Confessor, Doctor of the Church, born Damascus, Syria, 676; died 770. His father, though a Christian, was esteemed by his Saracen countrymen, and was chief financial officer for the caliph. John was educated by the monk Cosmas; after his father's death he was made chief councilor of Damascus. He vigorously opposed the Iconoclast persecution propagated by Leo the Isaurian, and retired to the monastery of Saint Sabas, near Jerusalem, where he was ordained priest by John V, Patriarch of Jerusalem. He was the last of the Greek Fathers. His contributions to theology are encyclopedic rather than original; he is considered by some the precursor of the Scholastics, by others the first Scholastic. He is regarded as the first theological encyclopedist, and as the prince of Greek hymnodists. Feast, Roman Calendar, March 27,.
This dictionary contains not only definitions and explanations of every subject in Religion, Scripture, tradition, doctrine, morals, sacraments, rites, customs, devotions and symbolism, but also accounts of the Church in every continent, country, diocese; missions, notable Catholic centers, cities, and places with religious names; religious orders, church societies, sects and false religions. It has brief articles also on historical events and personages, on the Old Testament and New, and on popes, prelates, priests, men and women of distinction, showing what the Church has done for civilization and correcting many errors which have hitherto passed for history.Wikipedia
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