St Peter of Damascus

Peter of Damascus, Hesychast (12th c.)

From the Prologue of Ochrid

Regarding this saint some think he lived in the eighth century, and others in the twelfth. This difference in opinions surely comes from the fact that there were two Peters of Damascus. This one of whom we speak was a great ascetic. Selfless to the extreme, he did not have a single book of his own, but borrowed and read. And he read tirelessly, gathering wisdom as a bee gathers honey. He was for some time bishop in Damascus, but because he spoke against Mohammedanism and the Manichaean heresy, the Arabs cut out his tongue and sent him deep into Arabia into exile. But God gave him the power of speech so that even in exile he preached the Gospel and converted many to the Christian faith. He composed and left to posterity one precious book on the spiritual life. He died as confessor and martyr and departed to the Kingdom of Christ.

“God rejects pride and crowns with glory humility and brotherly love.”

Also commemorated on February 9

Learn about similar saints

Questions

When is the feast day of St Peter of Damascus?
The Orthodox Church commemorates St Peter of Damascus on February 9 on the New Calendar and February 22 on the Old Calendar.
Who else is commemorated on that day?
The Church also remembers St Innocent of Irkutsk and St Nicephorus of Antioch.
When is the feast of St Peter of Damascus in 2027?
In 2027, on the New Calendar, it falls on Tuesday, February 9.

In Orthros

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