FEAST OF SS PETER & PAUL
29 TH JUNE
The two most famous apostles are
remembered this month, for they
share a feast day.
Most of their lives they were
somewhat in competition, indeed the
early church is thought to have
‘edited and re-written ‘the Acts of the
Apostles by giving preference to
Peter over Paul.
St Peter (d. c.64AD)
Originally called Simon, Peter was a
married fisherman from Bethsaida,
near the Sea of Galilee. Jesus gave
him the name Cephas (Peter) which
means ‘rock’.
He told Peter that he would be the
rock on which his Church would be
built. Peter would be given ‘the keys
of the kingdom of heaven’. Peter’s
chief emblem is a set of keys,
sometimes along with a ship or fish.
His portraiture is of a man with a
square face, with a bald or tonsured
head and a short curly beard.
Peter played a big part in the early
Church, in the Acts he organised the
choice of Judas’ successor.
He preached with authority at
Pentecost and was the first apostle
to work miracles. After meeting with
Cornelius he first realised that
Christianity was also for the
Gentiles. He later took a prominent
part in the Council of Jerusalem and
went to clash with Paul at Antioch for
hesitating about eating with Gentiles.
Early tradition links Peter with an
apostolate and martyrdom in Rome.
There are strong doubts that he ever
went to Rome, although his first
epistle refers to ‘Babylon’ which is
usually identified with Rome. Church
fathers Clement and Irenaeus
mention his presence there, he is
said to have suffered martyrdom
under Nero and was crucified up-
side down. There is no proof that his
relics are at the Vatican, but Rome is
the only city that ever claimed to be
his place of death.
St Peter was a major influence on
Mark when writing his Gospel, and
the first Epistle is probably his. Many
scholars believe that the second was
written at a later date.
In England there were important
dedications to Peter from early
times, many monasteries and
cathedrals were named after him, in
all some 1.129 pre-Reformation
churches were dedicated to him
St Paul (d. c. 65AD)
Like Peter, Paul started life with
another name: Saul. This great
apostle of the Gentiles was a Jew
born in Tarsus and brought up as a
Pharisee. He could earn his living as
a tent maker. He became a
persecutor of Christianity and even
took part in stoning Stephen. On his
way to Damascus to hunt out
Christians, he had a life changing
vision of Christ. He realised that
Jesus was the Messiah and that he
had to bring Christ to the Gentiles.
He was baptised and retired to
Arabia for about three years, before
returning to Damascus .He made
many Jewish enemies, was stoned
and beaten. He made three great
missionary journeys, first to Cyprus,
then to Asia Minor and eastern
Greece, lastly to Ephesus where he
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