The Evangelists
20 The Evangelists
The Evangelists are those persons who wrote the
Evangelia (Gospels). They are four - as many as
the Gospels: John, Matthew, Mark and Luke. The
first two of them belonged to the twelve disciples of
Jesus Christ. Mark was a follower of St. Peter and
Luke a follower of St. Paul.
Matthew, Mark and Luke deal, in their gospels,
more with the human nature of Jesus Christ, general -
ly following the same order in the narration of the
events of the Lord's life. For this reason, they are
called synoptic Evangelists.
John on the other hand, emphasizes the divine
nature of Jesus Christ, presenting Him as the Word
(Logos) of God. Therefore, he is called Theologos.
The evangelist wrote their Gospels in the Greek
language. Only the Gospel of Matthew seems to have
been written originally in the Aramic language but
was rewritten or translated in the Greek language
very early.
As the Gospels are the basis of the Christian faith,
the four central columns of the Orthodox Church, be -
neath the Pantocrator, writing or holding their
Gospels.
In addition to writing the Evangelists also
preched the Christian faith: John in Ephesus, where
he died at a very old age: Matthew in Palestine, and
later in Persia and Ethiopia; Mark in Egypt, where
he became the first Bishop of Alexandria and died as
a martyr: and Luke in Greece, where he died also as
a martyr near the town of Thebes.
~Friendship, Forever and Ever~
I want you to know; I am really
Happy to have the kind of friendship
I have with you. I love it because
It's true and real and trusting.
Because it does my heart and soul
Good to know that I'm going to be
Here for you…and you for me…
When there are need that need
To be tended to, when there are
Feelings that need to be felt, and
When there are smiles that simply
Need to be shared in the company
Of someone who really cares.
I don't know if I could ever
Completely describe to you how
Important our friendship is to me.
But it is so much a part of all
That is good in my world.
Sometimes you feel like a gift
That was given to my days to
Make sure that they would always
Have some happiness in them, more
Then once, I have felt that
I wouldn't trade for anything
Anytime, anywhere.
I have dreams in my life that
May never come true, travels
I may never take, goals I may
Not be able to reach, and
Hopes that might always be just
Beyond my horizons. But I
Want you to know that whether
My wishes come true or whether
They disappear altogether, I
Will always feel like one of
The luckiest people in the world
Because I have a friend - in you.
And because we're going to
Be friends - forever.