St. John Damascene, Priest and Doctor of the Church

St. John Damascene, Priest and Doctor: c. 675-749 A.D.

Feast day, December 4

Birth, family background, and early life

St. John of Damascus, or St. John Damascene, was born of a wealthy Christian family at Damascus, Syria, in 675 A.D. His father, also named John, had the position of chief of the revenue department for the caliphate, and also chief representative of the Christian community. A brilliant monk called Cosmas, who had been captured in a raid on Sicily, educated the young St. John Damascene - teaching him all the sciences, but most especially theology. When John grew to manhood, he succeeded his father as chief of the revenue department, and as representative of the Christian community. In 719 A.D., a new caliph changed the system, and John soon lost his position. He then entered the Monastery of St. Sabas near Jerusalem to settle down and live the life of a monk. He occupied his time for more than thirty years, when not praying, by writing books and composing hymns.

Champion in defense of the veneration of icons

In 726 A.D., an edict was issued by Emperor Leo the Isaurian which prohibited the veneration of images. John however defended the practice, and became a leading champion of the Catholic position - arousing the enmity of the Byzantine Emperors. Emperor Leo then ordered the right hand of St. John to be cut off, but this saintly monk still lived to see his right hand miraculously restored through the intercession of the Blessed Virgin Mary. St. John wrote three spiritual defenses of the veneration of icons - one in 728 A.D., and two more in 730 A.D. He also made the now classic definition and distinction between "adoration", which is given only to God, and "veneration", which is given to creatures. He added also that in the treasuring of icons, Christians venerate not the images in themselves but in who the images represent.

A prolific author and outstanding writer

St. John Damascene turned out to be a prolific author, writing one hundred fifty works on theology, religious education, philosophy, and biographies. Among his outstanding writings are: Fount of Wisdom, which dealt on philosophy, heresies, and the orthodox faith; De Fide Orthodoxa, a comprehensive presentation of the teachings of the Greek Fathers on the main Christian doctrines; and Sacra Parallela. This last work is a compilation of scriptural and patristic texts on Christian moral and ascetical works. St. John also wrote poetry, of which some are used in the Greek liturgy. The elegance of St. John's use of Greek earned him the title Chrysorrhoas (gold-pouring).

Last years in the monastery

St. John Damascene remained in the monastery for most of his life. At one point, the patriarch of Jerusalem, Archbishop John V, called both John and his adopted brother Cosmas, out of the monastery, first consecrating Cosmas as bishop of Majuma, and then ordaining John a priest. St. John however returned to the monastery where he eventually died on December 5, 749 A.D., at about the age of 74 years. The last of the Greek Fathers of the Church, St. John Damascene was made Doctor of the Church by Pope Leo XIII in 1890 A.D. The Church now celebrates his feast every December 4.

References of this article

• Dictionary of Saints, by John J. Delaney
• The Doctors of the Church vol 1, by John F. Fink
• A Year With the Saints, by Don Bosco Press, Inc.