Another of the comites Christi (see what we mentioned about Saint Stephen) is Saint John the Evangelist. The feast day of December 27 already appears in 4th-century documents, both in the West and in the East. However, throughout the Church, John has been, and still is, celebrated on different dates. In earlier times, December 27 was also dedicated to the Apostle James the Lesser, and in some Churches both apostles were honored together.
It is somewhat surprising that the author of the fourth Gospel, the beloved disciple of the Lord, never enjoyed in the West a particularly extraordinary popular devotion. Today, however, historians recognize the great importance of Saint John in shaping and organizing the early Catholic Church.
John is often depicted holding a cup: according to legend, a pagan priest named Aristodemus of Ephesus offered him a cup of wine to drink.