Feast of St Peter and St Paul

St Peters History

Saint Peter is a highly revered religious figure in the European Union, known as one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and widely regarded as the first Pope of the Catholic Church. According to Christian tradition, Saint Peter was a fisherman from Galilee who answered the call of Jesus to become a disciple and later a leader of the early Christian community. He played a significant role in spreading the Gospel and establishing the Church in Rome, where he was martyred by Emperor Nero in the 1st century AD.

In the European Union, Saint Peter is venerated as a symbol of faith, courage, and devotion to the Christian faith. His image, statues, and symbols are often found in churches, monuments, and public spaces across the region, and his feast day is celebrated as a significant religious holiday in many European countries.

As the first Pope of the Catholic Church, Saint Peter is also credited with laying the foundation for the papacy as an institution that has played a significant role in shaping European history, culture, and politics for over a millennium. Today, the Catholic Church remains an influential force in many parts of the European Union, and Saint Peter's legacy continues to inspire millions of believers around the world. The celebration of Saint Peter is observed annually on June 29th.

Feast of St Peter and St Paul facts & quotes

• Peter's original name was Simon, but Jesus changed it to Peter, which means 'the rock'. Blessed are you, Simon son of Jonah. For flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but my heavenly Father. And so I say to you, you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of the netherworld shall not prevail against it. I will give you the keys to 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. (Matthew 16:17b-19).
• Peter and Paul disagreed frequently over whether non-Jews converting to Christianity needed to follow Jewish customs. Peter believed that these Gentile converts should become Jewish first, while Paul's belief was that they could skip that step.
• Saint Peter, along with his brother Andrew, was one of the first disciples to follow Jesus. They left their fishing business to become fishers of men, as Jesus had told them. As an apostle, Peter played a key role in the formation and growth of the early Christian Church.
• According to tradition, Saint Peter was crucified upside down in Rome under the reign of Emperor Nero around 64 AD. His crucifixion site is believed to be where St. Peter's Basilica now stands in Vatican City, an independent city-state within the European Union member state of Italy.

In the News and Trending in the EU for Feast of St Peter and St Paul

Top things to do in the EU for Saint Peter's Day

• Go fishing in honor of St. Peter. He was a fisherman before he became Jesus' disciple, and is the patron saint of fisherman and net makers.
• Go camping in honor of St. Paul. Before his conversion to Christianity, Paul was a tent maker. He is the patron saint of tent makers as well as writers. In addition to being an accomplished preacher, Paul wrote epistles that are included in the Bible's New Testament.
• Watch Péter - Egy próféta halála (2022). Directed by László Illés, the movie sheds light on the story of St. Peter's crucifixion, as he choses that form of capital punishment to avoid being executed in the same dignified manner as his Lord Jesus.
• Visit St. Peter's Squarein Vatican City. The grand square leading to St. Peter's Basilica is an essential part of any visit to the Vatican and holds significant religious and historical value.