23 John the Theologian

late 20th century, possibly “Saint Isaac the Syrian”, Size: 9 7/8” x 7 1/8”

“John, then, the last of the Evangelists seeing that the bodily features had been brought to light in the Gospels, and being urged by the disciples and divinely inspired by the Holy Spirit, composed a spiritual Gospel” says St. Clement of Alexandria.
The last in order of composition, Origen notes that “just as the four Gospels are the foundations of the faith of the Church, and on these foundations rests the entire world reconciled with God in the Christ… so too the Gospel according to St. John is the principle of the Gospels, and no one can seize its meaning, who has not leaned on Jesus’ bosom, and has not received from Jesus- Mary, who has become his Mother also.”
This icon depicts St. John writing his Gospel. St. John sits at his writing desk. On the desk are the tools used for writing. The blue orb with rays of light shining toward saint John represents the Holy Spirit inspiring John to write. John looks up at the light showing that he is receiving God’s revelation. The quill in his right hand shows that he is writing down the word being revealed. He is writing the Gospel of John and the prologue of the Gospel is shown on the pages of the text he is holding. Another text, perhaps Genesis or the Psalms are open on the bookstand. Above the bookstand is a fish which is sometimes used as a symbol for Christ. John the Theologian is written in Greek at the top of the Icon.