John of Damascus, St

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John of Damascus, St (c.675–c.749). E. Christian theologian, known as Chrusorroas, ‘gold-flowing’. After holding a high official position in the Muslim government in Damascus for ten or twenty years, he moved to the monastery of St Sabas near Jerusalem, and became a priest. He came to prominence there after 726 on account of his Three Apologies against those who Attack the Divine Images (see ICONOCLASM). His other most important work, the Fount of Wisdom, was an important source for subsequent writers, including Aquinas. He was declared a Doctor of the Church in 1890, with a feast day on 27 Mar.; 4 Dec. in the E.

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Saint John of Damascus

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