John of Damascus, monk and priest, c760

                          Psalm 16:6 

My bound-aries enclose
a pleasant land;
indeed I have a goodly heritage. 

John of Damascus, 

John Damascene or Χρυσορρόας, was 

a Syrian monk and priest, hymn writer and theologian. Born & raised in luxury in Damascus, converted to Christianity, &is considered the last of the Eastern Fathers of the Church. 

He defended the use of icons against the Iconoclasts., & is the author of the the Easter hymns “The day of resurrection, earth tell it out abroad” & “Come ye faithful raise the strain of triumphant gladness” (which will send some of our souls sinning the rest of the words!) 

 John died at Mar Saba, the 5th century Orthodox  monastery in the Judean desert east of Bethlehem.

Pray most especially today of the people of Syria, thousands of whom are now refugees, fleeing from war and terrorism. Pray also for the church & for Christians in Syria; for those who write icons; (sounds weird I know, but one writes rather than paints icons) for a proper appreciation for art & beauty as a gift from God; & for  those who teach the church through hymns and song.