St John Damascene: Tradition and Originality in Byzantine TheologyJohn Damascene, a monk near Jerusalem in the early 700s, never set foot in the Byzantine Empire, yet he had a great influence on Byzantine theology. This book, the first to present an overall account of John's life and work, sets him in the context of the early synods of the Church that took place in the Palestinian monasteries during the first century of Arab rule. Author: Andrew Louth Publisher: Oxford University Press, USA Published: 01 06 2005