Feast day: 29 June
Saint Peter the Apostle
Sanctus Petrus Apostolus
The fisherman Jesus renamed Peter — the rock — who denied his Lord, was forgiven, led the apostles, and was martyred in Rome.
29 June is the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul. The Chair of Saint Peter is celebrated on 22 February.
- Born
- Bethsaida, Galilee; born Simon, son of Jonah
- Died
- Martyred in Rome, traditionally c. AD 64–67 under Nero
- Canonization
- Venerated as a saint and martyr from the earliest Christian centuries; no formal canonization process existed.
- Country
- Galilee (Israel) and Rome
Biography
Called from the nets
Simon was a married fisherman of Bethsaida working on the Sea of Galilee with his brother Andrew, who brought him to Jesus. Jesus gave him the name Cephas, Aramaic for rock (John 1:42), and called him to be a fisher of men. He is named first in every New Testament list of the apostles.
Confession, denial and forgiveness
At Caesarea Philippi he confessed, "You are the Christ, the Son of the living God", and Jesus answered, "You are Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church" (Matthew 16:16–18). On the night of the Passion he denied Jesus three times and wept bitterly. After the Resurrection, by the lakeside, Jesus asked him three times "Do you love me?" and entrusted him with the flock (John 21:15–17).
Leader of the early Church
At Pentecost Peter preached the first Christian sermon (Acts 2). He received the vision at Joppa that opened the Church to the Gentiles and baptized the centurion Cornelius (Acts 10). He spoke decisively at the Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15). Ancient tradition, attested by Saint Clement of Rome, Saint Ignatius of Antioch and Saint Irenaeus, places his death in Rome under Nero; Origen records the tradition that he asked to be crucified head downward. Excavations under Saint Peter's Basilica in the 20th century uncovered a first-century burial and a shrine venerated as his tomb.
Timeline
- ~c. AD 28 — Called by Jesus at the Sea of Galilee
- ~c. AD 30 — Confession at Caesarea Philippi; denial and repentance
- ~c. AD 30 — Preaches at Pentecost in Jerusalem
- ~c. AD 49 — Council of Jerusalem
- ~c. AD 64–67 — Martyred in Rome under Nero
Dates marked ~ are traditional or debated among historians.
Symbols
Crossed keys — The keys of the kingdom given in Matthew 16:19; today the emblem of the papacy.
Inverted cross — The tradition that he was crucified head downward, unworthy to die as his Master did.
Boat and net — His trade and his mission as fisher of men.
Virtues & spiritual lessons
Faith, repentance and pastoral love. Peter shows that Christ builds his Church on forgiven sinners, and that failure need not be final.
Importance in the Church
The Catholic Church holds that Peter's ministry continues in the bishops of Rome. Every pope is understood as his successor, and the See of Rome takes its primacy from his martyrdom and tomb there.
Quotes
“Lord, to whom shall we go? You have the words of eternal life.”
John 6:68
“You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.”
Matthew 16:16
Writings
First Letter of Peter — A New Testament letter of encouragement to Christians facing persecution.
Second Letter of Peter — Canonical letter warning against false teachers; its authorship has long been discussed among scholars.
Prayers
Prayer to Saint Peter and Saint Paul
O God, who gave to the blessed Apostle Peter the keys of the kingdom of heaven and the power to bind and to loose, grant that by the help of his intercession we may be freed from the bonds of our sins. Through Christ our Lord. Amen.
Latin: Deus, qui beato Petro Apostolo, collatis clavibus regni caelestis, ligandi atque solvendi pontificium tradidisti...
Traditional Roman collect for the feast of Saint Peter.
Places
Capernaum, Galilee — The house venerated as Peter's since the first century, beneath a modern church.
Saint Peter's Basilica, Vatican City — Built over the necropolis containing the tomb venerated as his.
Scripture
Matthew 16:13–19 — The promise of the keys and the rock.
John 21:15–17 — The threefold 'Do you love me?' and the charge to feed the flock.
Acts 2:14–41 — His Pentecost sermon.
Entries are drawn from the Roman Martyrology, the General Roman Calendar, canonization records of the Holy See, and the saints' own writings. Where a date, quotation or attribution is uncertain, it is marked as such. (63 saints)