The Compass

This Patriarch of Jerusalem faced two big challenges

Catholics believe Jesus is both fully human and fully divine — one person, but with two natures and two wills. That was not always clearly accepted in the church where, for centuries, Christians debated about who Jesus is. Among the strongest voices for what became the official church teaching was St. Sophronius, the 7th century Patriarch of Jerusalem.

Sophronius, an Arab Christian born in Damascus, Syria, taught rhetoric until about 580. Then he and John Moschus became ascetics in Egypt. They later entered the monastery of St. Theodosius near Bethlehem and traveled the Middle East visiting monasteries. Moschus, a mystic, collected material for “The Spiritual Meadow,” an account of famous ascetics.