St. John the Theologian
St. John the Theologian, son of Zebedee and Salome, was one of the Twelve Apostles and the disciple whom Jesus loved: he reclined on Christ's breast at the Last Supper, stood at the Cross, and took the Mother of God into his care.
Exiled to the island of Patmos under persecution, he received the Book of Revelation, and after returning to Ephesus he wrote his Gospel and three epistles, earning him the title Apostle of Love. He reposed peacefully at Ephesus in extreme old age, around the year 100, the last of the Twelve; September 26 commemorates his repose. Because of the height of his teaching on the divinity of the Word, the Church honors him alone among the Evangelists as the Theologian.
In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God.
Beloved, let us love one another, for love is of God; and everyone who loves is born of God and knows God.
God is love, and he who abides in love abides in God, and God in him.
There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear.
My little children, let us not love in word or in tongue, but in deed and in truth.
If someone says, 'I love God,' and hates his brother, he is a liar; for he who does not love his brother whom he has seen, how can he love God whom he has not seen?
Troparion
O Apostle beloved of Christ God, hasten to deliver a defenseless people. He Who permitted you to recline on His breast receives you as you bow before Him. Entreat Him, O Theologian, to dispel the persistence of the heathen, and to grant us peace and great mercy.
Kontakion
Who shall declare your greatness, O virgin disciple, for you pour forth wonders and are a source of healings, and pray for our souls as Theologian and friend of Christ.
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