Η Μετάσταση αγίου Ιωάννου Θεολόγου,The Falling Asleep of St. John the Evangelist and Theologian

Καταγόταν από τη Βησθαϊδά της Γαλιλαίας. Ήταν ψαράς, όπως και ο αδελφός του Ιάκωβος. Ο Άγιος Ιωάννης ήταν ο αγαπημένος μαθητής τού Χριστού.
Δίδαξε το λόγο τού Θεού στη Μ. Ασία, έκανε πλήθος θαυμάτων και βάπτισε πολλούς χριστιανούς. Ο άγιος Ιωάννης πέθανε σε βαθιά γεράματα στην Έφεσο και τάφηκε έξω απ' αυτήν. Μετά από μερικές μέρες μαθητές του και πολλοί χριστιανοί πήγαν να προσκυνήσουν και είδαν τον τάφο άδειο. Ο Άγιος αναστήθηκε και μετέστη στην αιώνια ζωή.

Η Εκκλησία τιμά τη μετάσταση του αγίου την 26η Σεπτεμβρίου.

Απολυτίκιο
Απόστολε Χριστώ τω Θεώ αγαπημένε, επιτάχυνον ρύσαι λαόν αναπολόγητον. δέχεταί σε προσπίπτοντα, ο επιπεσόντα τω στήθει καταδεξάμενος. ον ικέτευε Θεολόγε, και επίμονον νέφος εθνών διασκεδάσαι, αιτούμενος ημίν ειρήνην και το μέγα έλεος.

This Apostle was from Bethsaida of Galilee, and was the son of
Zebedee and Salome, and the brother of James the elder. First a
fisherman by trade, he became an Apostle and the beloved Disciple of
Christ. Only he of all the Disciples followed Him even to the Cross, and
was entrusted with the care of our Saviour's Mother, as it were
another son to her, and a brother of Christ the Teacher. After this, he
preached throughout Asia Minor, especially in Ephesus. When the second
persecution against the Christians began in the year 96 during the reign of
Domitian, he was taken in bonds to Rome, and there was cast into a vat
filled to the brim with boiling oil. Coming forth therefrom unharmed,
he was exiled to the island of Patmos, where he wrote the Book of
Revelation. Returning again to Ephesus after the death of the tyrant, he
wrote his Gospel (after the other Evangelists had already written
theirs) and his three Catholic Epistles. In all, he lived ninety-five
years and fell asleep in the Lord during the reign of Trajan in the
year 100. He was called Theologian because he loftily expounded in
his Gospel the theology of the inexpressible and eternal birth of the
Son and Word of God the Father. It is for this cause that an eagle-a
symbol of the Holy Spirit, as Saint Irenaeus says-is depicted in his
icon, for this was one of the four symbolic living creatures that the
Prophet Ezekiel saw (Ezek. 1:10).

Apolytikion in the Second Tone
Beloved Apostle of Christ our God, hasten to deliver a people without
defense. He who permitted you to recline upon His bosom, accepts you on
bended knee before Him. Beseech Him, O Theologian, to dispel the
persistent cloud of nations, asking for us peace and great mercy.

Kontakion in the Second Tone
Who can tell thy mighty works, O virgin Saint? For thou pourest
forth miracles, and art a source of healings, and thou dost intercede
for our souls, as the Theologian and the friend of Christ.