Reflection on the Repose and Translation of John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist

Today, on the Julian Calendar, is September 26th, the Feast of the Repose and Translation of John the Theologian, Apostle and Evangelist.

My Pastor delegates preaching to me on Sundays. As I researched potential sermon topics, I read up on details of this Feast. Even though I have been Orthodox for thirteen years, I never knew about a Tradition wherein John the Evangelist was assumed bodily into Heaven at his death.

In Tractate 124 of his Commentary on the Gospel of John, St. Augustine knows nothing of a tradition about such an assumption.

Even so, I find the tradition a fitting possibility. Here I preach on the matter.