Three Treatises on the Divine Images by St John of Damascus
An Eighth Day Books Review
Synaxis of the Twelve Holy Apostles
Anno Domini 2022, June 30
An Eighth Day Books Review of Three Treatises on the Divine Images by St. John of Damascus; translated by Andrew Louth
Perhaps no name is more synonymous with the subject of early Christian art than the eighth-century monk, John of Damascus. Renowned in both East and West for his profound yet clearly-expressed theology, St. John remains our most accessible defender of Christ glorified in His Church, and this desire is foundational to each of the treatises presented here. He is careful to explain what is meant by “image” and “worship”, and he makes a distinction between different forms of veneration. Without St. John’s contribution, the political and social concerns of the late Byzantine Empire could have eclipsed the humble beauty and proper use of art in Christian life. Christian iconography is not idolatrous, says St. John, but biblical and an integral part of our apostolic heritage. (A new translation, by the leading scholar of the Damascene monk in the English-speaking world.)
163 pp. paper $18.00
Members (Patrons+) receive 10% discount, plus many other perks!
Learn more and support cultural renewal here.
Exercise the virtue of patience, resist Amazon, and support Eighth Day Books. Give them a call at 1.800.841.2541 between 10 am and 8 pm CST Mon-Sat and engage in a conversation about books and ideas with a live human person who reads books and loves to discuss them. Or, if you insist, visit their website here.
Share this Post on Your Preferred Platform
