St John the Theologian Apostle and Evangelist

St. John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist Feast Day and Greek Name Day

St. John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist is honored in the Orthodox Christian Church as one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, the author of the Gospel of John, and one of the most important figures in early Christianity. His feast day is celebrated on May 8, and on this day people named Ioannis, Ioanna, Yiannis, Yannis, Giannis, John, Johnny, Joanna, and Joanne, among other variations, celebrate their Greek name day.

Who Was St. John the Theologian

St. John was one of the Twelve Apostles chosen by Jesus Christ and the brother of St. James the Apostle. Before following Christ, he worked as a fisherman.

He became one of the closest disciples of Jesus, often described in the Gospel as “the disciple whom Jesus loved.”

Apostle and Evangelist

St. John is traditionally recognized as the author of the Gospel of John, one of the four Gospels of the New Testament. His writings present a deep theological understanding of the life and teachings of Jesus Christ.

He is also traditionally associated with writing the Epistles of John and the Book of Revelation.

Witness to Key Events

St. John was present at several important moments in the life of Christ, including the Transfiguration and the Crucifixion.

According to Christian tradition, he was the apostle entrusted by Jesus with the care of the Virgin Mary after the crucifixion.

Greek Name Day for John

Because St. John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist is commemorated on May 8, this date is also the Greek name day for:

Ioannis

Ioanna

Yiannis

Yannis

Giannis

John

Johnny

Joanna

Joanne

In Greek culture, celebrating a name day is often just as important as celebrating a birthday. Friends and family commonly offer well wishes or visits to honor the person whose name is being celebrated.

When St. John the Theologian Is Celebrated

The feast day of St. John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist is observed each year on May 8 in the Greek Orthodox Church. He is remembered for his role as an apostle, evangelist, and theologian who helped shape the foundations of Christian teaching.