St. John the Evangelist

Saint John the Evangelist was the youngest of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and the third to be admitted to Jesus’s privileged inner circle, alongside St. James the Greater and St. Peter.

He wrote the fourth Gospel and is also known as John the Divine for his lofty theology.

John was the son of Zebedee and the younger brother of James, son of Zebedee (James the Greater). Their mother was Salome. Zebedee (a fisherman) and his sons fished in the Sea of Galilee. The brothers were firstly disciples of John the Baptist. Jesus then called Peter, Andrew and then James and John to follow him. Before Jesus died, he entrusted his mother, the Virgin Mary, to the care of John, the Beloved Disciple (John 19:27).

Pious tradition holds that she lived with John in Ephesus until her Assumption in Jerusalem. After Mary’s Assumption, John began his missionary expeditions throughout Asia Minor.

He was arrested under the reign of the Emperor Domitian, who tried to boil him in oil.

John was miraculously preserved, not only from death but also from any harm.

He played a leading role in the early church at Jerusalem, shown by his visit with St. Peter to Samaria to lay hands on new converts.

He was instrumental in the conversion of St. Paul.

It is traditionally believed that John was the youngest of the apostles and outlived them.

He is said to have lived to an old age, dying of natural causes, at Ephesus sometime after AD 98.

 

Saint John the Evangelist was the youngest of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and the third to be admitted to Jesus’s privileged inner circle, alongside St. James the Greater and St. Peter.

He wrote the fourth Gospel and is also known as John the Divine for his lofty theology.

John was the son of Zebedee and the younger brother of James, son of Zebedee (James the Greater). Their mother was Salome. Zebedee (a fisherman) and his sons fished in the Sea of Galilee. The brothers were firstly disciples of John the Baptist. Jesus then called Peter, Andrew and then James and John to follow him. Before Jesus died, he entrusted his mother, the Virgin Mary, to the care of John, the Beloved Disciple (John 19:27).

Pious tradition holds that she lived with John in Ephesus until her Assumption in Jerusalem. After Mary’s Assumption, John began his missionary expeditions throughout Asia Minor.

He was arrested under the reign of the Emperor Domitian, who tried to boil him in oil.

John was miraculously preserved, not only from death but also from any harm.

He played a leading role in the early church at Jerusalem, shown by his visit with St. Peter to Samaria to lay hands on new converts.

He was instrumental in the conversion of St. Paul.

It is traditionally believed that John was the youngest of the apostles and outlived them.

He is said to have lived to an old age, dying of natural causes, at Ephesus sometime after AD 98.