John, St

views updated

John, St1 an Apostle, son of Zebedee and brother of St James the Great; also known as St John the Evangelist or St John the Divine, said to have been persecuted under Domitian but to have survived into old age.

St John was present at the Crucifixion and it was to him that care of the Virgin Mary was confided by the dying Jesus; he is traditionally identified with the beloved disciple.

He has traditionally been credited with the authorship of the fourth Gospel, Revelation, and three epistles of the New Testament.

In Christian art he is represented with a book (for the Gospel) and his symbol of an eagle; he may also be shown with a cup holding a viper, recalling the challenge to him by a priest of Diana at Ephesus to drink poisoned wine. His feast day is 27 December.

More From encyclopedia.com