John of Damascus Our venerable and God-bearing Father John of
Damascus (c. 676 - December 5, 749) was also known as John
Damascene, Chrysorrhoas, "streaming with gold," (i.e., the
golden speaker). He was born and raised in Damascus, in all
probability at the Monastery of Saint Sabbas (Mar Saba), South
East of Jerusalem. His feast day in the Orthodox Church is
December 4. He is also recognized as a saint in the Roman
Catholic Church. Practically all the information concerning the
life of John of Damascus available to us today has been through
the records of John, Patriarch of Jerusalem. Though these notes
have served as the single source of biographical information,
dating back to the 10th century, these writings have been noted
by scholars as having an exuberant lack of detail from a
historical point of view and a bloated writing style. Although
he was brought up under the Muslim rule of Damascus, this was
not to affect his or his family's Christian faith or cause any
grievances with the Muslim countrymen who