Considered by many to be the final and crowning work of the patristic age, St John of Damascus’ On the Orthodox Faith addresses all the major areas of Christian belief: Trinitarian theology, Christology, soteriology, the sacraments, the veneration of icons, saints, and relics, and much more. This new translation by Norman Russell includes a helpful introduction discussing the origin and reception of the text. This diglot edition, reproducing the critical Greek text on the facing page, is sure to become the standard and classic edition of this central and important patristic work.
Saint John of Damascus was a Syrian monk and priest. Born in the seventh century and raised in Damascus, he died at his monastery, Mar Saba, near Jerusalem. He wrote works expounding the Christian faith and composed hymns which are still used. He is one of the most widely read Fathers and is best known for his strong defense of icons.
Review by James A. Cox, Editor-in-chief, Midwest Book Review
3 Reviews
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On the Orthodox Faith
Synopsis: Saint John of Damascus was a Syrian monk and priest. Born in the seventh century and raised in Damascus, he died at his monastery, Mar Saba, near Jerusalem. He wrote works expounding the Christian faith and composed hymns which are still used. He is one of the most widely read Fathers in the Orthodox Christian tradition and is best known for his strong defense of icons.
Considered by many to be the final and crowning work of the patristic age, St John of Damascus' "On the Orthodox Faith addresses all the major areas of Christian belief: Trinitarian theology, Christology, soteriology, the sacraments, the veneration of icons, saints, and relics, and much more.
This new translation by Norman Russell (Volume 3 of the Fount of Knowledge) includes a helpful introduction discussing the origin and reception of the text. This diglot edition, reproducing the critical Greek text on the facing page, is sure to become the standard and classic edition of this central and important patristic work.
Critique: A critically important and core addition to Orthodox Christian theology and history studies lists, "On the Orthodox Faith" is an essential and unreservedly recommended addition to church, seminary, and academic library collections. It should be noted for the personal reading lists of clergy, seminary studies, and non-specialist general readers with an interest in the subject that "On the Orthodox Faith" is also available in a digital book format (Kindle, $14.99). -
On the Orthodox Faith
A beautiful, bi-lingual edition of an important text. St. John's writings Norman Russell captures the intonations and the 'feel' of the original Greek in his translation, and for a text that emerges at the crossroads of so many competing currents in the church and world histories of his day, his annotations are especially welcome.
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Binding
I love the print cover and the binding. Easy and enjoyable to read.
