
Also
known as Apostle of Charity, Beloved Apostle ,Beloved Disciple, Giovanni Evangelista,
John the Divine, John the Evangelist Memorial 27 December
(Roman Catholic) 8 May (Greek Orthodox) 6 May (before the Latin gate) Profile
Son of Zebedee and Salome. Fisherman. Brother of Saint James the Great, and called
one of the Sons of Thunder. Disciple of Saint John the Baptist. Friend of Saint
Peter the Apostle. Called by Jesus during the first year of His ministry, and
traveled everywhere with Him, becoming so close as to be known as the beloved
disciple. Took part in the Last Supper. The only one of the Twelve not to forsake
the Savior in the hour of His Passion, standing at the foot of the cross. Made
guardian of Our Lady by Jesus, he took her into his home. Upon hearing of the
Resurrection, he was the first to reach the tomb; when he met the risen Lord at
the lake of Tiberias, he was the first to recognize Him. During the era of the
new Church, he worked in Jerusalem and at Ephesus. During Jesus' ministry, he
tried to block a Samaritan from their group, but Jesus explained the open nature
of the new Way, and he worked on that principle to found churches in Asia Minor
and baptizing converts in Samaria. Imprisoned with Peter for preaching after Pentecost.
Wrote the fourth Gospel, three Epistles, and possibly the Book of Revelation.
Survived all his fellow apostles. Traditional stories: Emperor Dometian had him
brought to Rome, beaten, poisoned, and thrown into a cauldron of boiling oil,
but he stepped out unharmed and was banished to Patmos instead. When John was
en route to preach in Asia, his ship was wrecked in a storm; all but John were
cast ashore. John was assumed dead, but 2 weeks later the waves cast him ashore
alive at the feet of his disciple Prochoros. When John denounced
idol worship as demonic, followers of Artemis stoned him; the rocks turned and
hit the throwers. He prayed in a temple of Artemis; fire from heaven killed 200
men who worshipped the idol. When the remaining group begged for mercy, he raised
the 200 from the dead; they all converted and were baptized. Drove out a demon
who had lived in a pagan temple for 249 years. Aboard ship, he purified vessels
of sea water for drinking. Ceonops, a magician, pretended to bring three dead
people come to life; the "people" were actually demons who mimicked people so
the magician could turn people away from Christ. Through prayer, John caused the
magician to drown and the demons to vanish. Once a year his grave gave off a fragrant
dust that cured the sick. Died c.101 at Ephesus (modern
Turkey); a church was built over his tomb, which was later converted to a mosque
Name Meaning God is gracious; gift of God Patronage against
burns ,against poison, art dealers ,Asia Minor, authors, bookbinders ,booksellers,
burn victims ,Cleveland, Ohio, diocese of compositors, editors, Eger, Hungary,
archdiocese of engravers ,friendships, lithographers ,Milwaukee, Wisconsin, diocese
of Morra, Netherlands painters, papermakers, poisoning ,printers, publishers ,Sundern,
Germany ,tanners Taos, New Mexico theologians, writers Representation
book, cauldron ,chalice with a serpent, in allusion to the cup of sorrow foretold
by Jesus ,chalice, eagle in his role as evangelist ,serpent Back
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