|
Home
Church
Buildings
Church
History
|
St John the Divine, Apostle and Evangelist
St John, according to the tradition of the church, is the writer
of the Fourth Gospel and the book of Revelation. The Church
honours St John on December 27th as the disciple whom Jesus
loved (the beloved disciple) and the one who proclaimed Jesus
as the ‘Word made flesh’. John, and his brother James,
were Fishermen, and were first thought to be disciples of John
the Baptist until they were called to follow Christ. As a disciple
of Christ, John witnessed in an intimate way, the key events
in the life, death and resurrection of Jesus. He was there at
the transfiguration of Jesus on the holy mountain, he was there
at the last supper, he was there with Jesus in his agony in
the garden of Gethsemene, he stood at the foot of the cross
and was witness to the resurrection. After Christ’s Ascension
and the descent of the Holy Spirit, John, together with Peter,
took a prominent part in the founding and guidance of the early
church. His whole life was lived as a witness to the living
God and the incarnate Word. The symbol of St John is the Eagle,
representing the soaring majesty of his Gospel.
The Collect for St John the Divine
Merciful Lord, cast your bright beams of light upon the Church:
that, being enlightened by the teaching of your blessed apostle
and evangelist Saint John, we may so walk in the the light of
your truth that we may at last attain to the light of everlasting
life; through Jesus Christ your incarnate Son our Lord, who
is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit,
one God, now and forever. Amen.
|
