St. John the Apostle and Evangelist (1st Century)
Full Name: St. John the Apostle and Evangelist
Period: 1st Century (Died: c. 100 AD)
Feast Day: December 27
Place of Birth: Galilee, Palestine
Special Significance: One of the 12 Apostles, "the disciple whom Jesus loved", author of the Fourth Gospel, Epistles, and Revelation; patron of writers, theologians, and publishers.
Biblical Background and Jesus' Love
Son of Zebedee and Salome, brother of St. James the Greater. Present at the Transfiguration, Gethsemane, and reclined on Jesus' chest at the Last Supper.
At the Foot of the Cross and Church Ministry
He alone stood fearlessly at the foot of the cross with Mary, where Jesus entrusted Mary to him as Mother of the Church. He served as a pillar of the Jerusalem Church alongside Peter.
Miraculous Escape and Final Days
Cast into boiling oil under Domitian, he miraculously emerged unharmed. Exiled to Patmos, he wrote Revelation, later returning to Ephesus to write his Gospel and Epistles, preaching "Little children, love one another" until dying naturally around 100 AD.
Spiritual Lesson
Standing faithfully by the Cross in times of suffering and living out the truth that "God is love" in daily life is the lesson taught by St. John.