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Barlaam and Ioasaph
by
St. John Damascene (?)
("St. John of Damascus")
c. 676 - 749 A.D.
It is not known where or when this story was written, but it is
believed to have been translated into Greek (possibly from a
Georgian original) sometime in the 11th Century A.D. Although
the ultimate author is usually referred to as "John the Monk", it
has been traditionally ascribed to St. John of Damascus.
The text of this edition is based on that published as ST. JOHN
DAMASCENE: BARLAAM AND IOASAPH (Trans: G.R. Woodward and H.
Mattingly; Harvard University Press, Cambridge MA, 1914). This
text is in the PUBLIC DOMAIN in he United States.
This electronic edition was edited, proofed, and prepared by
Douglas B. Killings (DeTroyes@EnterAct.COM), November, 1996.
PREPARER'S NOTE:
Readers of this work will note some startling similarities
between the story of Ioasaph and the traditional Tale of Buddha.
The work seems to be a retelling of the Buddha Legend from within
a Christian context, with the singular difference that the
"Buddha" in this tale reaches enlightenment through the love of
Jesus Christ.
The popularity of the Greek version of this story is attested to
by the number of translations made of it throughout the Christian
world, including versions in Latin, Old Slavonic, Armenian,
Christian Arabic, English, Ethiopic, and French. Such was its
popularity that both Barlaam and Josaphat (Ioasaph) were
eventually recognized by the Roman Catholic Church as Saints, and
churches were dedicated in their honor from Portugal to
Constantinople. It was only after Europeans began to have
increased contacts with India that scholars began to notice the
similarities between the two sets of stories. Modern scholars
believe that the Buddha story came to Europe from Arabic,
Caucasus, and/or Persian sources, all of which were active in
trade between the European and Indian worlds.
---DBK
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SELECTED BIBLIOGRAPHY:
ORIGINAL TEXT --
Woodward, G.R. & H. Mattingly (Ed. & Trans.): "St. John
Damascene: Barlaam and Ioasaph" (Harvard University Press,
Cambridge MA, 1914). English translation with side-by-side Greek
text.
RECOMMENDED READING --
Lang, David Marshall (Trans.): "The Balavariani: A Tale from the
Christian East" (California University Press, Los Angeles, 1966).
Translation of the Georgian work that probably served as a basis
for the Greek text.
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BARLAAM AND IOASAPH
AN EDIFYING STORY FROM THE INNER LAND OF THE ETHIOPIANS, CALLED
THE LAND OF THE INDIANS, THENCE BROUGHT TO THE HOLY CITY, BY JOHN
THE MONK (AN HONOURABLE MAN AND A VIRTUOUS, OF THE MONASTERY OF
SAINT SABAS); WHEREIN ARE THE LIVES OF THE FAMOUS AND BLESSED
BARLAAM AND IOASAPH.
INTRODUCTION
"As many as are led by the Spirit of God they are sons of God"
saith the inspired Apostle. Now to have been accounted worthy of
the Holy Spirit and to have become sons of God is of all things
most to be coveted; and, as it is written, "They that have become
his sons find rest from all enquiry." This marvellous, and above
all else desirable, blessedness have the Saints from the
beginning won by the practice of the virtues, some having striven
as Martyrs, and resisted sin unto blood, and others having
struggled in self-discipline, and having trodden the narrow way,
proving Martyrs in will. Now, that one should hand down to
memory the prowess and virtuous deeds of these, both of them that
were made perfect by blood, and of them that by self-denial did
emulate the conversation of Angels, and should deliver to the
generations that follow a pattern of virtue, this hath the Church
of Christ received as a tradition from the inspired Apostles, and
the blessed Fathers, who did thus enact for the salvation of our
race. For the pathway to virtue is rough and steep, especially
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