John, apostle and evangelist - December 27th
Tradition holds that St John was originally buried in Ephesus. Later in the 6th century a large basilica was built over his tomb. However, due to a number of earthquakes and the encroachment of the Turks the church was abandoned and his relics lost. Today the location of his relics is unknown. However, his original tomb, now empty, is marked and venerated in Ephesus, Turkey.
Churches of Honor in Rome
Basilica of St John Lateran
Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano 4
Rome, Italy
*This basilica is dedicated to both St John the Evangelist and St John the Baptist.
*Within the Colonna Chapel to the left of the main sanctuary is a painting completed by Giuseppe Cesari of St John the Evangelist and St John the Baptist pointing to Christ. Another painting of these two saints is on the left wall of the Lancellotti Chapel. Also within the fourth chapel on the right side of the nave is a painting that depicts St John the Evangelist at Patmos. Finally, within the baptistry next to the basilica is a chapel dedicated to St John the Evangelist.
San Giovanni in Oleo (Saint John in Oil)
Via di San Giovanni a Porta Latina
Rome, Italy
*This is a small octagonal devotional shrine located south-east of the Colosseum. It is not open often.
*A legend holds that Emperor Domitian attempted to execute St John here by placing him into a pot of boiling oil. St John survived this attempt upon his life and was exiled to the island of Patmos.
San Giovanni a Porta Latina (Saint John at the Latin Gate)
Via di San Giovanni a Porta Latina 17
Rome, Italy
*This church is south-east of the Colosseum and it is dedicated to St John the Evangelist.
San Giovanni della Malva in Trastevere
(Saint John of Malva in Trastevere)
Piazza del San Giovanni della Malva
Rome, Italy
*This church is located in Trastevere. It is dedicated to St John the Evangelist.
