Saints Peter and Paul are two prominent figures in Christianity, both apostles of Jesus Christ, and are celebrated together on June 29th as the Feast of Saints Peter and Paul. St. Peter, also known as Simon Peter, was one of the original twelve apostles and is considered a key figure in the early Church, often referred to as the "Rock" upon which the Church was built. St. Paul, originally known as Saul of Tarsus, was a former persecutor of Christians who experienced a dramatic conversion and became a powerful missionary, known as the Apostle to the Gentiles. They are both revered as founders of the Church of Rome, though they were martyred separately in Rome during the reign of Emperor Nero.
1. Jesus chose St. Peter's role to be a leader and the "rock" of the Church.
2. He was one of the first to recognize Jesus as the Messiah and was entrusted with the keys to the kingdom of heaven.
3. Martyred in Rome by crucifixion, traditionally upside down.
1. St. Paul was a former persecutor of Christians who experienced a profound conversion and became a missionary to the Gentiles.
2. Saint Paul's missionary journeys spread Christianity throughout the Roman Empire, and he wrote many letters that became part of the New Testament.
3. Martyred in Rome by beheading (decapitation).
We celebrated them together because they both were martyred in Rome around the same time (67 AD). Their combined influence was instrumental in establishing the Christian Church in Rome. While they represent different aspects of the Gospel message, with Peter focusing on Jewish Christians and Paul on Gentile converts.
This feast was created with the reform of the General Calendar in 1969. Many Roman martyrs' feasts were removed from the General Calendar, since there wasn't much historical information about them. Red is the color for martyrs; the red rose is a symbol of martyrdom. This feast celebrates the nameless men and women who were martyred in Nero's Circus in the year 64 AD.