Feast Of Saint John The Evangelist

There is an old Roman tradition that Saint John the Evangelist was condemned to death in AD 92 by the Roman emperor and ordered to be burnt alive in boiling oil. Miraculously surviving the ordeal, the emperor exiled him to the Greek island of Patmos where he lived the rest of his days becoming the only apostle to die from natural causes (not martyred). From Patmos he maintained communication with the churches in Asia Minor which were under his care.

Between Rome’s Porta Latina and the Church of Saint John at the Latin Gate is a small chapel named San Giovanni in Oleo, translated Saint John in Oil, which marks the location of the burning attempt of Saint John. You can see the chapel below as well as its fresco representing Saint John in the oil cauldron.

The remains of Saint John were transported from Patmos to Ephesus where eventually a basilica to his memory was erected. The passage of time and war have claimed the once magnificent Basilica of Saint John the Evangelist. Some scattered ruins and a sketch telling of its past glory are all that remains.

Sketch of the Basilica of Saint John

View of what once was the central nave of the Basilica

Side view of what once was the Basilica of Saint John

Marker of where Saint John the Evangelist’s tomb was located

Tradition indicates that Saint John settled in Ephesus after leaving Jerusalem taking the Virgin Mary with him being obedient to Jesus’ words at the crucifixion, “Woman, behold your son! Behold your mother.” He and Mary lived on the hillside of Ephesus in a house that may be visited today! It is called Meryemana and is a holy site for both Christians and Muslims, making it a unique site where people of both faiths gather in prayer. Below you can see pictures of the Virgin Mary’s House. If you arrive early enough, you can attend Mass celebrated by the Italian Franciscans who run the shrine.

Saint John the Evangelist, also known as Saint John the Theologian and the Beloved Disciple, was inspired by God to give us some of the most beautiful verses of Holy Scripture. Through him we learn with certainty that Jesus Christ, the Word of God, is God himself made man. The mystery of Christmas.

From the beginning of the Gospel of Saint John

“In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. He was in the beginning with God. All things came to be through him, and without him nothing came to be. What came to be through him was life, and this life was the light of the human race; the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness has not overcome it.

“A man named John was sent from God. He came for testimony, to testify to the light, so that all might believe through him. He was not the light, but came to testify to the light. The true light, which enlightens everyone, was coming into the world. He was in the world, and the world came to be through him, but the world did not know him. He came to what was his own, but his own people did not accept him. But to those who did accept him he gave power to become children of God, to those who believe in his name, who were born not by natural generation nor by human choice nor by a man’s decision but of God.

“And the Word became flesh and made his dwelling among us, and we saw his glory, the glory as of the Father’s only Son, full of grace and truth.”

Saint John, pray for us!

Feast of Saint John the Evangelist