St John
John of Patmos is the name given to the author of the Book of Revelation (or Book of the Apocalypse) in the New Testament. According to the text of Revelation, the author, who gives his name as "John," is living on the Greek island of Patmos. Many believe John was in exile on the island.
John of Patmos is often referred to as John the Divine, or John the Theologian because of the deep thought evident in his writing. The word "Divine" is used here in its older Anglican meaning to refer to a scholar or theologian, and still today some Anglican theological students are referred to as "divines".
John of Patmos is also known as the Eagle of Patmos and John the Seer. His traditional symbol is an eagle.
The author of the Book of Revelation was traditionally believed to be the same person as John the apostle of Jesus, and John, the author of the Fourth Gospel, who is referred to as St. John the Evangelist, and the John who is the author of the epistles of John. However we now know that these were all separate individuals.
