January 10, 2005

St. John the Evangelist and the Poisoned Cup by Alonso Cano

3 comments:

Anonymous said...

I'm not familiar with the story depicted in this painting, Crystal. Do you know anything about it?

crystal said...

Yes, according to some sources ...

"John's authoritative position within the church after the Resurrection is shown by his travels about Judea with Peter preaching the Gospel and laying hands on the new converts. He is said to have journeyed to Asia Minor where he founded the seven churches referred to in Revelation.

He settled for a time in Ephesus where he was persecuted by the Roman Emperor Diocletian who, according to legend, twice attempted to put John to death. On one occasion, the emperor ordered him to drink a cup of poisoned wine. As John raised the cup to his lips, the poison departed in the form of a snake. On another occasion John was immersed in a cauldron of boiling oil, but escaped unhurt.

He was then exiled to Patmos, the place of his Revelation. He came back to Ephesus where he is said to have died at an advanced age. Another tradition says that John did not die, but ascended into heaven like Enoch and Elijah."

In one book I read, John never died but has remained alive until Jesus' second coming ... based on that scriptural passage ... John 21 :22 - Jesus said to him (Peter), "What if I want him (John) to remain until I come? "

Marjorie said...

Thanks, Crystal, I had heard about the boiling oil part, but the account I heard was that was the way he was killed. I am glad to hear that he escaped unharmed.