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TITLE: Barlaam and Ioasaph
AUTHOR: St. John of Damascus
EBOOK: E01186 (O'Briens Book Cellar)

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 
 
***************************************************************** 
 
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. 
 
***************************************************************** 
 
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 
for such as have not yet wholly turned unto the Lord, but are 
still at warfare, through the tyranny of their passions.  For 
this reason also we need many encouragements thereto, whether it 
be exhortations, or the record of the lives of them that have 
travelled on the road before us; which latter draweth us towards 
it the less painfully, and doth accustom us not to despair on 
account of the difficulty of the journey.  For even as with a man 
that would tread a hard and difficult path; by exhortation and 
encouragement one may scarce win him to essay it, but rather by 
pointing to the many who have already completed the course, and 
at the last have arrived safely.  So I too, "walking by this 
rule," and heedful of the danger hanging over that servant who, 
having received of his lord the talent, buried it in the earth, 
and hid out of use that which was given him to trade withal, will 
in no wise pass over in silence the edifying story that hath come 
to me, the which devout men from the inner land Of the 
Ethiopians, whom our tale calleth Indians, delivered unto me, 
translated from trustworthy records.  It readeth thus. 
 
I. 
 
The country of the Indians, as it is called, is vast and 
populous, lying far beyond Egypt.  On the side of Egypt it is 
washed by seas and navigable gulphs, but on the mainland it 
marcheth with the borders of Persia, a land formerly darkened 
with the gloom of idolatry, barbarous to the last degree, and 
wholly given up to unlawful practices.  But when "the only- 
begotten Son of God, which is in the bosom of the Father," being 
grieved to see his own handiwork in bondage unto sin, was moved 
with compassion for the same, and shewed himself amongst us 
without sin, and, without leaving his Father's throne, dwelt for 
a season in the Virgin's womb for our sakes, that we might dwell 
in heaven, and be re-claimed from the ancient fall, and freed 
from sin by receiving again the adoption of sons; when he had 
fulfilled every stage of his life in the flesh for our sake, and 
endured the death of the Cross, and marvellously united earth and 
heaven; when he had risen again from the dead, and had been 
received up into heaven, and was seated at the right hand of the 
majesty of the Father, whence, according to his promise, he sent 
down the Comforter, the Holy Ghost, unto his eyewitnesses and 
disciples, in the shape of fiery tongues, and despatched them 
unto all nations, for to give light to them that sat in the 
darkness of ignorance, and to baptize them in the Name of the 
Father, and of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost, whereby it fell to 
the lot of some of the Apostles to travel to the far-off East and 
to some to journey to the West-ward, while others traversed the 
regions North and South, fulfilling their appointed tasks then it 
was, I say, that one of the company of Christ's Twelve Apostles, 
most holy Thomas, was sent out to the land of the Indians, 
preaching the Gospel of Salvation.  "The Lord working with him 
and confirming the word with signs following," the darkness of 
superstition was banished; and men were delivered from idolatrous 
sacrifices and abominations, and added to the true Faith, and 
being thus transformed by the hands of the Apostle, were made 
members of Christ's household by Baptism, and, waxing ever with 
fresh increase, made advancement in the blameless Faith and built 
churches in all their lands.  
 
Now when monasteries began to be formed in Egypt, and numbers of 
monks banded themselves together, and when the fame of their 
virtues and Angelic conversation "was gone out into all the ends 
of the world" and came to the Indians, it stirred them up also to 
the like zeal, insomuch that many of them forsook everything and 
withdrew to the deserts; and, though but men in mortal bodies, 
adopted the spiritual life of Angels.  While matters were thus 
prospering and many were soaring upward to heaven on wings of 
gold, as the saying is, there arose in that country a king named 
Abenner, mighty in riches and power, and in victory over his 
enemies, brave in warfare, vain of his splendid stature and 
comeliness of face, and boastful of all worldly honours, that 
pass so soon away.  But his soul was utterly crushed by poverty, 
and choked with many vices, for he was of the Greek way, and sore 
distraught by the superstitious error of his idol-worship.  But, 
although he lived in luxury, and in the enjoyment of the sweet 
and pleasant things of life, and was never baulked of any of his 
wishes and desires, yet one thing there was that marred his 
happiness, and pierced his soul with care, the curse of 
childlessness.  For being without issue, he took ceaseless 
thought how he might be rid of this hobble, and be called the 
father of children, a name greatly coveted by most people.  Such 
was the king, and such his mind. 
 
Meanwhile the glorious band of Christians and the companies of 
monks, paying no regard to the king's majesty, and in no wise 
terrified by his threats, advanced in the grace of Christ, and 
grew in number beyond measure, making short account of the king's 
words, but cleaving closely to everything that led to the service 
of God.  For this reason many, who had adopted the monastic rule, 
abhorred alike all the sweets of this world, and were enamoured 
of one thing only, namely godliness, thirsting to lay down their 
lives for Christ his sake, and yearning for the happiness beyond. 
Wherefore they preached, not with fear and trembling, but rather 
even with excess of boldness, the saving Name of God, and naught 
but Christ was on their lips, as they plainly proclaimed to all 
men the transitory and fading nature of this present time, and 
the fixedness and incorruptibility of the life to come, and sowed 
in men the first seeds, as it were, towards their becoming of the 
household of God, and winning that life which is hid in Christ. 
Wherefore many, profiting by this most pleasant teaching, turned 
away from the bitter darkness of error, and approached the sweet 
light of Truth; insomuch that certain of their noblemen and 
senators laid aside all the burthens of life, and thenceforth 
became monks. 
 
But when the king heard thereof, he was filled with wrath, and, 

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