Catholic Dictionary

Find accurate definitions of over 5,000 Catholic terms and phrases (including abbreviations). Based on Fr. John Hardon's Modern Catholic Dictionary, © Eternal Life. Used with permission.

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DAMASCUS

An ancient city in Syria, reputed to be the oldest continuously occupied city in the world. It is the capital of modern Syria. It was frequently the scene of happenings in biblical history. David captured it (II Samuel 8:5-6). Rezon, Ben-hadad, and Hazael ruled over it and lived there (I Kings 11:24; 15:18). It was near Damascus that Paul's extraordinary conversion took place (Acts 9:1-19). He later preached in the city (Acts 9:20-22). (Etym. Hebrew dammeseq; Akkadian dimaski; Egyptian timasku.)