DAMASCENUS (John), an illustrious father of
the church in the 8th century, born at Damascus,
where his father, though a Christian, enjoyed the office
of counsellor of state to the Saracen caliph; to which
the son succeeded. He retired afterwards to the mo-
nastery of St. Sabas, and spent the remainder of his life
in writing books of divinity. His works have been often
printed: but the Paris edition in 1712, 2 vols folio, is
esteemed the best.