JOHN or DAMASCUS ( e.700-751). The author of the standard text-book of dogmatic theology in the Greek Church. lie was born at Dania, ells about A.D. 700. Like his father, he was a financial officer of high rank under tire Caliph of Damascus. Much excited over the Imperial order forbidding the ecclesiastical rise of images, he issued three letters in behalf of image-wor ship. Beim* outside of the Greek Emperor's authority, he escaped his wrath, but ultimately his position was made uncomfortable, and in 730 he became a monk in the Convent of Mar Saha, near the western shore of the Dead Sea and some eighteen miles southeast of Jerusalem, where he spent the r?st of his days in the composition of theological works. and was ordained a priest. Ile died about A.D. 754, and had the honor of being canonized by both the Latin and Greek Churches; in the former Iris day is May lith, in the latter December 4th. He is one of the Doctors of the Latin Church. On account of his eloquence he has received tire epithet ehrysorrhoas, 'the stream of gold.' lie was a man of extensive erudition,
and was considered the ablest philosopher of his time; hut his writings are characterized by weak ness of judgment and want of critical power. His fame rests upon his three Operations or let ter,: upon image-worship (translated by Allies, John Damascene's Treatise on Holy Images and Sermons on the Assumption, London, 1899) ; and on his Fount of knowledge, in three parts: (1) "I leads of Philosophy:" (2) "Compendium of Heresies:" and (3) "An Exact Exposition of the Orthodox Faith" (Eng. trans. of the third part by Salmond. in Nicene and Post-Nicene Fathers, 2d series. vol. ix. 1-106). His complete works are in Mig,ne, Patrol.Grffea, Neiv.-xevi. For his biography. consult. Langen (Gotha, 1879) ; Lup ton (London, I S82 ) . Douglas (London, I 901 ) has made him the subject of a poem.