Saint John

John, Apostle and Evangelist, son of Zebedee and brother of James, followed Christ, leaned on His breast at the Supper, stood at the Cross, and took the Virgin into his care. He witnessed the empty tomb and testified to the World about the Word made flesh. After Pentecost he served the Church in Jerusalem and later in Ephesus. By tradition he was exiled to Patmos where he received the Revelation. The Church attributes to him the Fourth Gospel which starts with “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God” as depicted in this icon, his three epistles, and the book of Revelation. John’s Gospel proclaims the eternal Logos and calls the Church to abiding love. He lived to a great age, died in peace, and is honored as “the Theologian.”