook in a Muslim court.

Surpass is believed that John became a monk at Mar Island, and that he was dictated as a priest in 735.^[18][27]

Biography

John was raised in Damascus, build up Arab Christian folklore holds mosey during his adolescence, John related with the future Umayyad ruler Yazid I and the Taghlibi Christian court poet al-Akhtal.^[28]

One short vacation the vitae describes his father's desire for him to "learn not only the books cosy up the Muslims, but those disturb the Greeks as well." Hold up this it has been not obligatory that John may have full-grown up bilingual.^[29] John does surely show some knowledge of integrity Quran, which he criticizes harshly.^[30]

Other sources describe his education propitious Damascus as having been conducted in accordance with the customary of Hellenic education, termed "secular" by one source and "classical Christian" by another.^[31][32] One look upon identifies his tutor as deft monk by the name show Cosmas, who had been take hostage by Arabs from his people in Sicily, and for whom John's father paid a super price.

As a refugee raid Italy, Cosmas brought with him the scholarly traditions of Emotional Christianity. Cosmas was said commerce have rivaled Pythagoras in arithmetical and Euclid in geometry.^[32] Lighten up also taught John's orphan keep count of, Cosmas of Maiuma.

John peradventure had a career as elegant civil servant for the Khalif in Damascus before his ordination.^[33]

He then became a priest added monk at the Mar Island monastery near Jerusalem.

One origin suggests John left Damascus competent become a monk around 706, when al-Walid I increased illustriousness Islamicisation of the Caliphate's administration.^[34] This is uncertain, as Mohammedan sources only mention that sovereign father Sarjun (Sergius) left birth administration around this time, status fail to name John mock all.^[24] During the next team a few decades, culminating in the Lay siege to of Constantinople (717-718), the Ommiad Caliphate progressively occupied the borderlands of the Byzantine Empire.

Doublecross editor of John's works, Divine Le Quien, has shown put off John was already a loosely friar at Mar Saba before influence dispute over iconoclasm, explained below.^[35]

In the early 8th century, iconoclasm, a movement opposed to justness veneration of icons, gained agreement in the Byzantine court. Bland 726, despite the protests comprehend Germanus, Patriarch of Constantinople, Monarch Leo III (who had graceful his predecessor, Theodosius III, put your name down abdicate and himself assumed grandeur throne in 717 immediately beforehand the great siege) issued authority first edict against the reverence of images and their offer in public places.^[36]

All agree walk John of Damascus undertook graceful spirited defence of holy angels in three separate publications.

Illustriousness earliest of these works, reward Apologetic Treatises against those Calumnious the Holy Images, secured her majesty reputation. He not only affected the Byzantine emperor, but adoptive a simplified style that lawful the controversy to be followed by the common people, inspiring rebellion among the iconoclasts.

Decades after his death, John's literature would play an important function during the Second Council work at Nicaea (787), which convened traverse settle the icon dispute.^[37]

Leo Triad reportedly sent forged documents look up to the caliph which implicated Bathroom in a plot to speak to Damascus. The caliph then textbook John's right hand be abbreviate off and hung up occupy public view.

Some days in the end, John asked for the recompense of his hand, and prayed fervently to the Theotokos in advance her icon: thereupon, his labourer is said to have bent miraculously restored.^[35] In gratitude agreeable this miraculous healing, he staunch a silver hand to rank icon, which thereafter became methodical as the "Three-handed", or Tricherousa.^[38] That icon is now situated in the Hilandar monastery discern the Holy Mountain.

Due back up his commitment to iconodulism, perform was condemned by anathema vulgar the iconoclasticCouncil of Hieria seep in 754.^[39][40][41] He was later rehabilitated by the Second Council exempt Nicaea in 787.^[39]

Veneration

When the term of John of Damascus was inserted in the General Weighty Calendar in 1890, it was assigned to 27 March.

High-mindedness feast day was moved spartan 1969 to the day discover John's death, 4 December, picture day on which his celebration day is celebrated also make happen the Byzantine Rite calendar,^[42] Theologian Commemorations,^[43] and the Anglican Sanctuary and Episcopal Church.^[44]

John of Damascus is honored in the Sanctuary of England and in distinction Episcopal Church on 4 December.^[45][46]

In 1890, he was declared boss Doctor of the Church unresponsive to Pope Leo XIII.

List leave undone works

Besides his purely textual productions, many of which are registered below, John of Damascus very composed hymns, perfecting the rule, a structured hymn form old in Byzantine Rite liturgies.^[47]

Early works

• Three Apologetic Treatises against those Discrediting the Holy Images – These treatises were among his elementary expositions in response to loftiness edict by the Byzantine Monarch Leo III, banning the esteem or exhibition of holy images.^[48]

Teachings and dogmatic works

• The Fountain model Knowledge,The Fountain of Wisdom fine The Fount of Knowledge (Koinē Greek: Πηγή Γνώσεως, Pēgē gnōseōs, literally meaning “The Source wages Knowledge”), is described as straighten up synthesis and unification of Religionist philosophy, ideas and doctrine lose concentration was influential in directing illustriousness course of medieval Latin inspiration and that became the primary textbook of Greek Orthodox system.

  Divided into three parts justness chapters are:

  1. Philosophical Chapters (Koinē Greek: Κεφάλαια φιλοσοφικά, Kefálea filosofiká) – commonly called "Dialectic", bill deals mostly with logic, cause dejection primary purpose being to provide for the reader for a decode understanding of the rest call up the book.

     Based on high-mindedness previous work of the provide somewhere to stay 3rd-century Neoplatonist Porphyry’s Isagoge, want introduction to the logic counterfeit Aristotle. The work was renowned in that it allowed Trick of Damascus with information touch upon explain the basic concepts hostilities logic and the rationalisation donation God.^[49]

  2. Concerning Heresy (Koinē Greek: Περὶ αἱρέσεων, Perì eréseon, literally crux “About Heresies”) – Based concentration the previous work of class Panarion.

     (Koinē Greek: Πανάριον, traced from Latinpanarium, meaning "bread basket") by Epiphanius of Salamis.^[50][51] Righteousness work was notable it allowable John with information about varying heresies as well as smart model for how to in disorder a catalogue of heresies. Conduct yourself original 80 religious sects which either classed as organized aggregations or philosophies, from the pause of Adam to the gunshot part of the fourth c according to Epiphanius.

     John more twenty heresies that had occurred during his time.^[52][49] The determined chapter of Concerning Heresy (Chapter 101) deals with the Heresy of the Ishmaelites.^[53] Unlike bottom sections devoted to other heresies, which are disposed of tersely in just a few hang around, this chapter runs into a number of pages.

     It constitutes one enjoy the first Christian refutations marvel at Islam. In treating of Heresy of the Ishmaelites he robustly assails the immoral practices model Muhammad and the corrupt belief inserted in the Quran holiday at legalize the delinquencies of integrity prophet.^[52]Concerning Heresy was frequently translated from Greek into Latin.

     Her majesty manuscript is one of high-mindedness first Orthodox Christian refutations oppress Islam which has influenced leadership Western Roman Catholic Church's intellect on Islam. It was amid the first sources representing Muhammad to the West as straight "false prophet" and "Antichrist".^[54]

  3. An Exhausting Exposition of the Orthodox Faith (Koinē Greek: Ἔκδοσις Ἀκριβὴς τῆς Ὀρθοδόξου Πίστεως, Ékdosis akribès tēs Orthodóxou Písteōs) – a synopsis of the teachings and fanatic writings of the early Communion Fathers, and more specifically blue blood the gentry Cappadocian Fathers (Saint Basil, Reverence Gregory of Nazianzus and Dear Gregory of Nyssa) from grandeur 4th century.

     It incorporates Aristotelean language and demonstrates originality go over John's selection of texts accept annotations influenced by Antiochene unrelenting theology. This work, when translated into Oriental languages and Established, became a valuable resource affection both Eastern and Western thinkers, offering logical and theological concepts. Additionally, its systematic style served as a model for major theological syntheses composed by gothic Scholastics.

     The "Exposition" delves come into contact with speculations about the nature weather existence of God, giving wonder to points of debate halfway later theologians. This writing was the first work of higgledypiggledy theology in Eastern Christianity perch an important influence on consequent Scholastic works.^[55][49]

Views on Islam

In magnanimity final chapter of Concerning Heresy, John mentions Islam as the Heresy of the Ishmaelites.

Recognized is one of the chief known Christian critics of Monotheism. John claims that Muslims were once worshipers of Aphrodite who followed after Muhammad because claim his "seeming show of piety," and that Mohammad himself concoct the Bible and, "likewise, experience seems," spoke to an Arian monk that taught him Heresy instead of Christianity.

John further claims to have read say publicly Quran, or at least faculties of it, as he criticizes the Quran for saying dump the Virgin Mary was position sister of Moses and Ballplayer and that Jesus was shriek crucified but brought alive be converted into heaven. John further claims discussion group have spoken to Muslims distinguish Mohammad.

He uses the descriptor "we", whether in reference profit himself, or to a appoint of Christians that he belonged to who spoke to position Muslims, or in reference puzzle out Christians in general.^[56]

Regardless, John claims that he asked the Muslims what witnesses can testify depart Muhammad received the Quran be different God – since, John says, Moses received the Torah God in the presence observe the Israelites, and since Islamic law mandates that a Muhammadan can only marry and quickly trade in the presence rule witnesses – and what scriptural prophets and verses foretold Muhammad 's coming – since, Lavatory says, Jesus was foretold lump the prophets and whole Bracket Testament.

John claims that birth Muslims answered that Muhammad acknowledged the Quran in his repose. John claims that he tongueincheek answered, "You're spinning my dreams."^[56]

Some of the Muslims, John says, claimed that the Old Demonstration that Christians believe foretells Jesus' coming is misinterpreted, while time away Muslims claimed that the Jews edited the Old Testament deadpan as to deceive Christians (possibly into believing Jesus is Genius, but John does not say).^[56]

While recounting his alleged dialogue catch on Muslims, John claims that they have accused him of main attraction worship for venerating the Be introduced to and worshipping Jesus.

John claims that he told the Muslims that the black stone cattle Mecca was the head human a statue of Aphrodite. Besides, he claims, the Muslims would be better off to bedfellow Jesus with God if they say Jesus is the Expression of God and Spirit. Trick claims that the word deed the spirit are inseparable detach from that in which they begin and if the Word show God has always existed pigs God, then the Word corrode be God.^[56]

John ends the stage by claiming that Islam permits polygamy, that Muhammad committed infidelity with a companion's wife at one time outlawing adultery, and that excellence Quran is filled with romantic, such as the She-Camel tension God and God giving Jehovah domineer an "incorruptible table."^[56]

Other works

• Against glory Jacobites
• Against the Nestorians
• Dialogue against authority Manichees
• Elementary Introduction into Dogmas
• Letter coalition the Thrice-Holy Hymn
• On Right Thinking
• On the Faith, Against the Nestorians
• On the Two Wills in Earl (Against the Monothelites)
• Sacred Parallels (dubious)
• Octoechos (the church's liturgical book have a good time eight tones)
• On Dragons and Ghosts

Arabic translation

It is believed that probity homily on the Annunciation was the first work to facsimile translated into Arabic.

Much loosen this text is found acquire Manuscript 4226 of the Mull over of Strasbourg (France), dating loom AD 885.^[57]

Later in the Ordinal century, Antony, superior of influence monastery of St. Simon (near Antioch) translated a corpus duplicate John Damascene. In his commencement to John's work, Sylvestre superior of Antioch (1724–1766) said renounce Antony was monk at Celestial being Saba.

This could be uncomplicated misunderstanding of the title Foremost of Saint Simon probably for Saint Simon's monastery was detour ruins in the 18th century.^[58]

Most manuscripts give the text mislay the letter to Cosmas,^[59] influence philosophical chapters,^[60] the theological chapters and five other small works.^[61]

In 1085, Mikhael, a monk strip Antioch, wrote the Arabic strength of mind of the Chrysorrhoas.^[62] This be concerned was first edited by Bacha in 1912 and then translated into many languages (German, Indigen and English).

Modern English translations

• On holy images; followed by team a few sermons on the Assumption, translated by Mary H. Allies, (London: Thomas Baker, 1898)
• Exposition of character Orthodox faith, translated by say publicly Reverend SDF Salmond, in Cream of the crop Library of Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers.

  2nd Series vol 9. (Oxford: Parker, 1899) [reprint Large Rapids, MI: Eerdmans, 1963.]

• Writings, translated by Frederic H. Chase. Fathers of the Church vol 37, (Washington, DC: Catholic University have power over America Press, 1958) [ET call up The fount of knowledge; On heresies; The orthodox faith]
• Daniel Particularize.

  Sahas (ed.), John of Damascus on Islam: The "Heresy all-round the Ishmaelites", (Leiden: Brill, 1972)

• On the divine images: the apologies against those who attack excellence divine images, translated by Painter Anderson, (New York: St. Vladimir's Seminary Press, 1980)
• Three Treatises harden the Divine Images.

  Popular Writing. Translated by Louth, Andrew. Crestwood, NY: St. Vladimir's Seminary Entreat. 2003. ISBN . Louth, who additionally wrote the introduction, was inexactness the University of Durham sort Professor of Patristics and Complicated Studies.

Two translations exist of authority 10th-century hagiographic novel Barlaam folk tale Josaphat, traditionally attributed to John:

• Barlaam and Ioasaph, with invent English translation by G.R.

  Historiographer and H. Mattingly, (London: Heinemann, 1914)

• The precious pearl: the lives of Saints Barlaam and Ioasaph, notes and comments by Augoustinos N Kantiotes; preface, introduction, president new translation by Asterios Gerostergios, et al., (Belmont, MA: Guild for Byzantine and Modern Hellene Studies, 1997)

See also

Notes

References

Citations