Life (biography) of John the Theologian, Saint John the Theologian, apostle and evangelist. Life of John the Baptist

His birth is a manifest testimony to the power of the prayer of his elderly parents and an indication of the upcoming special mission of the future saint of God.

The life of the Prophet John the Baptist is unique and amazing, strict and virtuous.

The life story of the prophet John

The parents of John the Baptist are the righteous and God-fearing Zechariah and Elizabeth, who lived in Hebron. All their lives they begged God to give them a child, but the miracle happened only when they reached old age.

Baby John was born six months earlier than Jesus Christ. The elder priest Zacharias was notified of his upcoming birth during his service in the church.

One day the future father saw right side from the altar of the archangel. He delivered the cherished message that the prayer of the future parents was heard by God and that Elizabeth would soon give birth to a son, John. He will convert many people to God and become the Forerunner of the Messiah.

But in the church environment this day bears the pagan name “Ivan Kupala”.

Of course, superstitions have long been forgotten, people are having fun, lighting bonfires, weaving wreaths, singing songs, and performing round dances. But among the seemingly simple fun there is the practice of fortune-telling and conspiracies.

Important! Believers should avoid such “pastime” activities. The future is closed to us, and knowing it through fortune telling and other magical sessions is a sin and self-deception.

On the birthday of the Forerunner, one should refuse physical labor, it is necessary to say prayer and remember the great preacher, who with his call to repentance stirred the hearts of present and future Christians.

Watch a video about the prophet John the Baptist

Saint John the Myrrh-Bearer (icon, prayer, interesting facts from life will be presented in this article) is a unique person who is not mentioned as often as, for example, Saint Mary Magdalene. However, this holy woman left everything to be closer to Jesus Christ and follow Him. After the Savior was cast down death on the cross, Joanna was among those who could personally anoint the Body of Christ with chrism. The Angels themselves informed her that her Savior would soon resurrect.

Unknown saint

Only Luke mentions Saint John the Myrrh-Bearer. For some unknown reason, the evangelists no longer mention John. The Myrrh-Bearer has a wonderful name, which means “The Grace of God” or “God has shed mercy.” This selfless woman is not too glorified, but she is not reproached either, like, for example, the mother of the Zebedees, who only wanted her sons to always be near Jesus Christ as he performed the Way of the Cross.

Prejudices and prejudices

The Orthodox world talks about some prejudices associated with Joanna the Righteous, or more precisely with her name. Many believe that girls have problems in life precisely because of it, since it is believed that this name is purely masculine. Some Christians are deeply convinced that the name John is not Orthodox at all. Many simply ask in disbelief when they find out that this name belongs to the Myrrh-Bearer.

From this ancient Hebrew name come the famous Slavic Yanechka, Yanka. Unfortunately, many Jans have to choose a different name at baptism, since almost no one associates this name with the name John, from which it comes.

Life of Joan the Myrrh-Bearer

Joanna was not immediately the Myrrh-Bearer. She was once part of respectable society and had a fairly high social status. She had virtually no contact with the poor, beggarly people who were near Jesus Christ and followed Him. She also did not communicate with women who were abandoned by their husbands and who were forced to go to the porch.

Joanna successfully married Khuzu, who served at the king's court. Joanna was considered real. She had everything - clothes, food, and a roof over her head. She had communication with her friends and prayer. Joanna's only son grew up happily to the delight of his parents.

But, unfortunately, grief did not escape Joanna’s house. Her son became seriously ill. It was in Asia, where a particularly serious illness was raging. The young man was near death. Parents tried everything available methods healing, but nothing helped. Then the father decided to turn to the passing Preacher. Huza could not have known that the man was Jesus Christ himself. The courtier did not understand why the Forerunner did not want to go with him to the palace. It is a special honor to be invited to the palace, Khuza thought.

He tried in every possible way to lure Jesus into the palace so that he would heal his son. But in response I heard the following words: “Your faith will never awaken if you do not see a miracle or sign.” The Savior still healed the son of Khuza, despite the fact that it was in this palace that Christ’s only close friend, John the Baptist, was killed. According to legend, it was Joanna who hid the severed head of the Baptist in a secret place in the palace in order to save the body of the Prophet from abuse. It is said that at night she placed the head in a vessel and took it to

Khuza felt ashamed, but he could not understand why these feelings overwhelmed him. He walked home, experiencing great excitement. Joanna sent servants to tell Chuza good news that his son had fully recovered.

After some time, the boy’s parents realized that they had turned to Jesus Christ himself for help. This news also reached King Herod. The courtiers remembered that Joanna often asked the Baptist.

Evil fate or God's blessing

King Herod was angry. Khuza feared for his position and for his life. Therefore, he decided to immediately divorce his wife and send her home so that the king’s anger would not harm him. In those days, divorce was commonplace. Any reason, even the most insignificant, could lead to divorce. It was difficult for the woman. Even with a high status, she instantly lost everything after the divorce. If her parents were still alive, she could return to them.

Khuza had good example how you can throw out your wife and marry someone younger and more beautiful. Before his eyes, King Herod himself did this. There are rumors that Joanna left on her own to avoid trouble.

From maid of honor to saints

But, one way or another, the woman found herself among poor women who had a dubious past, but strictly followed Christ. She came to the Savior because He healed her son. This is the only refuge she has left. Joanna was immensely grateful to Christ. She had no one else to go to. She no longer asked the Savior for anything. She simply listened to him humbly and listened to everything that awoke in her soul from his words. Now Joanna was among the orphans, the poor and the abandoned, who questioned the Preacher with genuine attention.

In her previous life, she accepted her family's luxury and prosperity as God's blessing. Now Joanna saw that in fact the Lord is with the poor and unfortunate. From this rethinking, she became joyful, as she realized that she had not lost anything, but, on the contrary, had gained a lot. All this time, the woman was sure that the Lord did not need her, abandoned and divorced, that He was angry with her and would never let her into His Kingdom. But Jesus constantly repeated that God does not care about luxurious palaces.

Joanna was immediately accepted into the new environment. No one gloated at her or was happy that she had lost everything. No one looked at her with malice or envy, or reproached her for her past wealth. They immediately offered her bread and took care of her peace of mind.

A Life of Service to Others

Then Joanna decided to sell all her valuables, which she had been saving for a rainy day. Now her dream had come true, she could serve Jesus, feed the hungry beggars who followed the Savior.

Having given everything, Joanna mingled with the crowd of poor women and no one except Luke even noticed her. Luke always felt sorry for unfortunate women for their difficult fate.

Jesus always answered Joan, because he knew the depths of her heart and understood her sadness, as he understood the sorrow of everyone who turned to Him.

Luke told John that unexpected joy and great salvation would soon await her, because the Lord is very merciful and does not tolerate when someone suffers. Luke often consoled Joanna so that she would not grieve.

The mother of Jesus, Mary, also took care of the future Myrrh-Bearer. She treated her like a daughter who was in trouble, grieved with Joanna for her abandoned son and was glad that he was still able to be healed, and again grieved that he could no longer be with his mother.

How does John the Myrrh-Bearer help?

Undoubtedly, Righteous Joanna was and is a close companion of the Lord. As you know, now we can turn to the Creator through His companions. God may not always hear our prayers, but His faithful servants will certainly convey all our requests to Him. John the Myrrh-Bearer can help in many troubles. The icon of this saint is the main refuge of all who need maternal care, warmth and protection from injustice. Righteous Joanna shows special favor to single mothers, since she herself lost a child and was abandoned by her husband.

Day of Remembrance

It is believed that a strong connection with the associates of the Lord can be felt on the days of their worship. John the Myrrh-Bearer, whose name day falls on the Resurrection of all Myrrh-Bearing Wives (April 17) and on June 27, favors everyone who sincerely turns to her asking for help in any difficulties.

Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian. The holy apostle and evangelist John the Theologian was the son of Zebedee and Salome, the daughter of St. Joseph the Betrothed. At the same time as his elder brother Jacob, he was called by our Lord Jesus Christ to be one of His disciples on Lake Gennesaret. Leaving their father, both brothers followed the Lord.

Temple icon of St. Apostle John the Theologian.

Church of the Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian in Kolomna.

Icon of St. of the Apostle John the Theologian on the page “The Mystery of the Foundation” of the Book “The Church of the Apostle John the Theologian”

The Apostle John was especially loved by the Savior for his sacrificial love and virginal purity. After his calling, the apostle did not part with the Lord and was one of the three disciples whom He especially brought close to Himself. Saint John the Theologian was present at the resurrection of the daughter of Jairus by the Lord and witnessed the Transfiguration of the Lord on Tabor. During the Last Supper, he reclined next to the Lord and, at a sign from the Apostle Peter, leaning against the Savior’s chest, asked about the name of the traitor. The Apostle John followed the Lord when He, bound, was led from the Garden of Gethsemane to the trial of the lawless high priests Annas and Caiaphas, but he was in the bishop's courtyard during the interrogations of his Divine Teacher and relentlessly followed Him along the Way of the Cross, grieving with all his heart. At the foot of the Cross, he wept together with the Mother of God and heard the words of the Crucified Lord addressed to Her from the height of the Cross: “Woman, behold Thy son,” and to him: “Behold Thy Mother” (John 19, 26, 27). From that time on, the Apostle John, like a loving son, cared for Holy Virgin Mary and served Her until Her Dormition, never leaving Jerusalem.

John the Theologian and Prochorus on Patmos. XV century. From the book Byzantine Icons of Sinai.

After the Assumption Mother of God The Apostle John, according to the lot that fell to him, went to Ephesus and other cities of Asia Minor to preach the Gospel, taking with him his disciple Prochorus. They set off on a ship that sank during a strong storm. All travelers were thrown onto land, only the Apostle John remained in the depths of the sea. Prochorus wept bitterly, having lost his spiritual father and mentor, and went to Ephesus alone. On the fourteenth day of his journey, he stood on the seashore and saw that a wave had thrown a man onto the shore. Approaching him, he recognized the Apostle John, whom the Lord kept alive for 14 days. deep sea. The teacher and student went to Ephesus, where the Apostle John constantly preached to the pagans about Christ. His preaching was accompanied by numerous and great miracles, so that the number of believers increased every day. At this time, the persecution of Christians began under Emperor Nero (56-68). The Apostle John was taken to Rome for trial. For confessing faith in the Lord Jesus Christ, the Apostle John was sentenced to death, but the Lord preserved His chosen one.

John the Theologian. From the article Shamordino, embroidered icons of the monastery.

The apostle drank the cup offered to him with deadly poison and remained alive, then emerged unharmed from the cauldron of boiling oil, into which he was thrown on the orders of the tormentor. After this, the Apostle John was sent into captivity on the island of Patmos, where he lived for many years. Along the way to the place of exile, the Apostle John performed many miracles. On the island of Patmos, a sermon accompanied by miracles attracted all the inhabitants of the island to him, whom the Apostle John enlightened with the light of the Gospel. He cast out numerous demons from idol temples and healed a great many sick people. The Magi, through various demonic obsessions, offered great resistance to the preaching of the holy Apostle. Particularly terrifying to everyone was the arrogant sorcerer Kinops, who boasted that he would bring the apostle to death. But the great John - the Son of Thunder, as the Lord Himself called him, by the power of the grace of God acting through him, destroyed all the demonic tricks that Kinops hoped for, and the proud sorcerer died ingloriously in the depths of the sea.

The Apostle John retired with his disciple Prochorus to a deserted mountain, where he imposed a three-day fast on himself. During the apostle’s prayer, the mountain shook and thunder roared. Prokhor fell to the ground in fear. The Apostle John raised him up and ordered him to write down what he would say. “I am Alpha and Omega, the firstfruits and the end, says the Lord, who is and who is and who is to come, the Almighty” (Rev. 1:8), proclaimed the Spirit of God through the holy Apostle. So, around the year 67, the Book of Revelation (Apocalypse) of the holy Apostle John the Theologian was written. This book reveals the secrets of the fate of the Church and the end of the world.

After a long exile, the Apostle John received freedom and returned to Ephesus, where he continued his work, teaching Christians to beware of false teachers and their false teachings. Around 95, the Apostle John wrote the Gospel in Ephesus. He called on all Christians to love the Lord and each other and thereby fulfill the commandments of Christ. The Church calls St. John the Apostle of Love, for he constantly taught that without love a person cannot approach God. The three Epistles written by the Apostle John speak about the meaning of love for God and others. Already in old age, having learned about a young man who had strayed from the true path and become the leader of a gang of robbers, the Apostle John went to look for him in the desert. Seeing the holy elder, the culprit began to hide, but the apostle ran after him and begged him to stop, promising to take upon himself the young man’s sin, if only he would repent and not destroy his soul. Touched by the warmth of the holy elder’s love, the young man truly repented and corrected his life.

The Holy Apostle John died at the age of over a hundred years. He far outlived all the other eyewitnesses of the Lord, for a long time remaining the only living witness of the earthly paths of the Savior.

When the time came for the Apostle John to depart to God, he withdrew outside of Ephesus with seven of his disciples and ordered a cross-shaped grave to be prepared for himself in the ground, in which he lay down, telling the disciples to cover him with earth. The disciples kissed their beloved mentor with tears, but, not daring to disobey, fulfilled his command. They covered the saint's face with a cloth and buried the grave. Having learned about this, the rest of the apostle’s disciples came to the place of his burial and dug up the grave, but found nothing in it.

Every year, from the grave of the Holy Apostle John on May 8th, fine dust came out, which the believers collected and were healed of their illnesses. Therefore, the Church celebrates the memory of the holy Apostle John the Theologian on May 8th.

The Lord gave his beloved disciple John and his brother the name “sons of thunder” - a messenger of heavenly fire, terrifying in its cleansing power. By this the Savior pointed to the fiery, fiery, sacrificial nature of Christian love, the preacher of which was the Apostle John the Theologian. The eagle is a symbol of the high soaring of Theological thought - the iconographic sign of the Evangelist John the Theologian. Of the disciples of Christ, the Holy Church gave the title of Theologian only to Saint John, the seer of the Destinies of God.

Recently, the Nikeya publishing house published the first volume of the new series “Saints in History. Lives of the Saints in a new format". The author of the book, Olga Klyukina, attempted to recreate the biographies of saints from various eras based on their own writings, surviving historical documents and testimonies of contemporaries. The first book in the series covers the 1st-3rd centuries and is dedicated to the era of persecution of Christians and the formation of the Church. Today, on Memorial Day, with the kind permission of the Nicaea publishing house, we are publishing an excerpt dedicated to the beloved disciple of Christ.

Let us begin to love not in word or tongue, but in deed and truth.
(1 John 3:18)

There are people who, from birth, are gifted with a special mindset and soul. They are called differently: sublime natures, poets, dreamers, “not of this world” - the main thing does not change from this.

Like everyone else, they walk on earth, do everyday things, but at the same time their soul hovers somewhere far away, closer to heaven, and does not want to belong to earthly things. These people see unusual dreams more often than others, their inner life is filled with symbols and secret signs, they hear only a call known to them...

Such a person was the apostle and evangelist.

But so far in Jerusalem he was simply called John Zebedee, and no one was surprised that it was he who walked ahead of the unusual funeral procession with a white lily in his hand. The faces of the others were also not so much sad as joyful and bright, as if everyone had gathered for a holiday.

And the Jerusalem Christians knew why: on their last earthly journey, or rather to heaven, to eternal life, they saw off Mary, the Mother of Christ. And the lily in the hand of John Zebedee was not an ordinary flower, but a message from the Garden of Eden.

According to legend, the Mother of God was walking in the garden when Archangel Gabriel appeared to Her again and announced that the time had come to meet her Son. And to confirm that they were waiting for Her in the heavenly palaces, he gave her a lily from the Garden of Eden. And Mary ordered that on Her birthday, John Zebedee should carry this lily for heaven...

John was the youngest of Christ's disciples, younger than the other eleven apostles. An exalted, pure young man, the beloved disciple of Jesus.

In the Gospels of Matthew, Mark and Luke we hardly hear the voice of young John. Other apostles asked questions, doubted something, committed rash actions and then tried to explain them. We will not hear a shocked sigh from the lips of John even on Mount Tabor, at the moment of the Transfiguration of Christ - Peter, as usual, will speak for everyone.

John Zebedee was mostly silent, listening to the Teacher with adoration, but at the same time he remembered everything, everything. And in his Gospel he told us such details that cannot be found in other testimonies about Christ.

Only occasionally did John enter into conversation—and then, mostly, together with his older brother Jacob.

Exist different opinions Why did Jesus give the brothers Zebedee this nickname: sons of thunder(Mark 3:17). Undoubtedly, first of all, they were children of thunder in terms of spiritual strength. And along the way, the brothers talked a lot and loudly among themselves. Like all of Christ’s disciples, they were very different in character, and in age too.

The active, decisive Jacob Zebedee was the first of the twelve apostles to suffer martyrdom in Jerusalem. All listened to, contemplative John will give the world the Gospel and the great revelation from God - the Apocalypse. Evangelist Matthew told us such an interesting episode. One day, the mother of James and John, Salome, who was also walking with them, approached Jesus and, bowing, made a request that she could not even immediately explain clearly. As the Gospel says about this, asking Him for something(Matthew 20:20).

— What do you want?(Matthew 20:21) - Christ asked the woman.

Then Salome pointed to her sons and asked that in the Kingdom of Heaven they sit closest to Jesus: one on His right hand, and the other on His left. The loving mother decided to take care in advance so that her sons would have a good time there too.

The Gospel of Mark describes this conversation somewhat differently. It is not Salome, but the brothers themselves who turn to Jesus, approaching from afar their, as they themselves understand, not quite an ordinary request:

— Teacher! We want You to do for us whatever we ask.(Mark 10:35), they say.

This is how children often turn to kind, loving parents, knowing that they will not be punished for this: they say, first promise what you will do, and then we will say...

— What do you want Me to do to you?(Mark 10:36) - Christ asked the “sons of thunder.”

— Grant us to sit at Your side, one at Your right hand and the other at Your left, in Your glory(Mark 10:37).

— Don't know what you're asking for... (Mark 10:38) - Jesus said and explained that the places in the Kingdom of Heaven do not depend on Him: everyone will sit there, as who is destined for(Mark 10:40).

Hearing about this request, the ten remaining disciples, as Evangelist Mark writes, began to grumble against the Zebedee brothers. It was then that the words of Jesus were heard that the one who wants to be in charge, let him become a servant to everyone, and the one who strives for primacy, let him be a slave to everyone.

What is striking in this scene is not only the warm, trusting relationship between Christ and his disciples, but also the fact that on the way to Jerusalem the Zebedee brothers were animatedly talking (and perhaps arguing among themselves if their mother intervened) not about something else, but about Kingdom of Heaven! For them, this is the same reality as for other travelers - a house at the end of the road, where food and lodging await them. This simple, undoubted faith was precisely what distinguished the disciples of Christ - be they a fisherman or a tax collector - from numerous skeptics and wise guys.

Or maybe the brothers’ question was actually necessary for Christ to make the most important confession about His mission on earth:

— The Son of Man did not come to be served, but to serve and to give His soul as a ransom for many.(Mark 10:45).

Another time, the Zebedee brothers were indignant that the inhabitants of some Samaritan village closed the gates when Christ wanted to stay with them for the night. This attitude towards the Teacher shocked John so much that he asked Jesus to allow him to bring down fire from heaven on the ungrateful Samaritans. Like the other eleven disciples, he also received the gift of miracles from Christ. But the Teacher forbade him to do this, saying: You don’t know what kind of spirit you are; for the Son of Man came not to destroy the souls of men, but to save. (Luke 9:55-56).

John's impulse coming from the heart shows his boundless love for Christ, as well as his youthful maximalism - suddenly somehow immediately betrays his age...

The Gospel of Luke describes another conversation between Jesus and John Zebedee. Once the apostles met on the way stranger, who did not walk with them, but on his own, but also cast out demons in the name of Jesus. The apostles forbade him and moved on. But this meeting haunted the young, impressionable John, and on the way he asked Christ: did they do the right thing with that man? As it turned out, John had good reason to doubt.

Jesus said: do not prohibit, because whoever is not against you is for you(Luke 9:50).

Thus, all the apostles received another lesson, this time thanks to the sensitivity of John.

And this is how the very first meeting of Christ with John Zebedee took place.

Once, together with his fellow countryman and friend Andrei (apparently, a little older in age), John went to the Jordan River to see the prophet who had appeared from the desert, about whom everyone was talking.

John the Baptist called the people to repentance, baptized with water and spoke mysterious words: after him the One who will baptize with the Holy Spirit(Mark 1:8).

We do not know whether John was present at the time of Jesus' baptism, but he may have heard a lot about it from others. People who came to be baptized by John in the Jordan entered the river and stood chest-deep in the water for a long time, confessing their sins, after which they accepted a cleansing rite. Jesus, as the Gospel says, “immediately came out of the water” - He was completely clean from all sin! So the prophet John the Baptist, when Jesus passed by, pointed to Him and said the same thing: here is the Lamb of God(John 1:36) - that is, pure and sinless. Andrew and John, who were standing next to him at that moment, heard this and followed Jesus.

Probably, they themselves did not fully understand why and where they were going - this is how they move at night, from darkness to light, and this was a Light that not everyone, but only the pure in heart, could see. The young men silently followed Christ, not knowing how to turn to Him or call out to Him.

Then Christ Himself turned to them and asked:

— What do you need?

— Rabbi, where do you live?(John 1:38) - asked the less timid Andrew, who is now called the First-Called, since Jesus was the first to call him. And the very address “rabbi” (which means teacher) suggests that the young men have already chosen a mentor for themselves.

— Come and see(John 1:39), Jesus told them.

He brought Andrei and John into the house, where they talked for a long time: from noon until night.

It must have been an amazing conversation if Andrei immediately ran to his older brother, Simon, and announced: We have found the Messiah(John 1:41).

“They found the Messiah” means that they immediately and unconditionally recognized in Jesus that same King, the Liberator from slavery. And they were not at all embarrassed that the Messiah met them without a royal retinue, in simple clothes and brought him to an ordinary house on the banks of the Jordan... “We found” means that John was of the same opinion.

According to legend, Jesus Christ was a relative of him on his mother’s side. It is believed that the mother of James and John, Salome, was the daughter of Joseph the Betrothed of Nazareth, who, having become a widower, took the Virgin Mary as his wife. It is about people like Andrew and John Zebedee that Jesus Christ will say in the Sermon on the Mount: Blessed are the pure in heart, for they will see God... (Matthew 5:8).

When the Prophet John the Baptist was arrested, his disciples and curious people were forced to go home. At this time, Jesus withdrew into the desert, where, through forty days of fasting and fighting temptations, he prepared to go out to preach.

One can imagine with what impatience John Zebedee awaited a new meeting with the Messiah. Born into a fisherman's family, he, as usual, helped his father Zebedee and his older brother fish in the Sea of ​​Galilee, while he himself waited and waited...

And one day Jesus Christ really appeared on the shore. Only now the “rabbi” was not walking alone, but surrounded by a large crowd of people - everyone was pushing, shouting, trying to touch at least the hem of His robe, asking Him to heal them, to perform a miracle.

Jesus noticed an empty boat on the shore belonging to Simon, Andrew's older brother, and entered it. The fishermen had just recently landed on the shore and were shaking out their empty nets. Christ asked Simon to help him row a little away from the shore - at least from a distance He could talk to the people. And the one who readily leaned on the oars, did not yet know to what distant distances he was going - it was none other than the Apostle Peter.

Among those who listened to Christ speaking from the boat were the fisherman Zebedee and his two sons, James and John, who were dismantling and repairing nets on the shore.

But then the people began to slowly disperse, and then Christ performed a purely “fishing” miracle for Simon. He showed where to cast the net to catch a lot of fish. And indeed, the catch turned out to be so large that the nets could not stand it. The astonished Simon called other fishermen for help, and Zebedee's boat was also filled to the brim with fish.

After this, Jesus called Simon and his brother Andrew to follow Him - and they became His first disciples.

Then Christ approached the boat, where John and his brother were mending their nets, and said mysterious words: I will make you fishers of men... (Matthew 4:19). And both Zebedee brothers, leaving their nets, their catch and their entire former life, also followed Jesus.

From this moment on, John Zebedeb will follow his beloved “rabbi” everywhere for three years. He, too, found himself among His chosen twelve disciples and forever chose a virgin way of life for himself. And perhaps for him, whose soul was little attached to the everyday, it was even easier for others to understand that Christ came in order to connect the earthly and the heavenly, to show people the way to the Kingdom of Heaven.

It is no coincidence that the symbolic image of the Evangelist John the Theologian became an eagle - a symbol of the high soaring of his feelings and thoughts.

A mysterious person appears frequently in the Gospel of John: one of the disciples... whom Jesus loved(John 13:23), and another disciple whom Jesus loved(John 20:2). There was a lot of discussion about this, but now almost no one doubts: the apostle and evangelist John wrote about himself this way out of modesty.

And it turns out that the one who wrote this(John 21:24) Gospel, was the only one who remained in the Garden of Gethsemane when Christ was taken into custody and all the other apostles fled in fear. The rooster did not crow three more times - the Apostle Peter renounced Christ, saying that he was not acquainted with Him, which he would repent of for the rest of his life. But in the courtyard of the high priest there was another silent disciple of His. Simon Peter and another disciple followed Jesus; This disciple was known to the high priest and entered with Jesus into the courtyard of the high priest. And Peter stood outside the doors. Then another disciple, who was known to the high priest, came out and spoke to the doorkeeper and brought Peter in. Then the servant servant said to Peter: “Are you not one of this Man’s disciples?” He said no(John 18:15-17).

Probably, John walked just as silently among those who accompanied Christ to the place of execution on Golgotha, watched how the Teacher was nailed to the cross and placed between two robbers, how the soldiers divided His clothes - he heard every heavy sigh of Christ - but even then no doubt about it.

And when Christ said, pointing with his eyes to the Mother of God, he probably spoke very quietly, because any word for the one nailed to the cross gave off terrible pain: Behold, your Mother(John 19:27) - of course, John immediately understood this command. Before last day earthly life Holy Mother of God he will take care of Her like his own son.

Later, when the Risen Christ appeared on the shore of the Sea of ​​Galilee, the disciple whom Jesus loved(John 21:7), he was the first to recognize his “rabbi” and said to Peter: it's the Lord(John 21:7). During that meal on the shore, when the Apostle Peter was forgiven and heard about his future, he asked Jesus: what awaits John?

If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?(John 21:22) was the answer.

These words were interpreted to mean that Christ granted John immortality, and His beloved disciple would never die. But John himself did not share this opinion, uploading his Gospel with these words:

And this word spread between the brothers that that disciple would not die. But Jesus did not tell him that he would not die, but: if I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you? This disciple testifies to this and wrote this; and we know that his testimony is true. Jesus did many other things; but if we were to write about it in detail, then I think the world itself would not be able to contain the books written(John 21:23-25).

After the descent of the Holy Spirit on the apostles, John, along with others, received Active participation in the structure of the Jerusalem Church. At this time he became right hand the active Apostle Peter, who often spoke before the people: together they went to the place of preaching, together they appeared before the court, together they sat in prison. Together with Peter, they went to Samaria to lay hands on the converts. Jerusalem Christians will respectfully call John “the pillar of the Church.”

A few years after the Ascension of Christ, the Apostle Matthew wrote the first Gospel. This text will be rewritten and distributed by many, but the authorship of its first translation from Hebrew into Greek is also attributed to John Zebedee.

During these years, in Jerusalem, by order of King Herod Agrippa, his elder brother, the Apostle James, was executed after being denounced by a false witness.

According to legend, Jacob Zebedee calmly listened to the verdict and continued to testify about Christ. His courage so impressed the false witness that he already repented of his action at the trial, although this did not help the defendant. And when the apostle was led to execution, the accuser fell at his feet and began to beg to forgive him. Jacob embraced him and said, “Peace be with you, my son; peace and forgiveness to you."

The accuser announced that he also believed in Christ, and was executed along with the apostle. He did not even have time to receive the rite of baptism, but received “baptism in blood” - and there will be thousands of such Christians in the first centuries.

After the Dormition of the Mother of God, John Zebedee will leave Jerusalem forever.

When Christ's disciples were just preparing to go with missionary preaching to different parts of the world and were drawing lots, the Apostle John got Asia Minor. And now the time has come for him to fulfill his mission. Taking his disciple Prochorus with him, the Apostle John boarded a ship, and they set off for the shores of Asia Minor.

During the sea voyage, serious trials awaited them, which John, who had the gift of foresight, foresaw in advance. He immediately told Prokhor that misfortune awaited them at sea. And so it happened: not far from the southern coast of Asia Minor, the ship was caught in a storm and was broken. The passengers managed to escape on the ship's planks and reach the shore near Seleucia. And only one of them remained in the depths of the sea - it was John...

An interesting detail has been preserved in the Greek version of the life of the Apostle John. Having learned that Asia Minor was given to him by lot, John accepted the news with a heavy heart, as he was experiencing strong fear before sea voyages. Falling to his knees before the apostles, he confessed to them his cowardice. The apostles asked James, the first bishop of Jerusalem, to pray for John's forgiveness, after which everyone parted in peace. But then John did not have to leave Jerusalem, because he was entrusted with an equally important mission - caring for Mary, the Mother of Christ.

Prokhor shed many tears about the Apostle John who disappeared at sea. But he did not lose hope and continued to pray for his salvation. All this time, Prokhor did not leave the shore, slowly moving from Seleucia to the west and stopping for the night in coastal villages. And one morning ashore huge wave carried out an exhausted man on the board. It was John, who spent almost two weeks at sea, but by the will of God he remained alive.

Prokhor ran to the nearest village, brought bread and water, and when John gained some strength, they set off together and walked across all of Asia Minor on foot.

The Apostle John and Prokhor settled in the western port city of Ephesus, where the Apostle Paul had lived shortly before and, therefore, by that time there was a Christian community.

According to the life, in Ephesus, John and Prokhor were hired as workers by the owner of public baths named Romana. John had to light the stove, and Prokhor had to carry water. In this house they had to endure a lot from Romana’s evil temper, but John, through prayer, performed the miracle of resurrecting from the dead the young man Domnus and his father Dioscorides, the city elder, who died of grief. After which both father and son, and Romana herself, believed in Christ and were baptized.

Another case is described, how on the feast of the goddess Diana (or Artemis of Ephesus), revered in Ephesus, the Apostle John admonished the pagans. When the people gathered in the temple, he stood near the statue of Artemis and began to talk about how people should not worship idols. The Ephesians became enraged and began throwing stones at John, but not a single one hit him - they all flew off the statue and hit the throwers themselves. Then the Apostle John raised his hands to heaven and began to pray. And soon such unbearable heat set in that most of those who had gathered in the square in front of the temple hurried to go home.

Some researchers believe that the apostles quickly moved from Ephesus to Rome, from where, during the persecution of Nero, the Apostle John was exiled to the island of Patmos.

Others - and they are still the majority - adhere to the version that the Apostle John was sent into exile to Patmos much later, during the reign of the Roman Emperor Domitian, which means that before that he lived peacefully in Ephesus for almost thirty years.

The life of Christian communities in the first centuries was built according to its own rules, which in many ways differed from those of today.

If a person expressed a desire to become a Christian, he was introduced to a teacher (he could be either a priest or a layman), who talked with him in detail: asked about the person’s lifestyle, the reasons that prompted him to believe in Christ, etc. Those whom were recognized as worthy and were accepted into the catechumens, a special group of those preparing to be baptized and join the Church.

Catechumens were not allowed to participate in general worship and the Eucharist, since they had not yet been baptized. As a rule, the announcement period lasted two or three years, which allowed everyone to make a final and informed choice. Those worthy of baptism were called differently - chosen, or enlightened. For some time they held this title, and finally they were solemnly baptized on the night of Easter or on the night of Pentecost - usually on these two holidays. Baptism was also accompanied by anointing with special oil (chrism), which was consecrated on the throne.

During the first week, the new converts wore white robes and were treated as birthday boys by everyone in the community.

Every Sunday, Christians gathered together for worship - celebrating the day on which Jesus Christ was resurrected. At the liturgy it was read and interpreted Holy Bible, then the believers prayed together and sang psalms. It happened that during a worship service someone began to prophesy or “speak in tongues,” and such events were considered great importance- they were signs of the real presence of the Holy Spirit in the Church.

Finally, the believers received communion. The sacrament of the Body and Blood of Christ - the Eucharist - has always been and remains the main and most solemn moment of worship. In the first centuries, the Eucharist, or “breaking of bread,” was celebrated at a common table, as a remembrance of the Last Supper, during which Christ taught this sacrament to the disciples.

Since early Christian times, every local church had its own treasury for helping the poor, welcoming strangers, burying the homeless and other charitable purposes. During times of persecution, Christians sent donations to neighboring devastated churches or to brothers condemned to the mines or into exile. As a rule, at the end of each Sunday meeting a collection was made in favor of those in need - everyone gave as much as they could.

An important event in the life of the community there was a meeting with apostles or brothers from other cities who brought messages from bishops or stories about martyrs who suffered for the faith. Christians gathered together to listen to them and pray together, to pass on testimonies about the venerated martyrs to other churches. In this way, the traditions and unity of the Church were maintained, no matter how far apart the communities were located.

The Apostle John lived in Ephesus in the circle of such events and everyday worries. As the closest disciple and witness of the earthly life of Christ, he enjoyed great respect and love not only among Ephesian Christians, but also took care of churches in other cities of Asia Minor - in Smyrna, Pergamum, Laodicea, Sardis, Thyatira, Philadelphia.

According to legend, during one of his travels he met the Apostle Philip, also a disciple of Christ from the age of twelve. This happened when the Apostle Philip went preaching through the cities of Asia Minor with his sister, the maiden Mariamne. You can imagine how much joy this unexpected meeting brought them!

In Ephesus, the Apostle John experienced an event that did not leave a single Jew indifferent, no matter what corner of the earth he was in: the uprising in Judea and the destruction of the Jerusalem Temple. Christ's prophecy came true: the Jewish shrine was destroyed by the Romans, leaving charred ruins on the site of the temple.

The Jerusalem Temple burned down on August 10, 70 - on the same day as several centuries ago when the first Jerusalem Temple was destroyed, captured by Nebuchadnezzar. And this, too, contained the mysterious symbolism of numbers, which will be present so much in the “Apocalypse” of John the Theologian.

Ephesus was the main port city in western Asia Minor, the “gate” through which Roman legions crossed to the peninsula and returned. This means that the Ephesians also observed the sad ending of the Jewish War.

Titus, the son of Emperor Vespasian, who led the suppression of the Jewish uprising, removed from the Jerusalem Temple all the utensils left after the fire, and these were huge treasures, considering that the Jews, no matter where they lived, annually paid a universal tribute for the maintenance and decoration of the temple.

During the celebration of his triumph, Titus drove carts loaded with silver trumpets, golden seven-branched candlesticks and precious temple vessels through the streets of Rome. Almost all of this was later melted down and used to build the Colosseum, or, as it was then called, the Circus of Vespasian. Thirty thousand captive Jews, specially brought for this purpose from Palestine to Rome, were now working on the construction site, which had been started by Titus’ father. The famous Jewish writer Josephus, who described in detail the Jewish War and was very far from Christian views, wrote in his book: “All this happened to them because of the death of James the righteous, the brother of Jesus, who is called Christ. The Jews killed him, although he was a holy man.”... In 81, Emperor Domitian (son of Vespasian and brother of Titus), the last of the Flavian dynasty, reigned on the Roman throne, another insane tyrant who suffered from persecution mania. For this Caesar, who was popularly nicknamed “bald Nero,” neither his contemporaries nor historians said anything kind words.

“After becoming emperor, Domitian at first liked to go into retirement to catch flies and pierce them with sticks,” Suetonius sarcastically reports (“The Lives of the Twelve Caesars”).

Domitian's fear of dying at the hands of assassins reached the point that in his palace he ordered the walls of the portico, where the emperor usually walked, to be lined with a sparkling stone, like mica, so that he could always see if someone was hiding behind him.

One characteristic case is known from the time of his reign. One day Domitian invited the most influential people Rima to her palace for a feast. The guests were led into a room decorated in black from floor to ceiling, and they were horrified to see that in front of each bed there was a tombstone and on each one his name was written. The guests took their places according to the inscriptions and waited only for the arrival of the executioner. But instead, several naked boys, painted black, entered the room and slowly performed a formal dance. Then they served a funeral cake and other dishes that are usually “offered” to the spirits of the dead. And all this time the voice of Domitian, who was hiding behind the screen, told the guests horror stories murders and bloody crimes, to intimidate them...

This palace “joke” gives an idea of ​​the atmosphere of manic suspicion in the empire during the reign of Domitian, who became the new enemy of Christians. Spies and informers were everywhere, prisons did not accommodate “suspicious individuals,” everyone was afraid of everyone and reported on everyone. Christians also began to be searched everywhere, captured and imprisoned.

The Apostle John was arrested and brought to Rome for trial, and during the trial he was beaten and tortured. According to legend, he was sentenced to death by poisoning, but drank the poison and remained unharmed. And everyone immediately remembered the legend of his immortality...

That is why he was sentenced to “eternal exile” on the remote desert island of Patmos.

By that time, all the other closest disciples of Christ had already completed their earthly journey. The apostles Peter and Paul were executed in Rome, Andrei suffered on the cross in greek city Patras, Thomas - in distant India. Only the Apostle John remained alive, and many thought that death would never truly touch him.

And although the Apostle John did not like sea travel, he again had to set sail on a ship - this time to Greek island Patmos, which at that time was a Roman colony.

The journey was again uneventful. The son of one of the rich passengers accidentally fell into the sea - and was rescued from the water through the prayers of the Apostle John. During the voyage, he even performed the miracle of turning salt water into fresh water when all supplies ran out.

How can we not remember that only the Gospel of John tells about the miracle in Cana of Galilee, when Christ Jesus turned water into wine at a wedding feast...

Everyone who sailed with the Apostle John on the ship loved him so much and believed in the holiness of the elder that they offered to land them and Prokhor in any place they wanted. But John ordered them to be taken to Patmos, sensing that something more than a simple exile awaited him.

At that time, the small rocky island of Patmos - the northernmost island of the Greek Dodecanese archipelago - was sparsely populated, much less enlightened: hardly anyone here had heard of Christianity before.

John was exiled to a large quarry, where he, along with the rest of the prisoners, cut stone. The Apostle lived in an ordinary cave, sleeping on a stone floor - and at that time he was already a very old man!

The ruler of the island soon became aware of the unusual convict. The life tells how in the house of Myron, the ruler’s father-in-law, the apostle performed miracles of healing, as a result of which Myron, his wife, children, and then the ruler himself were baptized and converted to Christianity.

Since ancient times, the inhabitants of Patmos worshiped idols, especially Apollo was revered here. The Apostle John competed with a certain local sorcerer Kinops and won - probably not with him alone. It is known that by the end of his exile, most of the island's inhabitants already believed in Christ.

One day, when the Apostle John was in his cave, he heard a Voice addressed to him from heaven. The Apostle immediately recognized him and readily asked: “What, Lord?” John was ordered to spend ten more days in the cave, after which many secrets would be revealed to him. And on Sunday, the Apostle John heard a loud voice, like a trumpet, saying: I am Alpha and Omega, First and Last(Rev. 1:10). A great and formidable vision opened before him, and an Angel of God appeared, explaining everything that was shown. The apostle called the disciple to write down everything that he would dictate, and, according to legend, Prokhor took dictation for two days and another six hours. However, time has stopped...

This is how the Book of Revelation, or Apocalypse, of John the Theologian appeared, where the secrets were revealed to humanity for the first time future destiny The Church and the end of the world. The Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian is also called the “Seer of Mysteries,” or “Seer of Mysteries.”

"Revelation" begins with what John the Evangelist sees open doors leading to heaven.

And immediately I was in spirit; and behold, a throne stood in heaven, and on the throne was He who sat(Rev. 4:2).

Apocalypse (Greek: “revelation”) is a special, mystical book that cannot be retold. It is full of mysterious symbols and images - in this language the Lord spoke with the prophets and patriarchs in ancient times. These symbols can be interpreted in different ways, but each time only a small part of the great secret that God communicated to humanity through the Apocalypse will be revealed.

For example, the image of the harlot of Babylon sitting on a seven-headed serpent is read by many as Rome, located on seven hills. Or is it not just Rome anymore?

The Apostle John saw in the middle of the throne and around the throne were four living creatures, full of eyes in front and behind. And the first living creature was like a lion, and the second living creature was like a calf, and the third living creature had a face like a man, and the fourth living creature was like a flying eagle.(Rev. 4:6-7).

Subsequently, these images became symbols of the four evangelists: the lion - the symbol of Mark, the calf - Luke, the Angel - Matthew, and the eagle - John himself.

The image of the Church appears beautiful and majestic in the Revelation of John.

And a great sign appeared in Heaven: a woman clothed with the sun; under her feet is the moon, and on her head is a crown of twelve stars(Rev. 12:1). In the Apocalypse, Christ, through the Apostle John, also addresses seven specific churches in Asia (the Roman province in Asia Minor) - Ephesus, Smyrna, Pergamum, Thyatira, Sardis, Philadelphia and Laocea. It is believed that these seven churches are the personification of the entire Universal Church on different stages its development up to the present day.

“Seven is a symbol of the fullness of the world, and John the Theologian addresses the seven Churches, that is, the fullness of the entire Church,” priest Daniil Sysoev wrote in his “Interpretation of the Apocalypse.”

The Last Church- Laodicea, the only one about which nothing good has been said, is the church of the times of the end of the world.

I know your affairs; you are neither cold nor hot; Oh, that you were cold or hot! But because you are warm, and neither hot nor cold, I will drive you out of My mouth. For you say: I am rich, I have become rich, and I have need of nothing; but you don’t know that you are unhappy, and pitiful, and poor, and blind, and naked(Rev. 3:15-17).

We are accustomed to perceive the Apocalypse as a terrible story about a great universal catastrophe before the end of the world, to talk about apocalyptic sentiments, meaning the darkest forebodings. This is Hollywood's favorite story about how our civilization will end. And the four horsemen of the Apocalypse (plague, war, famine and death) still rush over the earth - although in a different embodiment than that depicted by Durer, Böcklin, Viktor Vasnetsov and other artists.

Yes, all this is true, but Christians of the first centuries perceived the Apocalypse of John the Theologian also as a great revelation about the long-awaited victory of good over evil.

And God will wipe away every tear from their eyes, and there will be no more death; There will be no more crying, nor crying, nor pain, for the former things have passed away.(Rev. 21:4). This book announced to believers about the coming victory of Christianity, gave hope, and inspired martyrdom in the name of faith. And I heard as it were the voice of a great people, as the sound of many waters, as the voice of mighty thunder, saying: Hallelujah! For the Lord God Almighty reigns(Rev. 19:6). Here, for example, “ brief retelling» Apocalypse by the 2nd century apologist Melito, Bishop of Sardia:

“In the same way, in the last time there will be a flood of fire, and the earth and its mountains will be burned, people will be burned along with the idols they made and the statues they worshiped, and the sea and its islands will be burned up, but the righteous will be preserved from wrath, how the righteous were preserved in the ark from the waters of the flood.”

At the turn of the 2nd-3rd centuries, a list of books recognized by the Church as sacred (the so-called Muratori canon) was compiled, which included the Apocalypse of John the Theologian.

Numerous imitations began to appear, which we call apocrypha. For example, in the Apocalypse of Peter, sinners in hell are punished by Angels in dark clothes - according to the author, there is too much smoke and soot, and the angels can get dirty while working. But can you compare all these human inventions with the grandiose visions of the Apostle John?

In 96, Emperor Domitian was killed by conspirators in his bedroom. Neither the halls of mirrors nor the crowds of informants helped... Immediately after the death of Domitian, the senators ordered the removal of his monuments in Rome and knocked them down. public buildings all inscriptions with his name. Nerva ascended the throne, and prisoners under the previous ruler began to be returned from prison and exile.

The Apostle John and Prochorus also returned to Ephesus, where they were joyfully greeted by Christians. At this time, the bishop of the Ephesian Church was Timothy, the beloved disciple of Paul, who treated with great reverence that whom Jesus loved(John 13:23). In Ephesus, the Apostle John settled in the same house where he lived before his exile, and lived in it until his death. During this period he will write another greatest work - the Gospel of John.

The further evangelical events became a thing of the past, the more speculation arose regarding the Person of Jesus Christ. There will be a lot of all kinds of heresies, and the most persistent of them will subsequently become the subject of discussion at local and ecumenical councils.

The Ephesian Christians convinced the Apostle John to expound Christian teaching as he received it from the Teacher, and to tell the whole truth about Christ himself.

According to legend, John imposed on everyone strict fast, and he and Prokhor went to the mountain. About the fourth day, strong thunder suddenly thundered, lightning flashed in the sky, and the Apostle John dictated the first lines to Prochorus:

In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. It was in the beginning with God. Everything came into being through Him, and without Him nothing came into being that came into being. In Him was life, and life was the light of men. And the light shines in the darkness, and the darkness does not embrace it... (John 1: 1-5).

The Gospel of John is truly unique! On the one hand, it contains the deepest mysteries, over which great theological minds have been struggling for two millennia. The Word was God... On the other hand, the Gospel of John, larger than the other three - Matthew, Mark and Luke, can in some ways be compared with modern reportage. If you want to find out which of the disciples asked Christ this or that question or other details, then first of all you should turn to the Gospel of John - it was written by an undoubted eyewitness of the events.

Only from the Gospel of John, for example, can one learn that at the moment Jesus fed five thousand people with bread, it was the Apostle Philip who asked in confusion: where can we buy bread to feed so many people, and the Apostle Andrew remembered that one boy had five barley loaves and only two fish. After all, John was also there. The Gospel of John - and only in it - tells about the miracle of turning water into wine at a feast in Cana of Galilee, about the resurrection of Lazarus and his sisters - Martha and Mary, and a conversation between Jesus and the Pharisee Nicodemus, during which at least one other person was present attentive listener.

Truly, truly, I say to you, unless someone is born again, he cannot see the kingdom of God.

Nicodemus said to Him: How can a man be born when he is old? Can he really enter his mother’s womb another time and be born?

Jesus answered, “Truly, truly, I say to you, unless one is born of water and the Spirit, he cannot enter the kingdom of God.”

That which is born of the flesh is flesh, and that which is born of the Spirit is spirit.

Do not be surprised at what I said to you: you must be born again. The Spirit breathes where it wants, and you hear its voice, but you don’t know where it comes from or where it goes, this is what happens to everyone born of the Spirit.(John 3: 3-8), says Christ to Nicodemus.

Surprised Nicodemus asks: how can it be?(John 3:9).

If I told you about earthly things and you do not believe, how will you believe if I tell you about heavenly things?(John 3:12) - Jesus will ask him bitterly.

But these words apply least of all to John, who is close to the “heavenly”: he was given the ability to understand the language of heavenly revelations and contemplate spiritual visions.

Many researchers write that at the time of writing, the Apostle John was well aware of the other Gospels, and he consciously sought to fill in the missing details. And with every line of his gospel, the Apostle John proves that Christ is God and the Son of Man, that is, the God-man, and not just one of the prophets or great moral teachers.

Three conciliar letters of the Apostle John the Theologian have been preserved, and all of them are imbued with the truly unearthly love that Christ taught him.

...We have come to know love in the fact that He laid down His life for us: and we must lay down our lives for our brothers. And whoever has wealth in the world, but, seeing his brother in need, closes his heart from him - how does the love of God abide in him? My children! let us love not in word or tongue, but in deed and truth(1 John 3: 16-18), the Apostle John calls on Christians.

I have a lot to write to you, but I don’t want to write it on paper with ink, but I hope to come to you and speak mouth to mouth, so that your joy will be full"(2 John 1:12), he will write to an unknown woman chosen lady and her children(2 John 1:1), and this is so characteristic of him: to rush to someone in order to bring complete and complete joy, forgetting about his own weakness and years.

Saint Clement of Alexandria, in his sermon “Which of the Rich Will Be Saved,” told a touching story about the Apostle John. Once the Apostle John met a handsome young man who had a penchant for good deeds and the study of spiritual subjects. The Apostle left him in the care of the local bishop, so that he would accept him among the catechumens, and he himself went to the next city.

The bishop first took care of the young man, taught him, finally honored him with baptism, after which he ceased to take special care of him. The young man found himself in a society of vicious people and soon reached such a point that he became the leader of a gang of robbers and even surpassed others in cruelty.

After some time, the Apostle John happened to be in this city again, and he immediately asked the bishop about the young man. “The young man died,” he said, “he died for God and eternal life" This news deeply upset John.

“Is this how you should have cared about the soul of your brother entrusted to you? - he told the bishop. “Give me a horse and a guide, I’ll go after him.” And indeed, the elder himself went to the mountains, having found out where the gang was rampant. The robbers grabbed him and brought him to their leader, which is what the Apostle John wanted. At the sight of the holy elder, the young man was so embarrassed that he jumped out of his seat and ran away. John ran after him, shouting loudly after him: “My son, why are you running from your father? Have pity on me, my child; Do not be afraid, there is still hope for life; I will be answerable to Christ for you; I'm ready to give my life for you. Stop and listen to me..."

Finally, the young man could not stand it, stopped, threw down his weapon and, with tears, threw himself at the feet of John. The Apostle took him to the city and only then let him go until the repentant was again accepted into the Christian community.

This story reflects the entire loving soul of the Apostle John. It was about such boundless healing love that he wrote in his First conciliar Epistle:

There is no fear in love, but perfect love casts out fear, because in fear there is torment. He who fears is imperfect in love. Let us love Him because He first loved us. He who says, “I love God,” but hates his brother, is a liar: for he who does not love his brother whom he sees, how can he love God whom he does not see? And we have this commandment from Him, that he who loves God should also love his brother(1 John 4:18-21). John the Theologian lived to a ripe old age. According to historians, the apostle ended his earthly days approximately 68 years after the Crucifixion of Christ, approximately in the year 100.

Eusebius, Bishop of Caesarea, in his “Ecclesiastical History” wrote about the Apostle John: “Upon returning from exile from the island after the death of Domitian, he took care of the local Churches. That he lived to this time is sufficiently attested by two most faithful witnesses, the leaders of church orthodoxy: Irenaeus and Clement of Alexandria. The first of them, in his 2nd book “Against Heresies,” narrates verbatim like this: “All the Asian elders who communicated with John, the disciple of the Lord, testify that he spoke about this; after all, he was with them until the time of Trajan.” In the 3rd book of that same work, he writes: “And the Church founded by Paul in Ephesus - John lived there until the time of Trajan - is a true witness to the apostolic story.” The reign of Emperor Trajan began in 98 and lasted nineteen years.

At the end of his life, John could no longer walk. The disciples carried him in their arms to the congregation, and the apostle kept repeating: “My children, love each other! (John 13:34)

Someone asked why he repeated the same thing, and the Apostle John said: “This is the commandment of the Lord, it contains all His teaching.”

Feeling the approach of death, the Apostle John, accompanied by seven disciples, went out of town and ordered to dig a cross-shaped grave according to his height, and he himself, moving aside, began to pray. When the grave was ready, he lay down in it as if in a bed, spread out his arms and ordered his disciples to cover him with earth.

The disciples first covered him with earth up to his knees, then up to his neck, and when they saw that the holy elder was no longer breathing, they covered his face with a handkerchief and, after kissing him, covered him all over with earth.

The Ephesian Christians, having learned about such an unusual burial of the Apostle John, came the next morning and dug up the grave. They must have wanted to bury him in a better, more honorable place. But the grave was empty!

According to legend, believers found only the sandals of the Apostle John at the burial site. And of course, we immediately remembered the words spoken by Jesus: If I want him to remain until I come, what is that to you?(John 21:23). So in the Apocalypse he wrote about himself: And he said to me: You must prophesy again about nations and nations and languages ​​and many kings.(Rev. 10:11).

One of the interpretations of this prophecy is this: the Lord in his body took him from this world, like the Old Testament Enoch and Elijah the prophet once, and at the right time he will return him to earth again.

Thus, John the Theologian left us one more great secret- the secret of his death.

For many centuries, memorial services have been held over the grave of the holy Apostle, and it was noticed that it was on May 8 that a clearly visible coating, something like fine dust, appeared on the ground. Believers began to collect it and receive healing from many diseases. In memory of this miracle, another day of remembrance of the holy apostle was established, along with September 26, the celebration of the repose of the apostle.

The cave on Patmos, where John the Theologian received the Revelation, has survived to this day: a monastery was founded next to it in honor of the apostle. The pilgrims are shown the crevice through which the sound came loud voice, like a trumpet(Rev. 1: 10), in front of the entrance to the cave the words are written: “This place, which makes an indelible impression, is the house of God and the gates of Heaven.”

Among the numerous icons of the Apostle John, there is one, ancient, called “John the Theologian in Silence.” In it, the apostle raised his finger to his lips and seemed to say: shh, hush... After all, about the most the latest secrets The angel who appeared in Revelation told him to remain silent.

The prophet John the Baptist is the most revered saint after the Virgin Mary. In honor of his establishment, the following holidays: October 6 - for-cha-tie, July 7 - Christmas, September 11 - rya - truncated the head, January 20 - Council of John on the Baptism in connection with the feast of the Baptism, 9 March - the first and second announcement of his head, June 7 - the third announcement of his head, October 25 - celebration nickname re-ne-se-niya of his right hand from Mal-ty to Gat-chi-nu (according to the new style).

The prophet John the Baptist was the son of Saint Za-charia (from the family of Aaron) and the righteous Eli-za-ve-you (from the family - yes the king Yes-vi-da). His family lived near Hev-ro-na (in the Na-mountain country), south of Ieru-sa-li-ma. He came along the mother's line and was related to the Lord Jesus Christ and was born for six months before the Lord. As Evan-ge-list Lu-ka says, Ar-khan-gel Gav-ri-il, having appeared to his father Za-kha-ria in the temple, brought about the birth of his son. And now the blessed spouses, to their ripe old age, are deprived of the consolation of having children, and finally give birth -yes, son, who they used in prayers.

By the grace of God, he escaped death among thousands of murdered babies in Beth-le-e-me and its environs. Saint John grew up in the wild desert, leading himself to great service with a strict life - he prayed and prayed -howl. He wore coarse clothes, grabbed by his skin, and drank wild honey and ak-ri-da-mi ( clan sa-ran-chi). He remained desolate-but-living until the Lord called him at the age of thirty to pro-life. di ev-rey-sko-mu na-ro-du.

Seeing this call, the prophet John appeared on the banks of the Jordain in order to welcome the people to the I'm waiting for the Messiah (Christ). A large number of people gathered to the river before the festival of cleansing for religious omo-ve-ve- ny. Here John turned to them, preaching repentance and baptism for the remission of sins. The essence of his pro-veh-di is that before receiving external rejuvenation, people must be moral -but cleanse yourself, and in this way prepare yourself to accept the Gospel. Of course, John’s baptism was not yet a blessing of Christianity. Its meaning was in the spiritual preparation for the acceptance of the future Baptism with water and the Holy Spirit -home.According to one church prayer, the prophet John was the bright morning star, who shone with his own light. com pre-sunrise-ho-di-la si-ya-nie of all other stars and fore-ve-la morning of the blessed day, illuminating the day -the lordly Sun Christ (). When the expectation of the Messiah reached its highest level, the Savior Himself came to John on the Jordan to be baptized. ra, Lord Jesus Christ. The baptism of Christ was accompanied by a miracle that manifested itself - similar to the Holy Spirit in you see the blue sky and the voice of God the Father from heaven: “This is my beloved Son...”

Having received a revelation about Jesus Christ, the prophet John spoke to the people about Him: “Behold the Lamb of God, who he takes upon himself the sins of the world.” Hearing this, two of John’s disciples joined Jesus Christ. Those were the apostles John (God-speak) and Andrei (First-called, brother of Simon Peter).

The baptism of the Savior of the Prophet John completed and, as it were, sealed his prophetic ministry. He spoke sternly and sternly of both ordinary people and the powerful of this world. For this he soon suffered.

King Herod An-ti-pa (son of King Iro-da Ve-li-ko-go) came to tell the story of John in the same place about him in leaving his lawful wife (before the Ara-viy king Arefa) and for illegally -new cohabitation with Iro-di-a-da. Before this, Iro-di-a-da was married to Iro-da’s brother Philip.

On the day of his birth, Herod arranged a feast, to which many noble guests came. Sa-lo-miya, daughter of the wicked Iro-di-a-da, with her immodest dance during the feast before that pleased Iro-du and cart -to the guests lying with him, that the king promised with an oath to give her everything she asked for, even his own -th kingdom. Tsov-schi-tsa, the learned mother-te-ryu, asked to give her the head of John-on-the-Kre-sti-la on the platter. Herod respected John as a pro-ro-ka, which is why he was taken aback by such a request. One day he was embarrassed to take the oath he had given and sent a guard to the place where Ioan-nu go -lo-woo and gave it to the girl, and she took the go-lo-woo to her ma-te-ri. Iro-di-a-da, hovered over the holy head of the prophet, threw her into a dirty place. Scientist Ioan-na Kre-sti-te-la rowed his body in the Sa-Ma-Ryan city of Se-va-stia. For his evil deeds, Herod received retribution in 38 after R. X.; his troops were once Are-foy, you stood up against him for the dishonor of the thing he kicked for the sake of Iro-di-a-dy, and in the next year the Roman im-pe-ra-tor Ka-li-gu-la sent Iro-da to for something -what.

As the story goes, Evan-ge-list Lu-ka, about different cities and se-le-niya, from Se-va-stia he took part of the mighty ve-li-ko-pro-ro-ka - his right hand - to An-tio-chia. In 959, when mu-sul-mane ovla-de-li An-tio-hi-ey (under im-pe-ra-to-re Kon-stan-tin Por-fi-ro-rod- nom), the deacon carried the hand of Pred-te-chi from An-tio-khia to Khal-ke-don, from where she was transferred in Kon-stan-ti-no-pol, where the tur-ka-mi was stored until the time of this city. Then the right hand of John the Creator was kept in St. Petersburg in the Church of Nehru the Creator of the Savior in Winter - there is a Palace.