Church of Saint John of Damascus

The Church of Saint John of Damascus is a small Greek Orthodox church in the Christian quarter of Damascus, about 100 m north-east of the Mariamite Cathedral. It takes its name from John, a theologian born in Damascus who lived under the Umayyads. The building dates from the middle of the 19th century; inside it is plain, with arches on basalt piers and a carved wooden iconostasis — the screen of icons in front of the altar.

Who the church is named after

John of Damascus, born Yuhanna ibn Mansur ibn Sarjun, was born in Damascus around 676. His father was an official who handled tax affairs for the Umayyad administration. John wrote in Greek and Aramaic, and his texts are still read in the Greek Orthodox Church today. The church remembers the best-known Christian thinker of Damascus in the city where he was born, on the street that carries his name.

Getting there

From Straight Street, go to the Mariamite Cathedral and walk a few minutes north-east. The church stands at the west end of Saint John of Damascus Street, on its south side, at the corner with Al-Assieh Lane. It is about 200 m from Straight Street. On a walk around the churches of Bab Touma, it fits in straight after the Mariamite Cathedral.

What to see

The plan is rectangular. The wooden roof rests on two rows of arches carried by square basalt piers. The walls mix dark basalt with limestone, and the floor is marble and granite. The windows sit high in the walls, so the light comes from above. The plot passed to the Greek Orthodox Patriarchate with the permission of the Ottoman authorities in 1856, and the church was built soon afterwards.

Do not miss

The wood of the iconostasis. The carving was not brought in from elsewhere; it is the work of Christian craftsmen from Damascus. Coming here after the busy interior of the cathedral makes the contrast clear: a small church built by the same community, in the same quarter, with local hands.

Is it open

A source from 2015 says the church still serves the local congregation; there is no more recent confirmation. If the door is locked, the key is reportedly requested through the Mariamite Cathedral. Ask on the spot about hours and access.