Saints Peter and Paul – Feast Day June 29th
Saints Peter and Paul
The Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of Peter and Paul on the same day, June 29th
Saint Paul, or Paul the Apostle, was a Greek Jew, born Saul of Tarsus (a city in ancient Cilicia located in the modern-day province of Mersin, Turkey) c. 5 AD.
He spent his early days as a Pharisee, persecuting Christians, until one day, on the road to Damascus, probably to seek out more Christians to persecute, he had an epiphany.
Conversion on the Way to Damascus – Caravaggio – 1601 – Cerasi Chapel, Santa Maria del Popolo, Rome
Paul, saw a blinding bright light followed by a vision of God, telling him that Jesus Christ was his son, the messiah, the saviour of all mankind.
This was his “eurika” moment, his enlightenment and from then on, Paul became a devout Christian.
He travelled extensively as a missionary, preaching the word of God and Jesus.
In Jerusalem Paul met up with Peter, follower of Jesus and founder of the Church of Rome, whom they agreed would be the principal apostle to Jews and Paul, the principal apostle to Gentiles.
On his final mission to Jerusalem, Paul was arrested for teaching all Jews living among the Gentiles to forsake Moses and for telling them not to circumcise their children or observe the customs.
St. Paul’s arrest depicted in an early 1900s Bible illustration
Some say Paul was martyred, along with Peter, during the persecution of Emperor Nero.
As Paul was a citizen of Rome, he was given the more merciful death of being beheaded.
The Beheading of Saint Paul – 1887 – by Enrique Simonet – Málaga Cathedral
Peter, not being a citizen of Rome, was instead crucified.
Because he did not feel worthy to die in the same manner as Jesus Christ, he requested to be crucified upside down.
Crucifixion of Saint Peter-Caravaggio – 1600 – Santa Maria del Popolo – Rome – Italy.
Paul’s body was buried outside the walls of Rome, where Emperor Constantine the Great, later, on the site, built one of the first churches.
Saint Peter
The Apostle Saint Peter – Peter Paul Rubens – between 1610 and 1612 – Museo Nacional del Prado – Madrid – Spain
Saint Peter, once looked upon as the leader of the twelve Apostles, was one of the early saints of the Greek Orthodox Church. (Later, Paul would replace Peter as the group’s leader).
He was a poor fisherman, originally named Simon, from Bethsaida, near the Sea of Galilee and was introduced to Jesus by his brother, Saint Andrew
It was Jesus who gave him the name Peter (derived from the Greek word ‘Petra,’ which means rock), saying to him:
“And I say to thee that thou art Peter and upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it.
I will give thee the keys of the Kingdom of the Heavens, and whatsoever thou shalt bind on earth shall be bound in the heavens, and whatsoever thou shalt loose on earth shall be loosed in the heavens.”
St. Peter is often depicted holding a set of keys symbolizing the ‘keys to the kingdom of heaven’ that Jesus promised him.
Wavering Faith
EL GRECO, SAINT PETER IN TEARS, 1587–1596, EL GRECO MUSEUM IN TOLEDO, SPAIN.
At the Last Supper, Jesus told Peter that the time would come when Peter would deny knowing him. Peter angrily said it would never happen. Later that evening, Peter did deny three times that he knew the Lord or that he was one of his followers.
When Peter recognized that the Lord’s prediction had come true, he was overcome with sadness and tears.
Leader of the Apostles
Saint Peter Apostle
As leader of the apostles, Peter travelled through Palestine and Asia Minor, performing many miracles and converting many to Christianity.
In Around 44 AD he left for Rome where he founded a community of which he became the first bishop.
He was crucified in 64 or 67 AD during a period of major persecution by Emperor Nero.
Saint Paul
Saint Paul – Peter Paul Rubens – 1611 – Museo del Prado – Spain
Saint Paul, born as Saul, a Greek-speaking Jew in Tarsus, Asia Minor, was a Pharisee (an ancient Jewish sect, distinguished by strict observance of the traditional and written law), who persecuted the first Christians.
After having his “epiphany”, where Christ appeared to him on the road to Damascus, he converted to Christianity.
The Making of an Apostle
Apostle Paul
Three years after his conversion and after meeting St. Peter and Jesus’ brother James, he became known as one of the Apostles.
From his base in Antioch, he traveled widely, preaching to the Gentiles.
Major Role in Christianity
The Bema (public platform) where Saint Paul pleaded for his life before the Roman Governor Gallio in 52 AD. – Archaeological site of ancient Corinth
St. Paul played a major role in the establishment of the early Christian faith and accounts of his travels and the letters he wrote to the Churches he founded make up a large and important part of the New Testament.
These include Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, Philippians, Colossians, Thessalonians, Timothy, Titus, Philemon and Hebrews.
It was due to Paul more than anyone else that Christianity became a world religion.
Shared Feast Day:
29th June
Saint Peter and Saint Paul – El Greco – 1590 until 1600 – The Museu Nacional d’Art de Catalunya – Spain.
Paul was beheaded in Rome, during the reign of Nero, at the same time, so legend has it, as Peter was crucified; on June 29th c. 64/65 AD
Hence the Greek Orthodox Church celebrates the feast of Peter and Paul on the same day; June 29th.
