Saint Peter, First Pope

« New Way To Live | Home | Saint Paul of Tarsus »

By peace | July 17, 2008

St Peter

Born: as Simon
Died: c64 crucified upside down

Feast day: 29 June

Patron of: Universal Church, Pope, Foot Problems

Simon Peter, the first pope, Prince of the Apostles, and founder, with St Paul, of the see of Rome. Peter, and his brother St Andrew, sons of John, worked as fishermen on lake Genesareth. He was introduced to Jesus by St Andrew, and Christ called Peter to become a disciple. In Luke, the story that Peter caught large amount of fish that he fell down before the feet of Jesus and the Lord told him,”Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching men.” Jesus also gave Simon a new name: Cephas, or the rock. Becoming a disciple of Jesus, Peter acknowledged him as “… the Messiah, the son of the living God”. Christ responded by saying:”….you are Peter and upon this rock I will build my church”…”I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven”.

Peter stood as the head of the Apostles, his position made evident in the Acts. He appointed the replacement of Judas Iscariot; he spoke first to the crowds that had assembled after the descent of the Holy Spirit at Pentecost; he was the first Apostle to perform miracles in the name of the Lord; and he rendered judgment upon the deceitful Ananias and Sapphira. Peter was instrumental in bringing the Gospel to the Gentiles. He baptized the Roman pagan Cornelius, and at the Council of Jerusalem he gave his support to preaching to Gentiles, thereby permitting the new Church to become universal. Imprisoned by King Herod Agrippa, he was aided in an escape by an angel. He then resumed his apostolate in Jerusalem and his missionary efforts included travels to such cities of the pagan world as Antioch, Corinth, and eventually Rome.

Peter died in Rome and that his martyrdom came during the reign of Emperor Nero, probably in 64. He was crucified on the Vatican Hill upside down declaring his unworthiness to die in the same manner as the Lord. Buried on Vatican Hill, and excavations under St Peter’s Basilica have unearthed his probable tomb, and his relics are now enshrined under the high altar of St Peter’s. Besides his feast day, 29th June , he is also honoured on 22nd February and 18th November. In liturgical art, he is depicted as an elderly man holding a key and a book. His symbols include an inverted cross, a boat, and the cock.

St. Peter’s Basilica in Rome

St Peter’s Basilica, Vatican City, Rome, Italy