John the Theologian

[Slavomír Čéplö]

Friends,

I have just come across a text that refers to John the Theologian as
البطول. Is this a common thing in Christina Arabic tradition and if
so, are there any references you can point me to?
Many thanks!

Best wishes,

Slavomír

[sitkwa ...]

Dear Slavomir,

I have often encountered this expression in the litugical texts of the Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch, rendering the Greek parthenos, referring to Saint John the evangelist.

Unfortunately I cannot give you any references off the top of my head at the moment.

All good wishes,

igumen Andrew (Wade)

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[Alexander Treiger]

Should be البتول, I think...

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[sitkwa ...]

Yes, it should!

A

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[Slavomír Čéplö]

ܷDear Andrew, dear Alexander,

thank you both! I assumed that was the case, but wanted to check just in case.

Best wishes,

Slavomír

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[Ádám Gacsályi-Tóth]

Hi Slavomír,

I have also been considering this question, as I recently encountered a Maronite exegetical text that describes John as a virgin. Specifically, in its interpretation of John 19:26-27, the text explains that Jesus entrusted Mary to John to entrust one virgin to another, and attributes this interpretation to a certain تاوفيلقتوس. 

Unfortunately I have not been able to identify who this person is exactly, perhaps someone in this group can provide further insight.

Best,

Adam

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[A N]

Hi, Ádám!

It's probably bl. Theophylact of Ohrid/Akhrida/Justiniana Prima/Bulgaria - he has exactly this interpretation in his commentary on John.

Best,

Alen

пн, 13 июл. 2026 г. в 11:59, Ádám Gacsályi-Tóth <adam.gac...@gmail.com>:

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[Ádám Gacsályi-Tóth]

Hi, Alen!

Thank you, I found his commentary online!

Best,

Ádám

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[Elie Estephan]

I agree with Alexander. It is البتول (with T). We in Antioch refer to him as Youhanna Albatoul. John the virgin.

I hope this helps.

best regards,

Fr. Elie Estephan

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[Stephan Huller]

The virginity of John is much earlier than that. Goes back to ante-Nicene times. Do you need me to provide the references or do you know how to search for yourself? Lot's and lot's of references to the perpetual virginity of John back I think to Leucius Charinus's Acts of John. Perhaps even older. 

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