[Footnote 22: John, or Mansur, was a noble Christian of
Damascus, who held a considerable office in the service of
the caliph. His zeal in the cause of images exposed him to
the resentment and treachery of the Greek emperor; and on
the suspicion of a treasonable correspondence, he was
deprived of his right hand, which was miraculously restored
by the Virgin. After this deliverance, he resigned his
office, distributed his wealth, and buried himself in the
monastery of St. Sabas, between Jerusalem and the Dead Sea.
The legend is famous; but his learned editor, Father
Lequien, has a unluckily proved that St. John Damascenus was
already a monk before the Iconoclast dispute, (Opera, tom.
i. Vit. St. Joan. Damascen. p. 10 - 13, et Notas ad loc.)]