Sainz John apostol and evangelist

        We celebrate the day of our patron saint, St. John on December 27th. He calls himself »the disciple loved by Jesus«. He is one of the Twelve, the youngest one which is not the reason of his name. In a special way, he was the first and the last apostle. First, since he accompanied apostle Andrew to follow Jesus from the river Jordan knowing he was a greater teacher than John the Baptist was. Last because he was the only one brave enough to come under the cross of the crucified Jesus. It was the moment when Jesus entrusted Mary to John and John to Mary proclaiming John to be the son of his mother Mary. In many other cases John plays an important role of the special one. He was sitting next to Jesus at the Last Supper leaning his head on Jesus' chest, according to his Gospel. St. John, his brother St. Jacob and St. Peter were a close circle, they were allowed to see the transformed Jesus.

Saint John and St. Jacob were the sons of Zebedee and Salome, often called Zebedee's sons or sons of thunder dubbed by Jesus. It is believed that John lived with Mary till the day she died thus following the words of Jesus. After she died, St. John traveled with St. Peter through Judea preaching the Gospel, the Glad News. Afterwards, he left to Asia Minor and according to the Revelation, he built seven churches there. He was exiled to Ephesus, by Domitian surviving two assassination attempts; first by poisoned wine which St. John was supposed to drink but the poison turned into a snake which escaped the wine; second by hot oil into which he was thrown but left unharmed. Finally, he was exiled to the island Patmos where he wrote the book of Revelation. He died a natural death as an old man during Trajan's reign around the year 100. It is believed that his body was passed from earth into heaven after his death.

St. John is the best known for the Gospel he wrote, three epistles and the book of Revelation. His Gospel does not tell a story or accumulates bare facts, it explains them, searching for their causes, connects them thus giving them a deeper meaning. His Gospel is a record of memories of Jesus who inspired the Holy Spirit. What Jesus on earth could not say before his resurrection and spirit sending, is said here as the Renowned to Church after Spirit, through the message of John's Gospel. The central notions of John's texts are life and faith. John's Gospel is concentrated on the cognition: »In him was life; and the life was the light of men«. (John, 1,4). Thus, he gave a deeper and richer meaning to his writings, especially to the Revelation – works of permanent source of theological, art and various other inspiration. Everything he wrote is subjected to one goal, to lead the man to faith. He is taking a special care of waking up and reinforcing the belief in Jesus, the Messiah, Son of God. John's texts are much more challenging, demanding, asking for true immersion and deep faith. Origen, a great Bible expert, sensed that already in 3rd century saying: »The flower of the Bible is the Gospels and the flower of the Gospels is John's Gospel«.

The main symbol of St. John, besides book, is eagle, the sign of elevated inspiration such as are his messages left in the Holy Scripture. In his texts, St. John has risen up all the way to heaven, just like an eagle shown beside him, in order to deliver God's word to us with great inspiration of the Holy Spirit sent by God. He is the protector of composers, painters, editors, poets thus the protector of Otkrivenje.