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Saint John the Apostle in a rose cloak, holding a chalice, painted by Peter Paul Rubens about 1611

Saint John the Apostle

The disciple tradition calls beloved, who took Mary into his care at the cross

Honoured as
Apostle and Evangelist, the Theologian, the Apostle of Love
Western calendar
27 December
Orthodox calendar
26 September, his repose; also 8 May (9 October on the old calendar)

John and his elder brother James left their boat and their father on the Sea of Galilee to follow Jesus, and John, whom tradition names the beloved disciple, reclined beside the Lord at the Last Supper and stood beneath the cross, where he heard "Behold thy Mother" and took Mary into his care. Tradition says that he lived at Ephesus, was exiled in old age to the island of Patmos, and alone of the apostles was not martyred. He wrote that "God is love, and whoever remains in love remains in God, and God in him", and the Orthodox call him the Apostle of Love and, alone among the apostles, the Theologian.

Sources

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It is the day each year when the Church remembers a saint in its prayers, and for most saints it is the day they died and went home to God. Many saints here have two dates, because the Western and Orthodox Churches keep their own calendars, and some Orthodox churches still count by the old Julian calendar, which runs thirteen days behind ours.

What is a patron saint?

A patron saint is one we ask to pray for us in a particular place, work or need, as many ask Anthony of Padua for help when something is lost, and as Ireland looks to Patrick. A few patronages were declared by a pope, and most grew from long custom. A card says “Patron of” only where a source we checked names one.

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