St John Damascene Tradition and Originality in Byzantine Theology [Paperback]

John Damascene, a monk near Jerusalem in the early 700s, never set foot in the Byzantine Empire, yet he had a great influence on Byzantine theology. This book, the first to present an overall account of John's life and work, sets him in the context of the early synods of the Church that took place in the Palestinian monasteries during the first century of Arab rule.

1. Life and Times
2. John Damascene and Tradition
3.The Fountain Head of Knowledge: Nature and Development
4. Settling the Terms
5. Defining Error
6. Defining the Faith
7. Against the Iconoclasts
8. Chrysorrhoas ('flowing with gold'): John the Preacher
InterludeSteps to the Altar: John the Monk at Prayer
9. Glykorrh??m??n ('sweetly speaking'): John the Poet
Epilogue

Rich and fascinating.... a considerable achievement and recommended especially for placing John in a coherent intellectual and religious context in which he can be much better appreciated. --Journal of Religion

Andrew Louthis Professor of Patristic and Byzantine Studies, University of Durham, and General Editor (with Gillian Clark) of Oxford Early Christian Studies.