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 (With an English Translation By the Rev. G.R. Woodward and H. Mattingly; Harvard University Press, Cambridge MA, 1914 ISBN 0-674-99038-2). This text is in the PUBLIC DOMAIN in the United States. This electronic edition was edited, proofed, and prepared by Douglas B. Killings (detroyes@enteract.com), November, 1996.