LAKE JAMES
NORTH CAROLINA
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LAKE JAMES NORTH CAROLINA
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Saints Peter and Paul, Apostles Saints Peter and Paul, the two greatest leaders of the early Church, are each commemorated separately (St. Peter on January 18th and St. Paul on January 25th) but are also commemorated together on June 29th in observance of the tradition of the Church that they both died as martyrs in Rome during the persecution under Nero in the year 64.
A generation after their deaths, St. Clement of Rome, writing to the Church in Corinth, says “Let us come to those who have most recently proved champions; let us bring before our eyes the good apostles – Peter, who because of jealousy endured not just one or two, but numerous trials, bore a martyr’s witness, and went to the glorious place he deserved. Also, Paul was imprisoned seven times, was exiled, beaten, preached in both east and west, and, bearing a martyr’s witness before the rulers, died and was taken up to the holy place, having proved a very great example of endurance.” Although many churches are named for one or the other of the two great Apostles, others are named for them both, such as The Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul in Washington, D.C. (often called “the National Cathedral”).
Almighty God, whose blessed apostles Peter and Paul glorified you by their martyrdom: Grant that your Church, instructed by their teaching and example, and knit together in unity by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, which is Jesus Christ our Lord; who lives and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. [Based on “Lesser Feasts and Fasts” by ATKZ+] -------------------- To read the short account of the martyrdom of Saints Peter and Paul in Foxe's Book of Martyrs, click here. |
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This page last modified on Friday, April 11, 2008 09:40 PM |
Paul, the well-educated
and cosmopolitan Jew of the Dispersion, and Peter, the uneducated fisherman from
Galilee, had sharp differences of opinion in the early years of the Church
concerning the mission to the Gentiles. More than once, Paul speaks of rebuking
Peter for his continued insistence on Jewish exclusiveness; yet their common
commitment to Christ and the proclamation of the Gospel proved stronger than
their differences, and both eventually carried their mission to Rome where they
were martyred.