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John
was born in Galilee and lived in the first century. He is one
of the twelve Apostles, also called the Evangelist, and is credited
for having written the fourth Gospel, three Biblical Epistles,
and the Book of Revelation. He was the son of Zebedee, a fisherman
and Salome (not the infamous stripper); his brother was St.
James the Greater. Following in the footsteps of another pair
of Biblical fishermen/siblings (Ss. Andrew and Peter) they abandoned
the teachings of St. John the Baptist and became disciples of
Christ, who nicknamed them “Sons of Thunder” because
of their hot tempers. Often referred to as the “Disciple
Whom Jesus Loved,” John rested his head on the Saviors
chest during the “Last Supper.” A Byzantium interpretation
has John resting his head in the lap of Christ which led to
a mythical text saying, “He drank the Milk of the Lord.”
John was the only Apostle with Mary Magdalene and Mother Mary
when Christ died, and the Virgin was placed in his charge after
her Son's death. When Mary Magdalene brought news of the Resurrection,
John was the first one to reach His Tomb. John and Peter remained
friends after the Passion, and preached together in Jerusalem
and in Turkey, where John is said to have written the fourth
Gospel. John was exiled to the island of Patmos, where it is
believed he wrote the Book of Revelation. In his later years,
as the Bishop of Ephesus, he irritated his disciples with his
redundant message of “brotherly love,” and lived
to be a very old man. (incidentally, John is the only Apostle
that wasn’t martyrized.) Legend has it that just before
he died, he dug his own cross-shaped grave, laid in it, and
then vanished. John is also the patron of Turkey, theologians,
editors, and friendship; and he's invoked against poison. His
feast day is December 27. |
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St.
John the Divine
Patron St. of
Writers and Art Dealers |
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