Saint John the Theologian

Saint John the Theologian and Evangelist, the Apostle of Love

John, the beloved disciple of Jesus, was the son of Zebedee and Salome and the younger brother of Apostle James. John was born in Galilee and was uneducated as he used only to help his father who was a fisherman from when he was a child. At first he was a disciple of St. John the Baptist and after he met Jesus he became one of his first disciples along with his brother James. The Orthodox Church awarded him the name Theologian.

Saint John the Theologian is the Evangelist of Love. Not only because he constantly referred to love in his texts, but mostly because he felt and expressed it deeply. He was very fond of his Tutor and was the beloved disciple of Jesus. He followed Him through the toughest of times during his earthly life. While his other disciples were hidden “For fear of the Jews”, he was present at Jesus’ arrest and at his trial and at Golgotha. Under the Cross in those critical moments, Jesus entrusted John with his mother.

He honoured the last wishes of the Lord by taking Mary into his care as his true mother till the time of her Assumption. Together with his brother James and Peter who were the only triad of the Disciples who alongside Jesus witnessed the raising of Jairus’ daughter, the transfiguration of Jesus on mount Tabor, as well as the Agony in Gethsemane where Jesus prayed before his torture.

John is the author of the 4th Gospel in the New Testament, the principal theologian of all and viewed as a Gospel of love, as well as the three Epistles and the Book of Revelation. We know about his life alongside the Lord through the Gospels of the New Testament. John intensively continued his deeds after the Ascension of the Lord. He and Peter were the first Apostles who preached the word of the Lord worldwide after the descent of the Holy Spirit on Pentecost.

The tradition also tells us that John preached the Gospel in the Middle East and especially in Ephesus. During the reign of Emperor Domitian he was tortured and exiled to Patmos Island, where he wrote the Book of Revelation. In his old age he returned to Ephesus where he wrote the Gospel.

John lived for over 100 years and finally slept peacefully in around 105 to 106 A.D. What is really worth mentioning is the phrase that he constantly used to say to his disciples: "Little children, love one another" (John 13:33-35). The Orthodox Church celebrates in his honour on 8th May and on 26th September.

Holy Monastery of St. John the Theologian on Patmos Island

The Holy Monastery of Patmos was founded by Holy Christodoulos. During the reign of Arabic influence, Patmos Island was almost a deserted island. In 1088 a gifted and educated monk called Christodoulos otherwise known as ‘Latrinos’...read more

SAINT JOHN THE THEOLOGIAN AND EVANGELIST