St. John of Damascus

"Prayer is the raising of one's mind and heart to God or the requesting of good things from God."
- St. John of Damascus (645 - 754/787)

Today is the feast day of St. John of Damascus (also known as St. John Damascene). John was born in 645 in Damascus, Syria. He was well educated, and took his father's place in the government under the Muslims. After a while, however, he resigned his post and entered the monastery at St. Sabas. He is known for his writings on the veneration of religious icons, his poetry, and for his book Exposition of the Orthodox Faith (which gives a summary of the Greek Fathers of the Church). John became the last of the Greek Fathers, and is commonly known as "The Doctor of Christian Art" for his defense of the veneration of religious icons. The date of John's death is uncertain, but it is said to of been sometime between 754 and 787. 

St. John of Damascus, pray for us!

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Picture Of And Information About St. John Taken From:

http://www.americancatholic.org/features/saintofday/

http://www.catholic.org/saints/saint.php?saint_id=66

http://www.catholictradition.org/Mary/mary19-1.htm