Although he lived in the eighth century, he is styled as one of the Church Fathers for his remarkable sermons, including a series on the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary which is still read today.
He was the chief financial officer for the Caliph in Damascus, which gave him a close-up view of Islam. It did not engender in him much love for Islam; he viewed it as a form of Arian heresy. It is a remarkable testment to how tolerant Islam used to be, that a man of such views could write and work, and not be put to death; today one cannot even mistakenly name a teddy bear after the prophet without a sword being brandished, never mind criticize him.
Ora pro nobis.