Showing results by author "Saint John of Damascus" in All Categories

In this classic book, John of Damascus laboured to form one complete, clear, and brief theological work that would summarize all Christian doctrine that had been passed down and agreed upon. The following was said of the book: The result was an inexhaustible storehouse of tradition in which nothing is to be found that has not been either approved by the ecumenical synods or by the established leaders of the Church.

“A Treatise on Images will not be out of place in a public which is confusing the making of images with the making of idols. A great Christian of the eighth century found himself called upon to face an imperial Iconoclast, Leo the Isaurian, who waged war against holy images, on the plausible pretext that they withdrew honour from God. He would willingly have remained silent, but he would not bury his talent of eloquence. He brought it forth and witnessed to the teaching of the Church... The seventh General Council condemned Leo’s assault. And the special champion of holy Images is St John ...

The Orthodox Faith serves as a quintessential representation of the Early Greek Fathers teachings. Written just before the final truly Ecumenical Councils of 787, this work stands as the last Eastern theological contribution wholeheartedly embraced by the West. As an ecumenical touchstone, it continues to hold authority in Eastern Orthodoxy, Roman Catholicism (notably through Peter Lombards Sentences), and in Reformation Churches eager to shed late medieval additions and return to the foundational principles of Creedal Christianity. (Summary by Jonathan Lange)