The Orthodox Church commemorates today the repose of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian. John was the “disciple whom Jesus loved.”
Jesus Christ deemed him worthy to know many theological truths, which John the Evangelist wrote down in the fourth of the canonical gospels.
He was called “the first Theologian of the Church” because of the profound theological meanings in his texts. He is also called “Son of Thunder.” He ascended Mount Tabor along with his brother James and his friend Peter on the day of the Transfiguration. During the Last Supper, John “fell on the breast of Jesus” and asked, “Lord, who betrayed you?”
John was the sole witness of Jesus’ Crucifixion. The Crucified Lord suggested that John look after the Theotokos.
He was exiled to Patmos, where he wrote the Book of Revelation, known also as the “Apocalypse,” the 27th book of the New Testament.
At an advanced age, he did not stop giving advice, comforting and supporting the faithful. He was saying: “Beloved, we love one another!”
Saint John reposed in the Lord when he was more than a hundred years old. He gained many experiences. He was a disciple of John the Baptist and of Jesus Christ. Then he lived for 60 years, during the years of the formation of the First Christian community in Jerusalem and then in Asia Minor.
Source: Church of Cyprus