Biography
Apostle Peter - Brother Andrei First Called, one of the twelve students of Jesus Christ, according to the canons of the Catholic Church - the first Pope. In Christian symbolism is depicted by the guard of paradise.Childhood and youth
Not all the facts of biography of historical personalities are known to descendants. So about the date of birth of the Apostle Peter you can only guess. But in the gospel traditions, an indication of the place was preserved where the saint - Vifsaid Galilee, a small town on the territory of Palestine. The Galilee region was located further than all from Jerusalem. It was mostly pagans on its territory, who later became the first flock of Peter.
At birth, the apostle received the name Simon. The name of Peter, which from Greek translates as "stone", called Jesus for special devotion, implying in the right follower of teaching the basis of the church.
Peter was married to the niece of the apostle Barnabas, raised daughter and son. I earned a simple and unassuming work - I caught fish on the Gennisret Lake. An occupation that did not bring much income demanded perseverance and patience.
In the Gospel of Matthew and from John, various stories of how Peter met Jesus and believed in his teaching.
According to one version, the brother Andrei brought to Jesus Simon, who became a student of John the Baptist and learned from him about the Messiah. Jesus, looking at Simon, called him Kifoy (Aramaic - "Stone", Peter - Greek). Stone - allegorically faith on which the church is built.
According to another, the Lord found the brothers during the fishing, on the shore of the lake, and turned to them with the words:
"Follow me. I will make you cathers. "Jesus showed a deep meaning of the phrase by filling to the edges of the fish of the boat Peter and Andrei.
Researchers do not see contradictions between the two narratives. They believe that Matthew has focused on the lives of ordinary people engaged in hard labor. While John emphasized that his spirituality was peculiar to the meeting with the Lord, they listened to the sermons and prepared for the coming of the Messiah.
Christian ministry
Peter not immediately imbued with the apostolic service, doubted his own opportunities and the strength of the Lord. Holy Scriptures are presented to the apostle as a simple person, with their passions and weaknesses. For love and devotion, Jesus Christ allowed Peter more often than others, to show them.
St. Peter is the only one of the students who, having learned the Lord Jesus Christ, who went through the sea, went to meet the water, but doubted the Divine Assistance of the Teacher and began to sink, but was saved by the Lord who reproached him in Malivia.
When Jesus predicted the coming suffering, Peter stopped and here, saying that it was impossible. The apostle persuaded Christ to abandon the congestion, for which he called Peter's "temptation and Satan", as he thought "not about the fact that God, but that man." Saint Peter listened to him addressed to him and nevertheless did not leave Christ.
Peter, despite the fact that he often allowed a tortured temperament to take the top, was always near, along with the Apostles John and Jacob, the approximate circle of students. Jesus dedicated Peter into the greatest secrets of his life. The apostle witnessed the Divine Glory on Mount Favor, prayers in the Garden of Garden, Divine Power in the resurrection of Christ the daughter of Jair.
Moreover, Peter turned out to be the only one, when the question of Jesus, who the disciples consider him, without hesitation and delay, answered: "You're Christ, the son of God Zhivago, thereby uttering the chief postulate of faith.
The turning point in the life of St. Peter, again the only one of the apostles, was a three-year renunciation from the Son of God. After the betrayal of Judah, Jesus was arrested and interrogated in the house of the High Priest. Three people from the servants noticed the apostle and said that he was one of the students of Christ. Peter, frightened, for his life, answered every statement that he was not familiar with Jesus. At that time, a cock cry was heard, the saint remembered the prophecy of the teacher and in tears came out of the house, rising bitterly in the deed.
Some of theologians, the reaction of the apostle on the words of servants is interpreted as a manifestation of the weakness of the human spirit, and the crock of the rooster - as the voice of God, who does not give to relax and constantly reminds of the purity of conscience.
In his own example, the first of the apostles saw how easy it is possible to become the last. But the Lord forgave the beloved student when he also repented three times, restored in the apostolic rank and entrusted the flock, in other words - to teach the people of Christian faith.
Moreover, Christ, who had committed a serious sin, confessed the keys to the kingdom of heaven, making an intermediary between people and God, having endowed the right to decide whose souls worthy to get there. Thus, it is emphasized that through repentance, the truth is learned and the gates of Paradise.
After the wonderful Resurrection, Christ first was Peter. After the ascension of the Savior, Peter, as the main among the apostles, became the first teacher and the preacher of the Word of God.
At the same time, the saint perfectly understood that for love and faith would have to pay calm and life, the crucifixion of the Son of God, which he observed - a clear example. Martyr death was a kind of condition of the apostle. But at the same time, Peter acquired miraculous power, similar to the one that is peculiar to his teacher.
After the events of the Saint Pentecost, when, along with other students, Peter accepted the grace of the Holy Spirit, the apostle began ministry. Thanks to his first sermons, three thousand people joined the Christian community.
He turned into a tireless and unreasonable preacher of the gospel teaching, began to show miracles: a married couple of Anania and Sapphire killed in the word for a lie and sacrant, he resurrected a girl named Tabiff, having met the chrome temple, returned the opportunity to go.
Even the shadow of Saint: When the apostle passed down the street, the patients were taken out of the houses so that the shadow falling on them was healing. When, by order of King, Herod Saint Peter got into imprisonment, Angel came at night and freed the apostle from the conclusion.
At first Peter preached among the Jews. But then a revelation went to the apostle, people came with an amazing story that an angel came to one pagan and ordered to invite Simonon, called Peter.
"He will say the words that you will be saved and your whole house."Saint shared news with other apostles, which regarded her as a sign that to bear faith in Christ is not only among the Jews, but also other pagans. The first baptized pagan was the Roman Sotnilius and members of his family.
Nevertheless, the Apostle Paul later said that he was "entrusted to the evangelism for uncircumcised as Peter for circumcised." It was assumed that Peter, a led from Galilee, was difficult for foreign languages, which were spoken by representatives of different peoples living in the Eastern Mediterranean. Accordingly, the appeal to Christianity is not Jews - the task of Paul.
Church historians have six apostolic travels Peter. The apostle preached in Judea and Samaria (modern West Bank of the Jordan River), Syria and Antioch (the word "Christians" appeared here, on the territory of modern Turkey and Greece, in Rome and Babylon, Three and Viphini. The most faithful disciples Pyotr handshaked to the bishops.
The legend says that, leaving Jerusalem, the apostle lived in the eternal city for twenty years, where he headed the church. Being in Rome, Saint Peter was distinguished by Simon-Wheel, not with a pure heart of adopted baptism and issued himself for Christ. In the Prologue and the Great Mini-Chengi, the acts that Simon and Peter were described in proof of their strength. With the help of prayer, the Christ Apostle raised the young man from the royal order, Simono managed only to force him to turn his head.
As directed by the Holy Holy language, the dog was explicit. Then Simon, threatening the people of Rome, promised to raise the sky and made it with the help of demonic forces. Peter also applied for help to Jesus, praying that the demons leave the breath. Simon fell and crashed. And citizens of Rome, who observed the events, believed in a single god preached by Peter.
In the messages to the converts, the Holy Tested not to be afraid of threats and persecution, not to abandon Christian obscurations in the please of the pagans, expose false prophets that do not understand the principles of Christian freedom and deny the essence of the Savior.
The sermons of St. Peter is not just reasoning, but concrete instructions outlined in the same simple language. The apostle calls respect to respect each other, to love the near, because love takes on sins, fear God, not to encroach on someone else's.
"If only some of you, like a murderer, or a thief, or villain, or as an encroaching one, or as an encroaching one; And if as a Christian, then do not get together, but glorify God for such a fate. "Already two thousand years, referring to prayers to the icons of the Ramba Apostle Peter, people are asked hardness in faith, about returning to the Lono of the Church in sects, helping and cure from diseases.
Death
Rome became the last place of earthly life of the Apostle Peter. About the fact that death is waiting for the Holy Angel, and Peter perceived the news with gratitude. With the help of the apostle in Christ, the favorite concubines of the emperor Nero is assumed and decided to conduct a chaste lifestyle. By order of the Roman ruler Peter grabbed.
The apostle persuaded the executioner to crucify his head, because he considered himself unworthy to die just like the Son of God. Therefore, an inverted crucifix is called Petrovsky Cross. The estimated day of the death of the Saint - June 29 for the Julian calendar. Saint Peter was buried on the slope of the Vatican Hill with a student of the Roman clitime.
The legend has been preserved, which, before you get into the hands of Romans, Peter intended to leave the city, but on the way there was a vision of Christ. The apostle asked where he was heading, and received an answer that the Savior goes to Rome to give him again. Peter was ashamed and returned.
For the Russian Orthodox Church, Petrov Day falls on July 12. Special services are held in the churches: the day before - the all-night vigil, in the morning - liturgy. Those who wish are coming up to Christ Secrets. On this day, Petrovsky Guliagy began on this day, in addition to the day of memory, Peter and Pavel Ryabinniki were honored on September 23.
Memory
- 1511-1514 - Rafael, "Wonderful Failing to the Apostle Peter from the Tomnov"
- 1592 - El Greco, "Apostles Peter and Paul"
- 1601 - Caravaggio, "Crucifixion of St. Peter"
- 1610-1612 - Rubens, "Apostle Peter"
- 1626 - St. Peter's Cathedral in Rome
- 1703 - City of St. Petersburg ("St. Peter")
- 1732 - Cathedral of Peter and Paul in St. Petersburg
- 1762 - Gabriel Kozlov, "Apostle Peter is reversed from Christ"
- 1888 - Church of the Apostle Peter in Jaffa (Israel)
- 1910 - Nikolai Gumilev, "Gate of Paradise"
- 1962 - Cathedral of Nunoike (Japan)
- 1990 - Washington Cathedral (Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul)