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Saint John the Theologian

Apostle and Evangelist

Listen to this saint

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Life and witness

The Gospels name John as the brother of James and son of Zebedee. Acts presents him alongside Peter in the early Church (Acts 3–4). Orthodox tradition identifies him with the beloved disciple of the Fourth Gospel; that Gospel itself refers to the disciple without supplying his personal name.

Historical setting

The Gospels name John as the brother of James and son of Zebedee. Acts presents him alongside Peter in the early Church (Acts 3–4). Orthodox tradition identifies him with the beloved disciple of the Fourth Gospel; that Gospel itself refers to the disciple without supplying his personal name.

Legacy and remembrance

The Church receives the Gospel, three epistles, and Revelation under John’s name. Revelation 1:9 names its author John and places him on Patmos; the identification with the son of Zebedee belongs to Church tradition. His selected feast is September 26, with another commemoration on May 8.

More about the life

The individual church Life links John’s care for the Mother of God with Christ’s words from the Cross and then follows his traditional ministry in Ephesus and exile on Patmos. It names Prochorus as his companion in those later accounts. These details belong to the Church’s received narrative and must be distinguished from the Fourth Gospel’s unnamed beloved disciple and Revelation’s self-identification as John. The fuller account shows how the Church remembers apostolic companionship, pastoral care, and teaching without resolving every modern question about authorship.

Documented connections

These links distinguish personal discipleship, monastery dedications, and spiritual encounters reported in Church lives. They do not imply that every connected saint personally met Paisios.

  • Saint Paisios of Mount Athos

    Paisios was buried at the monastery dedicated to Saint John the Theologian in Souroti. This is a connection through the monastery’s dedication, not a personal meeting with the apostle.

    https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/07/12/100401-venerable-paisios-of-the-holy-mountain

Quotes

A sourced selection, not a popularity ranking. Quote wording stays in the cited language; context notes are editorial.

No quotations have been approved for this collection yet. This does not mean that no authentic words survive. See the readings and sources below.

Readings

Selected reading

John 21:20-22 (the beloved disciple)

Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

English: cited historical translation. Modern Greek, Russian and Macedonian: LogosPharos translations through English, not direct translations from ancient Greek.

Editorial context

Peter turns and sees the disciple whom Jesus loved following, and Jesus tells him that the coming of that disciple is not Peter's concern. The verses place the beloved disciple at the close of the Gospel, whose testimony is printed with the quotations below.

View source text

Source text and edition

Then Peter, turning about, seeth the disciple whom Jesus loved following; which also leaned on his breast at supper, and said, Lord, which is he that betrayeth thee? Peter seeing him saith to Jesus, Lord, and what shall this man do? Jesus saith unto him, If I will that he tarry till I come, what is that to thee? follow thou me.

King James Version, the English translation cited here. Modern Greek, Russian and Macedonian below are relay translations through this English text, not direct translations from the Greek.

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2021&version=KJV

Words recorded in the sources

Each quotation is reproduced from the cited source without changing its wording; its translation basis is stated in its source panel.

  • This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

    John 21:24 (the evangelists' testimony to the Gospel)

    English: cited historical translation. Modern Greek, Russian and Macedonian: LogosPharos translations through English, not direct translations from ancient Greek.

    View source text

    Source text and edition

    This is the disciple which testifieth of these things, and wrote these things: and we know that his testimony is true.

    King James Version, the English translation cited here. Modern Greek, Russian and Macedonian below are relay translations through this English text, not direct translations from the Greek.

    https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=John%2021&version=KJV

Translations and context are AI-assisted and editorially reviewed, not independently certified by a scholar. Compare the displayed source text; short selections are not complete works.

Writings and works

Checked against Eastern Orthodox sources. Written works, recorded teaching, and works about the saint are distinguished.

These books are received under the named apostle in Orthodox Church tradition. This records ecclesial attribution, not a claim to settle every historical authorship question.

External sources may be in another language. Modern editions and translations can be copyrighted; full books are not copied here.

Miracles and testimony

These summaries distinguish Scripture, hagiographical accounts and later testimony. A source establishes that an event was reported, not independent proof of its supernatural cause. Miracles are attributed to God, not autonomous powers of saints. Reports of healing are not medical advice or a promise of recovery.

Research and reading notes

These are original editorial biographies, not copied source translations. Scripture, historical writing, and hagiographical tradition are distinguished in the text. This page is a study introduction, not an exhaustive critical edition or a personal spiritual rule.

The saints listed here are commemorated by Eastern Orthodox churches. These summaries and translations are independent editorial work, not official Church publications or Church-approved translations.

Church sources

https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/06/30/101711-synaxis-of-the-holy-glorious-and-all-praised-twelve-apostles

https://www.oca.org/saints/lives/2026/09/26/102731-repose-of-the-holy-apostle-and-evangelist-john-the-theologian

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