It is extremely unsatisfactory from the standpoint of historical criticism. Hermas, tatian, theophilus, athenagoras, clement of alexandria. The sacred writings of saint john of damascus saint john. On the divine images by john of damascus goodreads. Apologia against those who decry holy images, by st.
John was a hardworker n scholar, ex one book that he wrote consisted of a list of 103 heresies, which he refuted one by one. As the iconoclastic controversy became more violent, john of damascus entered the field against the emperor of the east, and wrote the first of his. On loving god, the cloud of unknowing, dialogue of saint catherine of siena, the imitation of christ, interior castle, dark night of the soul, practice of the presence of god. His arabic name was mansur the victor, and he received the epithet chrysorrhoas goldpouring on account of his eloquence. Full text of the fathers of the church a new translation. In this book, john of damascus retains the same order as was adopted by theodoret in his epitome of divine dogmas, but takes a different method. May be read online at the internet medieval source book scanned by gabriel caswell and dr. Johns erudite understanding of both islam and the quran. John of damascus john damascene is the author of the exact exposition of the orthodox faith on the orthodox faith, included in this volume. Although the text is quite short, it is still valuable in assessing damascenes understanding of islam and the quran. John of damascus christian history christianity today. John of damascus, three treatises on the divine images, translated by andrew louth crestwood. The first two defenses are here presented in the first reading. Xx saint john of damascus the letter on the thrice holy hymn pc 9.
He derives his surname from damascus of syria, where he was born about the close of the 7th century. Saint john of damascus saint john of damasus johannes damascenus was an eminent theologian of the eastern church. This document has been generated from xsl extensible stylesheet language source with renderx xep formatter, version 3. Irenaeus of lyons, against heresies adversus haereses. For the formed, by the sheer weight of his hown genius, framed various kinds of arguments against heretics, adducing the testimony of the sacred page, and thus he composed a consice treatise of. John damascus was a champion of orthodoxy, a teacher of purity and of true worship, the enlightener of the universe and the adornment of hierarchy. Actually he does not really say that much in depth, or from argumentation from scripture but still it is interesting he mentions mohammed and his book. An exact exposition of the orthodox faith enhanced by st. As much as my learning allows i am undergoing a thorough reading of his books. Complete summary of saint irenaeus against heresies. John of damascus wrote the first christian polemic against islam. Apologia of st john of damascus against those who decry holy images by john of damascus.
The fourth chapter specifically focuses on johns condemnation of the heresy of the ishmaelites which is the designation he gives to the muslim faith. This brings us to what i believe to be the strongest argument in favor of st. Early church fathers christian classics ethereal library. It is no small credit to john of damascus that he was able to give to the church in the eighth century its first summary of connected theological opinions. Originally titled exposure and refutation of knowledge falsely socalled. Against heresies, or on the detection and overthrow of the socalled gnosis ancient greek. I already finished books i through iii and will soon, by gods. John of damascus ad 675749 was a monk, priest, poet, philosopher, and theologian in the greek orthodox church. By transmitting to thee, my very dear friend, this fourth book of the work which is entitled the detection and refuation of false knowledge, i shall, as i have promised, add weight, by means of the words of the lord, to what i have already advanced. Against heresies, a fivevolume work written in greek about 180 ce by the christian bishop irenaeus of lyon. The translators introduction points out that fount of knowledge is one of the most important single works produced in. Like his father, he held a position high in the court of the caliph.
Inasmuch as certain men have set the truth aside, and bring in lying words and vain genealogies, which, as the apostle says, minister questions rather than godly edifying which is in faith, and by means of. John was born into a prominent family known as mansour arabic. Apologia of st john of damascus against those who decry. The attainments of the young john of damascus commanded the veneration of the saracens. List of works besides his purely textual works, many of which are listed below, john of damascus also composed hymns, perfecting the canon, a structured hymn form used in. The following passage is from saint johns monumental work, the fount of knowledge, part two entitled heresies in epitome.
The apostolic fathers with justin martyr and irenaeus. If anyone is interested in orthodox iconography, or the tradition of christian painting, this book is a must read. Full text of the fathers of the church a new translation vol 37 see other formats. John of damascus is a very important witness to early islam. Clement of rome, mathetes, polycarp, ignatius, barnabas, papias, justin martyr, irenaeus. John of damascus it might almost be said that his written works constitute his lifes story for us. He was born john monsur, into a wealthy arabchristian family of damascus. Being the first at something makes it is easy to ascribe to him the qualities of unerring thought and perfect insight. The 1884 choral work john of damascus a russian requiem, op. Irenaeus against heresies complete ebook by irenaeus. At the command of eugenius iii it was rendered into latin by burgundio of pisa, in 1150, shortly before peter lombards book of sentences appeared. Irenaeus major extant writing is the adversus haereses the full title of which is the refutation and overthrow of knowledge falsely socalled.
He was born into a priveleged family in damascus his grandfather had been the administrator of the city at the time the muslims took it, and he grew up and served in the court of the caliph. Both were written by the icons most distinguished proponent, st. You may find a book that shows his writing about the followers of islam on heresies see 101 by st. Fount of knowledg, on heresies by saint john damascene. Thou hast indeed enjoined upon me, my very dear friend, that i should bring to light the valentinian doctrines, concealed, as their votaries imagine.
John was able to write freely since he lived under muslim rule, outside the boundaries of the roman emperor. For he came to divide a man against his father, and the daughter against the mother, and the daughterinlaw against the motherinlaw. The kings of the earth stood up, and the rulers were gathered together against the lord, and against his christ. He is considered a father of the greek orthodox church and a doctor of the church in the catholic church. The classic source for ancient controversies regarding groups conventionally classified as gnostic is adversus haereses latin.
For of a truth, in this city, against thy holy son jesus, whom thou hast anointed, both herod and pontius pilate, with the gentiles, and the people of israel, were gathered together, to do whatsoever thy hand and thy counsel. Judaism 5 the pythagoreans or peripatetics i 6 the platonists. There is no settled order of chronology to his writings, although according to john of jerusalem, the letters of apology written against the iconoclasts were composed before his monastic life. Kevin at biblicalia gives us a fresh translation of one of the earliest and most knowledgable christian witnesses to islam st. This life is the single source from which have been drawn the materials of all his biographical notices. The sacred writings of saint john of damascus ebook by.