Saint John the Theologian (Transfiguration)
Date of celebration: 26/09
Many were of the opinion that John did not die, but was transferred to the next life, like Enoch and Elijah. The reason for this view was given by the well-known Gospel passage, John 22. However, the immediately following verse 23 clarifies things.
The tradition embraced by our Church is as follows: John died in old age in Ephesus and was buried outside it. But after a few days, when his disciples visited the tomb, they found it empty.
Our Church, therefore, accepts that the same thing happened to the Lord’s beloved disciple as it did to His Holy Mother. That is, John died and was buried, but after three days he was resurrected and passed into eternal life, about which he himself, here is what he says:
“He who has the Son has life, he who does not have the Son of God does not have life” (I John, v. 12). He, that is, who is united through faith with Christ and has him as his own, has true and eternal life. He, however, who does not have the Son of God, should bear in mind that he also does not have true and eternal life.
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