Saint Peter
Peter the Apostle | |
|---|---|
Saint Peter, an early 6th-century Byzantine icon in Saint Catherine's Monastery, depicting Peter holding the Keys of Heaven and a martyr's cross | |
| See | First bishop of Rome and first bishop of Antioch, according to Catholic and Eastern Christian tradition |
| Papacy began | c. AD 30 |
| Papacy ended | Between 64 and 68 AD |
| Successor | |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | c. AD 30 by Jesus Christ |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Shimon bar Yonah c. 1 BC |
| Died | Between 64 and 68 AD (aged 63–67) |
| Parents | Jonah (or Jona; John) |
| Spouse | Name unknown |
| Occupation | Fisherman, clergyman |
| Sainthood | |
| Feast day |
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| Venerated in | All Christian denominations that venerate saints |
| Canonized | Pre-Congregation |
| Attributes | Keys of Heaven, Red Martyr, pallium, papal vestments, rooster, man crucified upside down, vested as an Apostle, holding a book or scroll, Cross of Saint Peter |
| Patronage | Patronage list |
| Shrines | St. Peter's Basilica Church of St. Peter |
Saint Peter (born Shimon bar Yonah; 1 BC – AD 64/68), also known as Peter the Apostle, Simon Peter, Simeon, Simon, or Cephas, was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus and one of the first leaders of the early Christian Church. He appears repeatedly and prominently in all four New Testament gospels, as well as the Acts of the Apostles. Catholic and Orthodox tradition treats Peter as the first bishop of Rome – or pope – and also as the first bishop of Antioch. According to Christian tradition, Peter was crucified in Rome under Emperor Nero.
The ancient Christian churches venerate Peter as a major saint and the founder of the Church of Antioch and the Church of Rome, but they differ in their attitudes regarding the authority of his successors. According to Catholic teaching, Jesus promised Peter a special position in the Church. In the New Testament, the name "Simon Peter" is found 19 times. He is the brother of Andrew, and they both were fishermen. The Gospel of Mark, in particular, is traditionally thought to show the influence of Peter's preaching and eyewitness accounts. He is also mentioned as Peter or Cephas in Paul's First Letter to the Corinthians and the Epistle to the Galatians. The New Testament also includes two general epistles, First Peter and Second Peter, which are traditionally attributed to him, but modern scholarship generally rejects the Petrine authorship of both.
Outside of the New Testament, several apocryphal books were later attributed to him, in particular the Acts of Peter, Gospel of Peter, the Preaching of Peter, Apocalypse of Peter, and Judgment of Peter, although scholars believe these works to be pseudepigrapha.
Although the New Testament does not explicitly identify Peter as the first bishop of Rome or detail his journey there, early Church Fathers and historians, including Irenaeus, Tertullian, Hegesippus, Clement of Alexandria, Lactantius, and Eusebius attest that Peter spent his closing years in Rome, and along with Paul founded the Church in Rome and conferred the episcopal office upon Linus. These accounts also maintain that Peter was martyred in Rome, traditionally on Vatican Hill during Nero’s reign. The late second-century writer Caius further testified that the monuments of Peter were located at the Vatican.