Saint of the day for December 4: the story of San Giovanni Damasceno

Saint of the day for December 4nd
(c.676-749)

The story of San Giovanni Damasceno

John spent most of his life in the monastery of San Saba near Jerusalem, and his entire life under Muslim rule, indeed protected by it.

He was born in Damascus, received a classical and theological education and followed his father into a position of government under the Arabs. After a few years he resigns and goes to the Monastery of San Saba.

It is famous in three areas:

First, he is known for his writings against iconoclasts, who opposed the veneration of images. Paradoxically, it was the Eastern Christian emperor Leo who prohibited the practice, and it was because John lived in Muslim territory that his enemies could not silence him.

Secondly, he is famous for his treatise, Exposition of the Orthodox Faith, a synthesis of the Greek Fathers, of which he became the last. This book is said to be for the Eastern schools what Aquinas's Summa became for the West.

Third, he is known as a poet, one of the two greatest of the Eastern Church, the other being Romano the Melodo. His devotion to the Blessed Mother and his sermons on her feasts are well known.

Reflection

John defended the Church's understanding of image veneration and explained the Church's faith in many other controversies. For over 30 years he has combined a life of prayer with these defenses and his other writings. His holiness was expressed by putting his literary and preaching talents at the service of the Lord. His holiness was expressed by putting his literary and preaching talents at the service of the Lord.