Our Patron Saint
St. John the Evangelist
Apostle • Evangelist • Beloved Disciple
St. John the Evangelist was one of the Twelve Apostles and is traditionally recognized as the author of the Gospel of John, the three Johannine Letters, and—according to early Christian tradition—the Book of Revelation. He was the younger son of Zebedee and Salome, and the brother of St. James the Greater, together known as the “sons of thunder” for their zeal (Mark 3:17).
John held a unique closeness to Jesus. He is widely identified as the “beloved disciple” who reclined next to Christ at the Last Supper (John 13:23), stood faithfully at the foot of the Cross, and received the profound commission to care for the Blessed Mother (John 19:25–27). After the Resurrection, John was among the first to reach the empty tomb and believe.
In the early Church, John became a central leader in Jerusalem and later in Ephesus, shaping Christian theology with his profound emphasis on Christ’s divinity and the call to live in God’s love. His writings—especially the Gospel—are distinguished by their depth, clarity, and theological beauty, offering the Church a unique witness to the mystery of the Incarnate Word.
Tradition holds that John lived to an advanced age, the only apostle believed to have died a natural death. His feast day in the Roman Catholic Church is December 27.
Symbol
John’s traditional symbol is the eagle, representing the soaring, heavenly theology of his Gospel.
