Apostle and Evangelist
c. 6 AD; died c. 104;
Feast day December 27th
John was born in Galilee, and was the son of Zebedee and Salome. He was also the younger brother of the Apostle James the Great. The two brothers earned their livelihood as fishermen on Lake Genesareth until they were called by Jesus to be "fishers of men" (Matt. 4:21-22; Mark 1:19-20). At age 25, John was the youngest of the Apostles.
That John was one of those closest to Jesus is demonstrated by the fact that only he, Peter, and his brother James were present at such events as the Transfiguration (Matt. 17:1; Mark 9:2; Luke 9:28), the healing of Peter's mother-in-law (Mark 1:29-31), the raising of Jairus's daughter from the dead (Mark 5:22-43; Luke 8:40-56), and the agony in the Garden of Gethsemane (Matt. 26:37ff; Mark 14:33ff).
He and Peter were sent to prepare the Passover (Luke 22:8ff). And, John was the only Apostle at the Crucifixion, where Jesus entrusted Mary, His mother, to the care of His friend (John 19:25-27). John and Peter were the first Apostles at the tomb of the Risen Christ (John 20:3- 8).
He lived for about 70 years after the death of Jesus. For much of that time John is associated with Saint Peter. He was imprisoned with Peter and appeared before the Sanhedrin (Acts 4:1-21). And, he accompanied Peter to Samaria (Acts 8:14) to convey the Holy Spirit to the new converts.
In the year 95, during the second persecution under Emperor Domitian, John was apprehended in Asia and sent to Rome as a prisoner. He miraculously escaped martyrdom when he emerged unscathed from a cauldron of boiling oil. His persecutors attributed the miracle to sorcery and he was exiled to the island of Patmos.
His exile lasted only about a year, however, because at the death of Domitian, all of his edicts were declared void by the senate due to his excessive cruelty. John was finally free to return and he reached Ephesus again in 97. Some think that he wrote his Gospel upon his return, when he was 92 years old. John is also credited with the authorship of three epistles.
Saint John died at Ephesus, and is the only Apostle who did not suffer martyrdom, although various attempts had been made on his life.
St. John is called the Apostle of Charity, a virtue he learned from his Divine Master, and which he constantly displayed by word and example. He is the patron of art dealers, bookbinders, booksellers, compositors, engravers, lithographers, painters, printers, publishers, paper makers, sculptors, and writers.
His name is also invoked for protection against poison, which comes from the legend that he was offered a poisoned chalice by the high priest of Diana, and he drank without harm.
St. John is frequently shown with a quill and the Scriptures, as depicted in our window.