St John Damascene on Holy Images (πρὸς τοὺς διαβάλλοντας τᾶς ἁγίας εἰκόνας). Followed by Three Sermons on the Assumption (κοίμησις)John of Damascus, Saint
Religion
St John Damascene on Holy Images (πρὸς τοὺς διαβάλλοντας τᾶς ἁγίας εἰκόνας). Followed by Three Sermons on the Assumption (κοίμησις)
John of Damascus, Saint
Icons -- Cult; Idols and images -- Worship; Mary, Blessed Virgin, Saint -- Assumption -- Sermons -- Early works to 1800
To the august Herod, toparcha, law-giver of Jews and Greeks, King of
Trachonitis, a suppliant petition from Berenice, an inhabitant of
Paneada. You are crowned with justice and mercy and all other virtues.
Knowing this and in good hope of success, I am writing to you. If you
read my beginning you will soon be instructed as to facts. From
childhood I suffered with an issue of blood, and spent my time and my
substance on doctors, and was not cured. Hearing of the wonderworking
Christ, how He raised the dead to life again, put forth devils, and
cured the sick by one word, I also went to Him as to God. And
approaching the crowd which surrounded Him fearing lest He should turn
me away in anger on account of my complaint, and that I should feel it
more, I said to myself, ‘If I could only touch the border of His
garment, I should be cured.’ I had no sooner touched it than the
hæmorrhage stopped, and I was cured on the spot. And He, as if He had
read my heart’s desire, said aloud, ‘Who has touched Me? Power has gone
out of Me!’ And I pale and trembling, thinking to throw off my sickness
the sooner, prostrated myself at His feet, bathing the ground with my
tears, and confessed my action. He in His goodness compassionating me,
assured me of my cure, saying: ‘Be of good heart, daughter, thy faith
has healed thee. Go in peace!’ Do you now, august ruler, grant my
righteous petition. King Herod receiving this petition, was struck with
wonder and in awe at the cure, replied: ‘The cure wrought for you, O
woman, deserves a splendid monument. Go then and put up any memorial you
like to Him, in praise of the Healer.’ And immediately Berenice the sick
woman of yore, set up in the midst of her own city of Paneada a monument
in bronze, adorned with gold and silver. It is still standing in the
city of Paneada. Not long ago it was taken from the place where it stood
to the middle of the city, and placed in a house of prayer. One, Batho,
a converted Jew, found it mentioned in a book which contained an account
of all those who had reigned over Judea.
From the ‘Ecclesiastical History of Socrates,’ Book I. Chap. xviii., on
the Emperor Constantine.
After this the Emperor Constantine, being most zealous for the Christian
religion, destroyed heathen observances, and prohibited single combats,
whilst he set up his images in the temples.
Stephen Bostrenus, against the Jews.—Chap. iv.
We have made the images of the saints for a remembrance of Abraham,
Isaac, Jacob, Moses, and Elias and Zachary, and of other prophets and
holy martyrs, who gave their life for Him. Every one who looks at their
images may thus be reminded of them and glorify Him who glorifies them.
The same.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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