The Passing of the Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian
1 John 4:12-19; John 19:25-27; 21:24-25
All-Night Vigil Feast. A day when the faithful are highly encouraged to participate in the Divine Liturgy.
Read 1 John 4:12-19
On this feast of the Repose of the Holy Apostle & Evangelist John the Theologian, let us prayerfully meditate on the text of the Ikos from the Canon of the Apostle from today’s Matins:
It is a bold and and unattainable thing to study the heights of heaven and to plumb the depths of the sea; for just as it is impossible to calculate the number of the stars and the grains of sand on the shore, so it is impossible to speak sufficiently of the Theologian, whom Christ loved and has crowned with so many crowns. For, reclining against His breast, he ate with Him at the mystical supper, in that he is a theologian and a friend of Christ.
Brothers and sisters let us meditate today on what it means to be a theologian: one who speaks of God, as we all can in prayer, and one who loves God above all other created things. And likewise, let us meditate on what it means to truly love Jesus Christ as St. John did. May his saintly and apostolic example inspire us today to love the Lord more and, in so doing, come to love one another more as Jesus calls us to do.
Holy Apostle and Evangelist John the Theologian, pray to the Lord Our God that He may have mercy upon us and save our souls!