Apostle · 1st century
John the Theologian
Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
New Calendar May 8 Old Calendar May 21
Why they are a saint
John the Theologian was beloved disciple, evangelist, and author of the fourth Gospel, epistles, and the Apocalypse. The only apostle not martyred by the sword, he reposed in old age. The years given for this life are 1st century. His name is kept with the apostles of the Twelve or of the Seventy.
Life
Saint John the Theologian was the son of Zebedee and Salome. The Lord called him to be an Apostle together with his elder brother James at the Sea of Galilee, and he was especially loved by the Saviour for his self-sacrificing love and virginal purity. He was one of the three Apostles particularly close to the Lord.
He followed Christ to Golgotha and stood at the foot of the Cross with the Mother of God, where the Lord said to him, 'Behold thy Mother.' He cared for the Most Holy Virgin until her Dormition, and afterward preached in Ephesus and other cities of Asia Minor. Exiled to the island of Patmos, he spent many years there, and about the year 67 the Book of Revelation was written. In 95 he wrote his Gospel at Ephesus; in it and in his three Epistles he speaks of love for God and neighbour, and the Church calls him the 'Apostle of Love.'
In old age, outside Ephesus, he had his disciples prepare a cross-shaped grave, lay down in it, and asked them to cover him with earth. When other disciples later opened the grave, they found it empty, and each year on May 8 a fine dust came from his grave.
Sources: OCA Lives of the Saints. Retold in our own words.
Traditional patronage
The cited source names no specific patronage.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Patron of theologians, Patmos, because he taught and wrote in defence of the faith.
Prayer
O holy John the Theologian, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.