John the Evangelist

Saint John the Evangelist, traditionally identified as the Apostle John and the 'Beloved Disciple' of Jesus, remains one of the most significant figures in early Christian history. The son of Zebedee and brother of James the Greater, John was a fisherman by trade before becoming one of the first disciples called by Christ. Within the apostolic body, he formed an 'inner circle' alongside Peter and James, witnessing the most pivotal moments of Jesus' ministry, including the Transfiguration and the Agony in Gethsemane. His unique status is underscored by his presence at the Last Supper, where he reclined next to Jesus, and his remarkable fidelity as the only apostle to stand at the foot of the Cross, where Jesus entrusted the care of His mother, Mary, to him. Following the Resurrection and Pentecost, John emerged as a 'pillar' of the early Church in Jerusalem before traditionally transitioning to Ephesus in Asia Minor. History and tradition record his harrowing survival of persecution under Emperor Domitian, notably emerging unscathed from a cauldron of boiling oil at the Porta Latina in Rome. This led to his exile on the island of Patmos, where he recorded the apocalyptic visions of the Book of Revelation. Unlike his fellow apostles who met martyred ends, John is believed to have died of natural causes in Ephesus around 100 AD, serving as the final living bridge to the apostolic age. His enduring legacy is cemented by the Johannine works: the Gospel of John, three Epistles, and Revelation. His Gospel is noted for its high Christology and philosophical depth, presenting Jesus as the eternal Logos. While universally revered in tradition, modern scholarship continues to debate the 'Johannine Question'—the degree of identity between the Apostle, the Evangelist, and the author of Revelation—yet the spiritual and historical impact of the figure known as John the Evangelist remains a cornerstone of Western and Eastern theology.