Orthodox Icon of St. John of Damascus

Saint John of Damascus

December 4th
Troparion (Tone 3)
Thou wast a holy instrument and a tuneful harp of godliness. Thy teachings shone forth to the ends of the world; O righteous John. We pray thee to entreat Christ our God to grant us His great mercy.

John was in the administration of Caliph Abdul-Malek, during which time he was a strong advocate for the veneration of icons. The iconoclast Emperor Leo the Isaurian slandered St. John to the Caliph, who, in response, deposed John and had his hand cut off. The saint asked if he could keep his severed hand and the Caliph consented. John fell down in prayer before the icon of the Theotokos. His hand was healed and restored to his arm. The Caliph, seeing this, repented of his evil and restored John to office. John, instead, became a monk in the monastery of St. Sava the Sanctified. He wrote hymns and along with St. Cosmos organized the Octoechos (8 tones), the Irmologion, the Menologion and the Easter Canon. He reposed in about 749 at 75 years of age. His banner reads: "In former times God, who is without form or body, could never be depicted. But now, when God is seen in the flesh conversing with men, I make an image of the God whom I see. I do not worship matter. I worship the Creator of matter who became matter for my sake."

This icon is by the hand of Matthew Garrett.

Order #mdg-03