An Account of the Decease of Saint John, Apostle and Evangelist

Again, an account of the decease of the holy John, apostle and evangelist. Now that holy John was with the blessed brethren, while rejoicing and exulting in the Lord. But on the day after that day, which was the first day of the week, when the brethren were sad, he began to say: "My brethren and my sisters, heirs and partakers of the kingdom of Christ, you know how much God has given you through my hands: how many signs, how many wonders, how many gifts, consolations, ministries, teachings, administrations, graces, honors. How many things you have seen before your eyes that were given to you, which are not seen by these eyes, nor heard by these ears. Be steadfast, therefore, while you remember this in all your conduct, and you are persuaded of the mystery of the administration that was against the wicked. For why was it accomplished? The Lord asks of you. That same Lord asks through my hands, my brethren, and persuades, that he asks of you that you remain without injuries, without afflictions, without sorrows. For he knows the injury of your affliction; he knows the madness; for he knows the injury of your affliction; he knows the madness; he knows humility; he knows deception, when you do not obey his holy commands. Therefore, let not your good God be grieved, that merciful one, that compassionate one, that holy one, that immaculate one, that one who is alone, that unchangeable one, that true one, that not wrathful one, that not irascible one, that one who is above every name that is spoken and conceived by you, the exalted one, that God Jesus. Rejoice, therefore, while you turn well, and live purely; you will be strengthened while you turn reverently.

... not be seen while they were partaking, and they were laughing at your poverty. And they were rejoicing while they were loving you. These things I say to you, my brothers, while I am hastening to this work which is appointed, that with you it may be completed in the Lord. For what is there for me to say to you? You have the power of God. You have the hope of his grace. You have his coming, which has no comparison with it. If, therefore, you sin no more, these things which are without knowledge, therefore, you sin no more: these things which you have done without knowledge, he forgives you, and while you are confessing to him, and from him you receive absolution. In these things you are turned to repentance, and those former things are reckoned to you, and you have no part in them, nor mercy. And when he had said these things to them, he prayed thus: Jesus, who for this crown you have magnified in your own greatness; you who for these many flowers, for your flower which does not wither; you who for these words you have sown; grant joy to your servants; physician who heals the sick; minister to your joy and not a hireling; Jesus, who for your joy is merciful and compassionate; you, by your grace, protect all those who hope in you. He who is the one who judges by his small things and by his contempt of the adversary. And when he asked for bread, he prayed thus: What praise, or what offering, or what thanksgiving, when the bread is broken, is worthy of you? But to your joy, to you, Jesus Christ, we confess, to the name of the Father which was spoken. We praise your entry with the door. We praise the resurrection which was spoken to you by your hand. We praise your word. Your glory. Your ineffable pearl. Your treasure house. Your hunting net. Your greatness. For that which was spoken because of you, the son of man.

... to truth, to knowledge, to life, to power, to command, to freedom, to the freedom that is in you, as in truth you are the Lord who was proclaimed the root that does not die, and the spring that is not corrupted, and the foundation of the worlds. For this reason your greatness is acknowledged, which is invisible now. And when he had broken the bread and stretched out his hand, he prayed over all who were to partake of the grace that is in the Lord, and also over the holy Eucharist. He himself also tasted and said, "And I, in this same manner, am with you in peace and love." Then he said to Berus, "Take with you two brothers who have on them caps and staffs, and come after me." But Berus, without delay, did that which was commanded him by John, the servant of God. So the blessed John went out from the house and walked before the door, and he was speaking to the many who were coming from his side. And when he went to the grave of a certain brother, he said to the young men, "Dig, my sons." And they were digging. But he was standing over them especially and saying, "Deep, let the digging be." And while they were digging, he was speaking with them a word and was urging them along with him, and with those who had come out of the house. While he was with a hundred and saying to them concerning the greatness of Christ, and praying over each one of them. When the young men had finished the digging as he wished, while they knew nothing of what was happening, he removed the garments that he was wearing and cast them down like a covering into the depth of the grave. And while he was standing alone in the dust, he raised his hands and prayed thus.

... the God who chose you for the apostleship of the nations; the one who sent you into the world; the one through whom you revealed yourself to your apostles; the one who never ceased from the planting of the people, but who in a hidden manner redeemed that one from the persecutors; the one through whom you made your existence known to every creature, and you proclaimed yourself even among the beasts; the one who made the desolate soul that was freed from the Messiah and made it sweet; the one who, when it was thirsty for your word, you yourself gave it to drink; the one who, when it was dead, you quickly appeared to it; the one who, when it was drowning in sins, you appeared to it alone for your joy; the one who, when it was victorious over the tempter, you showed yourself to it from then on; the one who did not allow it to be turned back bodily; the one who showed it to its enemy; the one who made a pure joy. God Jesus: the Father of those above the heavens, and the Lord of the heavens, and the God of the heavens; also the law of those in the region; the course of the airs; and the guardian of Elijah who is on the earth; the fear of the earth-dwellers; and the peace of those who are his. Receive the soul of your John. He who was the first to drink before you, Jesus; the one who also preserved himself for you pure until this hour. And he was not mixed in the mixture of a woman. The one who appeared to me in my folly when you wanted me to take a wife; and you said to me, "You are worthy of me, John." And you did not want bodily procreation for me, when three times, while I was not listening, you wished to accomplish it. The one who on the sea said to me, "You are worthy of me, John." And I did not know. I was a suppliant to you that you might take a wife for mourning and weeping. The one who at the third hour opened the eyes of my existence, and to my visible eyes you revealed yourself.

the one who, to be seen and to be wept over by a harsh woman, made me. The one who from the passion of the sacrifice redeemed me. And to her who is perpetually fruitful, he preserved me. The one who from the madness of the fleshly desire redeemed me. The one who separated me from bitter death. And who raised me up, having ascended to you. The one who for hidden sickness, the covering of shame, he rebuked: and for its harsh course, he cut off. The one who constrained and made, beyond the limit, for that which was disturbing within me. The one who without seal preserved my love towards you. The one who without beginning gave my discipline towards you. The one who inscribed in me the knowledge of the purity that is in you. The one who to each of the servants gives a reward that is fitting, you are. The one who placed in my soul that there should be for me no defect at all, but holiness. For what have I to find that is better than you now, O Lord? Great is the blessedness that was completed for me. I am equal to your grace, while you are able for me the completion that is in you. The one who is the redeemer, unutterable and unspeakable. And when I go to you, the wall will be broken. Darkness will be vanquished. Fear will be erased. Signs will be confused. Madness will be subdued. Angels will be troubled. Demons will be afraid. Chiefs will be put to flight. The powers of darkness will fall. The regions of the sea will stand still. But the left side will not stand. The accuser will be silenced. The tempter will be mocked. His labor will be dissolved. His honor will be dishonored. His wrath will be quenched. In his hands all his root will be uprooted. As for my path to you, neither a small nor a great obstacle hinders me. And that I may take these things of which I have confessed to those who live purely, and to you alone I have loved. And he was silent. For the sanctuary. And he praised. While standing in the light, all of him, and he said.

the one who was with me, Jesus Christ my Lord. And he went down to that pit where his garments were placed. And when he said to them, "Peace and greeting to you, my brothers," he gave up his spirit while rejoicing. His prayer be with us. Amen. The account of John the Evangelist is completed. His prayer be with us. Amen.