Saint John the Evangelist

Apostle and Evangelist
(died c. 100)

Saint John the Evangelist, the Apostle and Beloved Disciple, was the son of Zebedee and Salome, a fisherman of Galilee and the brother of James the Greater. He and his brother were called by Jesus from their fishing boat on the Sea of Galilee and became two of the innermost circle of the Twelve, with Peter forming the group of three who were present at the Transfiguration, the raising of Jairus's daughter, and the agony of Gethsemane. Jesus gave the brothers the surname Boanerges, Sons of Thunder, perhaps in reference to their passionate and ardent temperaments.

John is identified by most scholars with the Beloved Disciple of the fourth Gospel, the disciple who reclined next to Jesus at the Last Supper and to whom Jesus confided His mother as He hung on the Cross. At that moment of supreme solitude, with most of the disciples fled, John stood with Mary, Mary Magdalene, and the other women, the only male disciple to remain at the foot of the Cross. It was to John that Jesus entrusted His mother with the words, Woman, behold your son, and, Behold your mother. And from that hour the disciple took her to his own home.

He was with Peter when they ran to the empty tomb on Easter morning, arriving first but waiting at the entrance until Peter had entered. He was present at the appearance of the Risen Christ on the shore of the Sea of Galilee, the first to recognise Him in the early morning light. He worked with Peter in the early mission in Jerusalem, was imprisoned with him, and was sent with him to confirm the new Christian community of Samaria.

He is the author of the fourth Gospel, three letters, and the Book of Revelation. He is the only Apostle not to have died as a martyr, living to an advanced old age in Ephesus, where he is said to have cared for the Blessed Virgin Mary until her death. He died peacefully around the year 100. His feast is celebrated on December 27th.