DAMASCE'NUS, JOANNES, was born at Damascus towards the end of the 7th or the beginning of the 8th century of our era. His father, Sergius, a wealthy Christian of Syria, was councillor to the kalif, and at his death Johu succeeded him in the same office. His father had given him for preceptor a monk named Comas whom he had redeemed from slavery. About 728 he wrote several tracts in defence of image-worship against the Iconoclasts, who were then favoured by the emperor Leo the Isauriau. A legendary story is told of Leo having forged a treasonable letter from John to himself, which ho contrived should come into the hands of the kalif, who sentenced John to have his right hand cut off, when the severed hand was restored to the arm by a miracle. About that time however John withdrew from the kalifs court to the monastery of St. Saba, near Jerusalem, where he passed the remainder of his life in ascetic practices and study. His numerous philosophical and theological works place him amoug the most distinguished writers of the Eastern Church in the 8th century. His principal work is an exposition of the orthodox
faith,' or Christian doctrines, in four books, which unites the two systems of scholastic aud dogmatic theology, the former being by ratiocivation, according to the Aristotelian or scholastic method, and the second by the authority of the Scriptures and the fathers. This work attained great reputation in the Greek Church, and the author was styled Chrysorrhoas, or Golden-flowing,' on account of his eloquence. He promoted the study of Aristotle, aud wrote various popular tracts, in which he collected and illustrated that philosopher's principles. He wrote also letters and treatises against heretics, especially against the Manichassns and Nestorian. His principal works have been published by Lequien, Opera J. Damasceni; Paris and Venice, 1748, 2 vols. folio.