Died c. AD 65
Saint’s day: 29 June St Peter, originally named Simon, was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. He was married and worked alongside his brother Andrew. According to Matthew, when Jesus called them, they immediately left their nets and followed him. When Jesus went to Caesarea Philippi after the feeding of the five thousand, Simon was the first to proclaim him as the Messiah and Jesus gave him the name Cephas, translated as Peter, which means rock. Jesus declared that Peter would be the rock on which his Church would be built and promised him the keys of heaven. Along with James and John, Peter was allowed by Jesus to witness his transfiguration on the mountain and the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead. At the last supper, Jesus described how Peter would deny him three times before the cock crowed – words that were fulfilled in the courtyard of the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where Jesus was taken after his arrest. The risen Christ appeared to Peter before the other disciples and later commanded him to protect and spiritually nourish both new and established believers. In Acts it is written that Peter addressed the crowd at Pentecost, preaching the resurrection and converting about three thousand, and that he was the first apostle to work a miracle after the ascension, healing a man lame from birth at the temple gate. And it is Peter the Roman centurion Cornelius is told to ask for in a vision which leads the saint to preach the Gospel to Cornelius’ household and baptise them, though they were not Jews. The acceptance of all into the Church was argued for by Peter, and formally decided, at the Council of Jerusalem. During the persecution of King Herod Agrippa, James was executed and Peter was arrested and imprisoned. The day before he was to be paraded before the people an angel appeared, the chains fell from Peter’s wrists, and the angel led him past his guards and through the gates of Jerusalem. He went to the house
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the lives of saints
St PETER
St Peter
st peter
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Died c. AD 65
Saint’s day: 29 June St Peter, originally named Simon, was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. He was married and worked alongside his brother Andrew. According to Matthew, when Jesus called them, they immediately left their nets and followed him. When Jesus went to Caesarea Philippi after the feeding of the five thousand, Simon was the first to proclaim him as the Messiah and Jesus gave him the name Cephas, translated as Peter, which means rock. Jesus declared that Peter would be the rock on which his Church would be built and promised him the keys of heaven. Along with James and John, Peter was allowed by Jesus to witness his transfiguration on the mountain and the raising of Jairus’ daughter from the dead. At the last supper, Jesus described how Peter would deny him three times before the cock crowed – words that were fulfilled in the courtyard of the house of Caiaphas, the high priest, where Jesus was taken after his arrest. The risen Christ appeared to Peter before the other disciples and later commanded him to protect and spiritually nourish both new and established believers. In Acts it is written that Peter addressed the crowd at Pentecost, preaching the resurrection and converting about three thousand, and that he was the first apostle to work a miracle after the ascension, healing a man lame from birth at the temple gate. And it is Peter the Roman centurion Cornelius is told to ask for in a vision which leads the saint to preach the Gospel to Cornelius’ household and baptise them, though they were not Jews. The acceptance of all into the Church was argued for by Peter, and formally decided, at the Council of Jerusalem. During the persecution of King Herod Agrippa, James was executed and Peter was arrested and imprisoned. The day before he was to be paraded before the people an angel appeared, the chains fell from Peter’s wrists, and the angel led him past his guards and through the gates of Jerusalem. He went to the house
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the lives of saints
St PETER
St Peter
st peter
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of Mary the mother of John whose other name was Mark to show that their prayers for his release had been answered before leaving for a place of safety. It is believed that Peter travelled to Rome where he led the Christian community. He was martyred under the persecution of the emperor Nero and requested to be crucified upside down, deeming himself unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus. The Vatican was built above his tomb, which was rediscovered in the middle of the 20th century, lying directly under the main altar, in the necropolis. Patron saint of popes, netmakers and shipbuilders
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the lives of saints
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of Mary the mother of John whose other name was Mark to show that their prayers for his release had been answered before leaving for a place of safety. It is believed that Peter travelled to Rome where he led the Christian community. He was martyred under the persecution of the emperor Nero and requested to be crucified upside down, deeming himself unworthy to die in the same manner as Jesus. The Vatican was built above his tomb, which was rediscovered in the middle of the 20th century, lying directly under the main altar, in the necropolis. Patron saint of popes, netmakers and shipbuilders
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the lives of saints
st peter
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