Prochorus was one of the seven deacons of the very first church in Jerusalem, chosen in the Book of Acts, who by long Christian tradition became the faithful companion and scribe of the Apostle John. He is best remembered as the man who wrote down the words of the Book of Revelation as John dictated them on the island of Patmos.
Who Was Prochorus in the Book of Acts?
Prochorus is named only once in the Bible, in the list of seven men who were chosen to care for the widows of the first church in Jerusalem (Acts 6:5). The twelve apostles wanted to keep teaching and praying, so the believers picked seven men of good reputation, full of the Spirit and of wisdom (Acts 6:3).
The list reads Stephen, Philip, Prochorus, Nicanor, Timon, Parmenas and Nicolaus of Antioch. The apostles prayed over them and laid their hands on them (Acts 6:6). About Prochorus the Bible tells nothing more.
His name is Greek and it means “leader of the dance” or “choir leader”. Tradition fills the gap. Orthodox Christians count him among the Seventy disciples whom Jesus sent out (Luke 10:1), and they remember him as a bishop of Nicomedia, which is today’s İzmit in northwestern Turkey. His feast day is July 28.
Prochorus, Scribe of John on Patmos
According to tradition, when John was exiled to Patmos — the rocky little island that lies just off the Turkish coast, easily seen from our Aegean shores — Prochorus went with him and served at his side. In the famous Cave of the Apocalypse, the icon that Orthodox Christians know so well shows the aged John gazing upward to receive his vision while the younger Prochorus sits at his feet, pen in hand, recording every word. By some traditions, he helped set down the Gospel of John as well.
Later accounts tell us Prochorus went on to become a bishop and to die a martyr at Antioch, far to the east. Little can be said about his life with certainty, but his place in the story is precious: he stands for all the faithful, often unnamed helpers without whom the great figures of the Church could never have done their work.
What Is the Acts of John by Prochorus?
The Acts of John by Prochorus is a long legend about John’s travels, written in Greek around the 5th century and carrying the name of Prochorus as its storyteller.
In the legend, John and Prochorus sail from Ephesus to Patmos. On the island they go up a deserted mountain and fast for three days. Then thunder and lightning come, and Prochorus falls down like a dead man.
John lifts him up and dictates the Gospel to him, starting with “In the beginning was the Word” (John 1:1). Prochorus reads it out loud, and copies are made.
I tell it as a legend, because that is what it is. The early church never put this book into the New Testament, it is a story from much later. Other traditions say that Prochorus wrote down Revelation, as I wrote above. How John got it onto paper is in my post How John Wrote Revelation in Exile on Patmos, and its seven letters are in my Introduction into Seven Churches of Revelation.
How Do Icons Show Prochorus Writing on Patmos?
In Orthodox icons of John the Theologian in the cave on Patmos, Prochorus is the younger man sitting next to John with a pen in his hand, writing down what John hears from heaven.
Look at the small details. John often looks up toward a hand, a ray of light or Christ in the sky, because the voice comes from above. Sometimes an angel whispers to him or an eagle stands close by, and basket of scrolls waits on the ground. Prochorus usually keeps his eyes on his page, and I like that detail, because it is the job for a scribe.
Not every icon is the same, but the two men are easy to find. John is the old man with the gray beard, and Prochorus is the beardless young man.
The mosaic at the entrance of the Cave of the Apocalypse, above, shows the two men together too.
Frequently Asked Questions
Who was Prochorus in the Bible?
Prochorus was one of the seven men chosen to serve the widows of the first church in Jerusalem, named in Acts 6:5. The Bible tells nothing more about him. Church tradition calls him a companion of John, later a bishop and a martyr.
Was Prochorus the scribe of John on Patmos?
Tradition says yes. Orthodox Christians remember Prochorus as the man who wrote down John’s words on Patmos, and icons show him in the cave with a pen. The Bible itself does not name him there.
What does the name Prochorus mean?
Prochorus is a Greek name that means “leader of the dance” or “choir leader”. It is used only once in the Bible, in the list of the seven deacons in Acts 6:5.
On my Seven Churches journeys we often gaze out toward Patmos, where John and Prochorus gave the world the Book of Revelation, before exploring the seven cities of Asia to which it was addressed. If you’d like to walk this history with a licensed local guide, you can find me at toursaroundturkey.com.
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