Life
The Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian was the son of the fisherman Zebedee and Salome, brother of the Apostle James the son of Zebedee. He was born at Bethsaida beside the Sea of Galilee. As a young disciple of John the Forerunner he heard the words “Behold the Lamb of God” — and immediately followed Christ. Together with his brother James and with Peter he was especially close to the Lord: all three alone were witnesses of Christ’s Transfiguration on Tabor and His prayer in Gethsemane.
John is “the disciple whom Jesus loved” — so he is called only in his own Gospel, in which he never mentions his own name by name. During the Crucifixion he alone of the apostles stood beneath the Cross together with the Theotokos and the myrrh-bearing women. Christ from the Cross entrusted His Mother to John with the words: “Behold thy mother!” and to the Theotokos: “Behold thy son!” From that hour John received the All-Pure One into his home and cared for her until her Dormition.
After Pentecost John was active in Jerusalem, and then in Asia Minor, where he formed the Church in Ephesus as the central city. During the reign of Emperor Domitian he was taken to Rome and thrown into boiling oil, but emerged unharmed. He was then exiled to the island of Patmos, where God revealed to him in a vision the apocalyptic mysteries — and there he wrote the Book of Revelation. On Patmos and in Ephesus he also wrote the Gospel and three Epistles.
John is the only one of the twelve apostles who did not die a martyr’s death. He reposed in deep old age in Ephesus, probably at the beginning of the second century. Tradition says that his disciples buried him alive at his own desire, and that the tomb was afterward found empty — only a fragrant dust remained. Another tradition says that each year on May 8 a fragrant dust (manna) arose from the tomb with healing power for the sick — which is why this feast is celebrated on that day.
As an Evangelist, John recorded the deepest words about Christ’s Divine Sonship: “In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.” He is called the Theologian because in the Gospel and Epistles he penetrated furthest into the knowledge of the Divinity, and especially developed the teaching about love: “God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God abides in him.”
Tropar (Tone 2)
O beloved Apostle of Christ, hasten to Him Who loves thee, and intercede for us to receive remission of our sins. He who reclined on His breast and received from Him a stream of theology — intercede for us before Him, the glorious and all-holy One, to grant remission of our transgressions.
Kontakion (Tone 2)
Who is adequate to tell of thy greatness? For thou dost pour forth miracles and art a well of healings, and dost intercede for our souls as the Theologian and the friend of Christ.
About the Feast
Jovanjdan — the celebration of Saint John the Theologian — is observed on May 8 by the Julian (May 21 by the New) calendar. In Serbian families this feast is known as Jovandan or Jovan Bogoslov, and represents one of the more pleasant spring patron feasts. The feast table in May is not bound by strict fasting, and hosts can serve more varied dishes, from lamb to various pastries.
The central part of the feast consists of the slava bread, which is cut with a hymn and morning prayers, and the slava wheat — koljivo — which symbolizes resurrection and eternal life, an especially fitting association with the apostle who did not taste bodily death. Hosts of the feast receive guests throughout the entire day, and in some regions of Serbia and Montenegro the custom of carrying the slava candle to the Liturgy has been preserved.
Saint John the Theologian is the patron of theologians, writers, the press, and books — in some Orthodox communities his icon adorns libraries and school classrooms. His message of love as the core of Christian life makes him especially close to all who seek a deeper understanding of the faith. A second feast of John falls on September 26 (the Repose of John the Theologian), which in some families is celebrated as a summer feast.