HOLY APOSTLE PETER
MAN ROCK
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First-enthroned among the apostles
If anyone in the entire history of the Church is suited to the prepositions “most” and “first”, then it is definitely Holy Apostle Peter. Also, the troparion is sung like this together with the Holy Apostle Paul: “O first-enthroned among the apostles…” He is one of the “first” Disciples of Christ and one of those who loved Christ the most according to the commandment: “Love the Lord your God with all your heart, and with all your soul, and with all your mind” (Matthew 22, 37). His fiery character: quick, impatient, honest and simple-minded, led him to situations in which he always stood out as the first, and therefore bore the consequences of that, both good and bad. There are many such examples of him in the Holy Scriptures.
He is one of the most trusted disciples of the Savoir and beloved of Christ, which is why he was elevated to apostolic dignity among the first twelve apostles, and even among the apostles themselves – he is among the first three. Peter unconditionally followed the Saviour, and after the Resurrection he fearlessly preached Him. Together with Jacob and John, they were eyewitnesses to many significant events in the life of our Saviour Jesus Christ, such as: the Transfiguration of the Lord, the resurrection of Jairus’ daughter, the prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane and many others.
From a simple fisherman to a fisher of men
The holy apostle Peter was a Jew, son of Jonah, from the tribe of Simeon, brother of Saint Andrew the First-Called Apostle, from the Galilean city of Bethsaida in Palestine. He was married to the daughter of Aristobulus, with whom he had one son and one daughter. Simon was an illiterate man, but simple-minded and God-fearing, and he fulfilled the Lord’s commandments. He was a fisherman by occupation, and as a poor man, he earned food for his home with the labour of his hands, feeding his wife, children, mother-in-law and his old father Jonah.
His brother Andrew, despising the vanity of this world, chose to live a celibate life, and so he went to Saint John the Baptist, who preached repentance at the River Jordan, and became his disciple. When he heard about the testimony of his teacher about Christ – the Messiah, and especially when Saint John pointed to the Lord with his finger: “Here is the Lamb of God, who took away the sins of the world!” (John 1, 29-36), Andrew left Saint John the Baptist and went to the Lord Christ, and asked Him: “Teacher, where do you live?” He said to them: “Come and see!” They went and saw where he lived; and they stayed with Him that day” (John 1, 37-39).
The next morning, Andrew went to his brother Simon and told him: “We have found the Messiah, which means Christ” (John 1, 41), and he brought him to Jesus. And when Jesus looked at him, He said: ”You are Simon the son of Jonah; you will be called Cephas, which means: Peter – stone” (John 1, 42). At that hour, Peter was wounded by his love for God, he believed that He is the true Messiah, sent by God for the salvation of the world. But Peter still did not leave his house and his occupation, and sometimes his brother Andrew helped him because of their elderly father, until both were called by the Lord to apostleship.
Once, after the imprisonment of Saint John the Baptist in darkness, the Lord Christ, walking by the Sea of Galilee saw Peter and Andrew, and said to them: “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4, 18-19). After Peter and his friends had fished all night and caught nothing, Jesus commanded them to cast their nets again. Peter answered Him and said: “Master, we have toiled all night and caught nothing, nevertheless at Your word I will let down the net. “And as soon as they did, they caught a great quantity of fish, and even to the point where their net was breaking. So they signalled to their friends, who were in the other boat, to come and help them; and they came and filled both boats, so that they almost sank” (Luke 5, 5-7). Then Peter, struck by this miracle, realized that this Man was not just an ordinary man, he fell down at His feet and cried: “Depart from me, O Lord, for I am a sinful man!” (Luke 5, 8). To that, the Lord answered him to follow Him, because from now on he will catch men for eternal life, as before he was catching fish for death (cf. Luke 5, 10).
You are Peter, and on that stone I will build My Church, and the gates of hell will not prevail against it!
From that hour Saint Peter became a follower of Christ, together with his brother Andrew. And God loved Peter because of his simple heart and soul. He visited his home and healed his mother-in-law (Mark 1, 30). And, when early one morning the Lord left by himself to travel to a deserted place, then Peter, unable to endure even an hour without the Lord, looked for Him, he carefully searched for His beloved Teacher, and when he found Him, said to Him: “Everyone is looking for You” (Mark 1, 35–37).
Since then, Saint Peter did not separate from the Lord and was uncompromisingly with Him, enjoying the sight of His face and His words, sweeter than honey, and he became an eyewitness to many of His miracles. Believing with all his heart that Christ is the Son of God, he also confessed this truth with his mouth. And so, when the Saviour came to Caesarea Philippi and asked His disciples who do men consider Him to be, they answered: “Some say John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.” And when Christ directly asked them: “But who do you say that I am?” – Simon Peter answered first and said: “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!” Then Christ said to him: “Blessed are you, Simon, son of Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father, who is in heaven! And I also say to you: you are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it! And I will give you the keys of the Kingdom of Heaven, and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven.” (Matthew 16, 15-19)
According to the blessed Augustine, “What does it mean: on this rock I will build My Church?” It means on that faith, on that which he said: ‘You are the Christ, the Son of the living God!'” In other words, “faith is the foundation of the Church, because it is said not about the person, but about the faith of Saint Peter that the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. Confession of faith is what defeated hell,” says Saint Ambrose.
The feeding of five thousand people
Another time, after feeding five thousand people, including women and children, with five loaves and two fish, Christ dismissed them all and made all the disciples get into a boat, and He went up on the mountain to pray (Matthew 14, 22–33). That evening there was a storm. The waves were strong and the disciples were filled with great fear. Then they saw Christ walking on the waves. They were frightened and scared, they thought they were seeing a ghost.
While the sea raged, He walked on the sea as on dry land, about which David prophesied: “Your way was in the sea, Your path in the great waters, and Your footsteps were not known” (Psalm. 76, 19), and: “You rule the raging sea and when its waves rise, You still them” (Psalm. 88, 9). Seeing their fear, the Lord said to them: “Do not be afraid, it is I!” Peter, again, was the first, before anyone else, to ask to walk on the water. After Christ answered him: “Come”, Peter got out of the boat and walked on the water towards Christ. But when he saw the strong wind, he was afraid, and beginning to sink he cried out in fear: “Lord, save me!” Christ stretched out his hand, caught him and said to him: “O you of little faith, why did you doubt?” And when they entered the boat, the storm immediately ceased.
Regarding this event Saint John Chrysostom says: “And what does the ever-flaming Peter, who always jumps before the other disciples, do at that moment?” ‘Lord – he says – if it is You, let me come to You on the water’. He did not say: Pray unto God and call for help from God, but rather, “Let me.” What a fervour, how great a faith – even though Peter, precisely because of that excessive zeal, often exposes himself to dangers! So here, too, he asks too much: indeed, only out of love, not out of boasting. He did not say: command (me), so I can walk on the waves, but what does he say? ‘Let me come to You.’ No one loved Christ that much.”
Venerable Justin Popovic (of Chelije) says the same about Saint Peter: “Having a warm love for God, he did not want any harm to happen to the Lord. Therefore, when the Lord spoke of His coming sufferings, Peter opposed it, speaking from lack of knowledge: ‘God forbid! This shall not happen to You, Lord!’ Although these words of his were not pleasing to the Lord, because He came in order, by His sufferings, to save the human race from destruction, nevertheless, through these words Peter’s love for the Lord was manifested, but also his simplicity, because hearing the terrible rebuke from the Lord: Get thee behind Me, satan!'(Mark 8, 33), he did not get angry with his Lord, nor did he leave Him, but accepted the rebuke with love and with even greater zeal followed Him (Matthew 16, 21-23)”.
Preparing the apostles for future events and His departure, Christ revealed to them the mystery of the Eucharist, that is, communion with the Body and Blood of Christ. After that sermon, many of His disciples left Him, because those words could not be lodged in their hearts. Then Jesus said to the twelve apostles: “Do you also want to go away?” But Peter, again first, steadfastly and humbly, said to Him: “Lord, to whom shall we go?” You have the words of eternal life, also we have come to believe and know that You are the Christ, the Son of the living God” (John 6, 51; 67-69).
The Transfiguration of Christ
When the time of the redemptive sufferings approached, Christ said to the rest of the disciples: “Stay here while I go over there to pray” (Matthew 26, 36), and He took with Himself only Peter, James and John, and was transfigured before them on Mount Tabor, showing them His divinity, as much as they could receive.
Saint John Chrysostom says: “Why does Christ take with Himself only these disciples?” Because they surpassed the others: Peter – with the strong love for Christ, John – with the special love of Christ for him, and James – with the answer he gave together with his brother: “we can drink the cup” (Matthew 20, 22), and not only with the answer, but also with their deeds – with those deeds with which he justified his words, as well as with other deeds.
Imagine, nothing made afraid these men: neither death, nor troubles, nor humiliation, nor countless sufferings. All this was more horrible for them than the sea that the Jews had to cross. And, what is more, Christ convinced them to ignore all that and walk with complete confidence, as if on a dry road. Preparing them for all that, He placed before them the men (Moses and Elijah) who made themselves well-known in the Old Testament. And, what does, in this case, the fiery Peter say? It is good for us to be here (Matthew 17, 4). Having already heard that Christ would go to Jerusalem and suffer; fearing and trembling for what awaits Him, he, after the rebuke he previously received from Christ, must not approach Him and repeat the same statement. “Be merciful to Yourself, Lord,” (Matthew 16, 22) but out of fear, expresses the same thought in other, but quite clear words. Now, when he sees the mountain and the isolated desert, he thinks that this very place offers safety, and not only did he hope for the safety of this place, but he also hopes that Christ will no longer go to Jerusalem. Peter wants Christ to stay here forever, that is why he mentions the tabernacles. Thus, he thought, if tabernacles are erected, we shall not go to Jerusalem; and if we do not go to Jerusalem, Christ will not die, because there, as Jesus said to them, the scribes will attack Him. But not daring to say it as such, and wanting this to happen, Peter, without any fear, says: “It is good for us to be here! Here are Moses and Elijah; Elijah – who brought fire down from heaven to earth, Moses – who entered the darkness and spoke with God; and no one will know we are here.”
Do you see how fierily Peter loves Christ? Do not think that what he proposed to Christ was not considered; imagine how fiery he was and how he burned with love for Christ. And that Peter did not say this out of fear for himself, can be seen from his words, which he said when Christ foretold His death and His departure: “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You” (Mark 14, 31). Observe how he exposes himself to danger for Christ’s sake, does not flee at the moment when a crowd of people attacks Christ, but still draws his sword and cuts off the ear of the high priest’s servant. So he did not care for himself, but trembled for his Master.
Furthermore, as decisive as his words were, he now changes his mind, in order not to incur reproach again, and says: “If you want us to make three tabernacles here: one for You, one for Moses, one for Elijah?” What are you talking about, Peter? Did you not separate Him from the servants a little while ago, and yet you place Him with the servants again? This is how the disciples were imperfect until before the Cross itself! Although Peter had a revelation from the Father, he did not manage to hold onto it constantly, but was confused because of fear – not only because of what I am talking about, but also because of the fear that was born in him from what he saw. Therefore, the other evangelists, speaking about it and showing that the reason for the confusion with which he said these words was, precisely this fear, they say: Mark – “He did not know what to say, because they were very afraid.” (Mark 9, 6); and Luke, saying to make three tabernacles, adds: He did not know what he is talking about.” (Luke 9, 33) At the same time, showing that, just like Peter, the other disciples were overcome by great fear, Luke says the following about them: “A dream had overcome them, but as soon as they woke up, they saw His glory.” (Luke 9, 32). By a dream the evangelist means a great burden, which they experienced from what they saw. As the great flash blinds the eyes, so they were astonished by the light they saw. That light did not appear at night, but by day, and they could not look at that light because of the magnificent glow.”
When you return to Me, strengthen your brothers!
When the time of suffering approached, knowing that He would be betrayed and crucified, and it was before the Jewish holiday of Passover, Christ gathered them, for the last time, to eat the Passover together. Then he instituted the Eucharist, the new Passover to be done in remembrance of Him. At that time, He unexpectedly addressed Peter with the words: “Simon, Simon! Indeed, satan wanted to sift you as wheat. But I have prayed for you, that your faith should not fail; and, when you return to Me, strengthen your brothers!” (Luke 22, 31-32). With that, Jesus wanted to show Peter that He knows in advance what will happen, but also not to despair, but to set himself straight and not give up on the path of God. But being quick-witted and trusting in himself, Peter said to the Saviour: “Lord, I am ready to go with You both to prison and to death.” Jesus answered him: “I tell you, Peter, the rooster shall not crow this day, before you will deny three times that you know Me.” (Luke 22, 33-34) Peter proudly answered Him again: “Even if all fall away from You, yet I will not” (Matthew 26, 31-35) “Even if I have to die with You, I will not deny You.” (Mark 14, 27-31).
Before His suffering (passions), the Saviour went with His disciples to the garden of Gethsemane. He took the three apostles with Him: Peter, James and John, and said to them: “My soul is exceedingly sorrowful even to death; stay here and be awake!” (Mark 14, 34). He went a little farther, and fell face-down on the ground and prayed with tears. When He returned to His disciples after the prayer, He found them sleeping and addressed Peter: “Simon, are you sleeping? Could you not watch one hour? Watch and pray, lest you enter into temptation: the spirit is willing, but the flesh is weak” (Mark 14, 37-38). That same evening, Judas came with soldiers to arrest Christ. Then Peter, wanting to protect the Lord, jumped first before everyone else, drew out a knife and struck the high priest’s servant with it, cutting off one of his ears. The Lord healed the wounded man and said to Peter: “Put the knife in the sheath! Shall I not drink the cup that the Father gives me?” (John 18, 11), and Peter withdrew.
When they took Christ to court, all the disciples ran away. Peter, being unable to endure and wanting to know what was happening with Christ, went to the Sanhedrin, and of all of the disciples, only Peter and John remained to follow Him from afar. But although he had previously confessed that he would never renounce Christ, when the moment of trial came, grace left him and Peter was afraid. In such a state he renounced Christ three times, denying that he knew Him. When the rooster crowed three times, he remembered the words of Christ, he repented, went outside into the courtyard and wept bitterly (Matthew 26, 75). His repentance was sincere and deep, and forever remains an example that we should not despair like Judas, but repent like Peter. Holy Tradition says that until the end of his life, every time he heard a rooster crowing, Saint Peter the Apostle wept bitterly.
The Resurrection of Christ
Go, tell His disciples and Peter,
that He is going before you into Galilee.
(Mark 16, 7)
After they crucified Christ and buried Him, being terrified, the apostles shut themselves up and did not go out anywhere. Only the brave myrrh-bearing women constantly followed Him and saw where He was laid. Early in the morning after the Sabbath, the myrrh-bearing women came to the tomb and did not find His body. Then an angel appeared to them, telling them that He had risen, and he especially mentioned Peter: “Go, tell His disciples and Peter that He is going to Galilee.” (Mark 16, 7). When Peter heard from the women that Christ had risen, he literally jumped out first and hurried to the tomb with John. When they arrived there, they found the tomb empty; only the burial shrouds were there.
Although God allowed the apostle Peter to deny the Lord three times, nevertheless, with his bitter repentance, Peter raised himself up and corrected himself, and was the first of all the apostles to see the Lord Christ after His Resurrection, as the holy evangelist Luke says: “Truly the Lord is risen and has appeared to Simon.” (Luke 24, 34) The holy apostle Paul also writes about this, saying: “He was buried and on the third day He rose again, according to the Scriptures, and He was seen by Cephas, and then by the eleven.” (1 Cor. 15, 4-5) Seeing the Lord, Saint Peter was filled with inexpressible joy, and received from Him a merciful forgiveness of his sin.
Simon son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?
Shortly after Christ’s Resurrection, Peter and several other disciples were fishing in the Sea of Tiberias. “And when it was dawn, Jesus stood on the shore, yet the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.” (John 21, 4) “Then Christ said to them: ‘Children.’ How filled with gentleness, care and sweetness is this word! He did not ask (the question that followed: Did you catch anything?) because He did not know, but to open the way for the miracle,” says Saint Gregory Palamas. Then He ordered them to cast the net out into deeper water and they caught many fish, and they were not able to pull the net out. Then John, “who was especially loved by the Lord and the Teacher of all, and was the most prepared of all to know the Lord, he probably remembered the miracle with the fish in the Lake of Gennesaret”, continues Palamas, recognised Him and said to Peter: “It is the Lord.” When he heard that it was the Lord, Peter, who of all of them was the most zealous and ready to act immediately, girded his clothes – because he was unclothed – and threw himself into the sea. (John 21, 7) In his zeal, Peter left them all, and the other disciples came with the boat, dragging the net full of fish, to present them to the Giver, so that they could say to Him the holy words: ‘Thy own of Thine own.” That day, Christ stayed to eat with His disciples and asked Peter three times: “Simon son of Jonah, do you love Me more than these?” (John 21, 15), to which he replied that he loved Him, and the Lord thrice entrusted to “feed” His sheep (John 21, 15-17), because, as the prophet says, “we were all astray like sheep.” (Isaiah. 53, 6)
Venerable Gavril the Athonite, Episcope of Velika, on the other hand, says: “God wants at least someone to love Him almost as much as He loves people. The Lord Jesus Christ, in His last appearance to the disciples, didn’t He ask His faithful disciple Peter three times: “Do you love me…?” “Do you love me…?” God addressed all people through him. He would ask anyone that question, but He did not want to be saddened because people do not know their Creator. The Lord was afraid of being betrayed as He was of the very pillar (Peter) of faith in the moment of his human weakness. That is why Jesus wanted to take at least that affirmative answer of Peter to His Heavenly Kingdom and went away confident that, after all, He is loved. God needed that love so that humanity could love Him even more and send (offer) Him even greater gifts.”
First preacher of the Gospel
If they persecuted me, they will also persecute you.
(John 15, 20)
On the feast of Pentecost, when all were gathered together and they were all with one accord, the Holy Spirit descended upon all present in the form of tongues as of fire (Acts 2). Because, as God foretold through His prophets: “And, behold, I will pour out My Spirit on all flesh (Joel 2, 28), and: “Indeed My hand has laid the foundation of the earth, and My right hand has stretched out the heavens; When I call to them – They will stand together,” (Isaiah 48, 13), those present were filled with wisdom and spiritual strength, so they began to speak in other tongues. Also in this case, Peter was the first to stand before everyone and preach openly about Christ. “Then Peter said to them, “Repent, and let every one of you be baptised in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission of sins; and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.'” (Acts 2, 38-39) More than three thousand souls were converted because of his speech and believed in Christ. “And they continued steadfastly in the apostles’ doctrine and fellowship, in the breaking of bread, and in prayers. Then fear came upon every soul, and many wonders and signs were done through the apostles.” (Acts 2, 42-43)
The holy apostles Peter and John often walked together, and on one occasion, when they wanted to enter and pray in the temple called Beautiful, they saw a certain man who was lame, who could not walk, so he sat in front of the temple and begged. He thought that he would get money from them, but Peter said to him: “Silver and gold I do not have, but what I do have I give you: In the name of Jesus Christ of Nazareth, rise up and walk.” (Acts 3, 6) Then the lame man stood up and followed them, and those present were greatly astonished. After the Holy Apostle Peter had explained to them that what happened was through the Lord Jesus Christ and gave them a sermon about repentance and the salvation of souls, they believed and turned to Christ, and there were five thousand souls (Acts 3; 4, 4).
Until then Peters’ activity was limited only to Jerusalem. After the inhabitants of Samaria accepted the word of God (around the year 45 AD), the apostles sent Peter and John to them so that Samarians also might receive the Holy Spirit. “And in the city there was a certain man called Simon, who previously practiced sorcery in the city and astonished the people of Samaria, claiming that he was someone great, to whom they all gave heed, from the least to the greatest, saying, ‘This man is the great power of God.'” (Acts 8, 9-10). But after seeing the miracles of the apostles, he was amazed and believed. When he heard that the Holy Spirit was given by the laying on of the apostles’ hands, he brought money to the apostles and said to them: “Give me this power also, that anyone on whom I lay hands may receive the Holy Spirit.”But because Simon had thought this gift could be purchased for money, the apostle Peter told him: “Your money perish with you, because you thought that the gift of God could be purchased with money! You have neither part nor portion in this matter, for your heart is not right in the sight of God. Repent therefore of this your wickedness, and pray God if perhaps the thought of your heart may be forgiven you. For I see that you are poisoned by bitterness and bound by iniquity.” (Acts 8, 20-23). But Simon denied and did not want to repent.
After that, Peter also visited the churches in Judea and Galilee. When they came to Lydda, he first healed Aeneas (Acts 9, 31–35), and then he was called to Joppa, and there Saint Peter resurrected the young girl Tabitha from the dead (Acts 9, 36–43).
However, as Christ said: “If they persecuted Me, they will also persecute you” (John 15, 20), the Jews, filled with envy, caught them and put them in prison. But since they found nothing to trouble them, they let them go. And on another occasion they imprisoned them again, but an angel of the Lord came and opened the door, and they imperceptibly left. The apostles performed great miracles. People pushed each other just to touch them and be healed. Even the shadow cast by the holy apostle Peter healed the sick. (Acts 5, 15)
God also opens the door to the Gentiles
After the stoning of the first holy martyr Stephen, the persecution of the Church arose, and the holy apostle Peter went to Caesarea, Palestine. There he had a vision: he saw the heaven open and a vessel descending towards him, in which were all kind of four-footed animals, wild beasts, creeping things and birds of the air (Acts 10, 9-12). And a voice came to him: “Rise Peter, kill and eat!” And Peter resolutely answered: “Not so, Lord, for I have never eaten anything bad or unclean.” And again the same voice was heard: “What God has cleansed, do not count as unclean!” This was repeated three times, and the vessel was taken up into heaven again. As the vision was finishing, some people, sent by the centurion Cornelius, knocked on the door and asked him to come and heal Cornelius. Then he understood the meaning of the vision – that God opens the door of the Church to the Gentiles, that is, to everyone. Therefore, he went without hesitation. There Peter spoke to them about Christ as the only God and Saviour, and while he was still preaching, the Holy Spirit came upon them. Then he baptized them.
And again Saint Peter was the first to open (more precisely, God through him) the doors for the light of the Gospel among the rest of the heathen people. When the other apostles found out about this event, they rebuked Peter, because until then they believed that the Gospel should first be preached among the chosen people. But he told them about everything that had happened and at the end he added: “Can anyone forbid those who have received the Holy Spirit like us to be baptized with water?” And they all glorified God (Acts 10, 7; 11, 1 –18).
Apostolic Journeys
Those who are priests among you, I, who am a priest myself,
and a witness of the sufferings of Christ, and also a partaker of the glory that will be revealed:
feed the flock of God, which you have, overseeing it not by compulsion,
but willingly and according to God; not for dishonest gain, but from a good heart.
And not as being lords over the people, but being example to the flock.
(1 Peter 5, 1–4)
From Caesarea, Saint Peter travelled a long way: first he went to Sidon, where he healed many and appointed episcope for that place. Then he went to Virit, and he also appointed an episcope there. From there he travelled to Vivla, then to Phoenician Tripolis, Ortosia, Antarda, then to the island of Arados, then to Valanei, Pontus and Laodicea. In Laodicea he healed many sick people, gathered the faithful, he established the church there, and appointed an episcope for them. From Laodicea he travelled to Antioch, where Simon the Magician was hiding. Learning about the arrival of Saint Peter, Simon fled to the Judean cities. In Antioch Saint Peter healed many sick people and appointed episcopes. From Antioch he travelled to Tyana of Cappadocia, and from there to Ankyra in Galatia, where he founded the church, baptised many and he appointed an episcope for them.
From Ankyra he went to Sinop in Pontus, and from there to Amasia. Then he travelled to Gangar in Paphlagonia, then to Claudiopolis in Honorias, and from there to Nicomedia in Bithynia, and then to Nicaea, and finally he came to Jerusalem for the Passover. There the holy apostle Paul visited him and stayed with him for fifteen days. From Jerusalem, Saint Peter again left for Antioch, where he found the Apostle Paul. After he also appointed episcopes there, he went to Macedonia, where he also appointed episcopes: Olympos to the Philippians, Jason to the Thessalonians, and Silas, the disciple of the holy apostle Paul, to the Corinthians. From there he sailed to Sicily, then to Tavromenia, and finally he arrived in Rome.
All roads lead to Rome
The biggest miracle happened. “Behold, I am sending you out as sheep among wolves,”
says the Saviour to His Apostles.
And a miracle happened indeed – the sheep defeated all the wolves.
– Venerable Justin of Chelije (Popovich)
In Rome, the Holy Apostle Peter preached tirelessly in the squares and homes, and he attracted many people to the faith of Christ. Seeing all this, Simon the Sorcerer could not hide his malice towards him, because he considered that the apostle’s preaching disgraces him and thereby spoiled his fame. Therefore, he made even more apparitions with which he lied to the people.
When the apostle Peter learned that Simon was in Rome, and that he was calling himself Christ and was deceiving people, he was inflamed with zeal for the true God and immediately went to Simon’s house. When he arrived there, there were many people who prevented him from entering. The Holy Apostle Peter asked them: “Why do you not let me enter to the soothsayer-deceiver?” And they answered him: “He is not a soothsayer, but a mighty god, who has placed a guard at his door who knows the thoughts of men.” Saying this, they pointed to the black dog lying before the door and added, “This dog kills all who devise injustice to Simon.” Then, the Holy Apostle Peter approached the dog and said: “Go and tell Simon: Peter, the apostle of Christ, wants to come to you.” To the astonishment of all present, the dog obeyed Peter, went and spoke with a human voice.
Simon received the holy apostle Peter and began to perform “miracles” in front of everyone, and the holy apostle with the power of Christ showed even greater miracles. During that moment of contention an unforeseen incident befell the widow of a high royal family, her son died very young and she wept inconsolably. Those present who consoled her remembered Simon and Peter, who resurrect dead people, and some called Simon and others Peter. They both came. The holy apostle Peter said to Simon: “Whoever resurrects the boy, his teaching will be accepted as true.” Simon agreed to that, but he said to the people: “If I raise the dead man, will you kill Peter?” “We will burn him alive in front of you!” they shouted.
The sorcerer tried first, he managed to move his head a little with the help of the demons, so everyone started praising Simon. However, the holy apostle Peter told them not to hurry with the praises, because he was not resurrected. “If the boy is really alive, then let him get up, talk and start walking.” Again Simon tried for a long time, calling on the demonic forces, but in vain. Then Saint Peter stood in front of everyone and prayed loudly: “Lord Jesus Christ, You command us with Your name to raise the dead. Therefore, I pray revive this young man so that these people will know that You are the true God, and that there is no other but You, Who lives and reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit forever. Amen.” After Saint Peter prayed, the dead man got up, opened his eyes and began to speak and walk. Then the dead man fell at Peter’s feet and said to him: “I saw how the Lord Jesus Christ commanded the angels because of your prayers to restore me to my mother.” And they all glorified the God that Peter preached, and they wanted to kill Simon. But the apostle Peter forbade them: “Our Lord and Teacher ordered us not to return evil for evil; let him go where he wants, he has had enough of the shame and humiliation, and the knowledge that his sorcery is helpless and impotent.’
Out of shame, Simon the Magician did not appear in Rome for a whole year, but finally he managed to make friends with Emperor Nero, who loved him very much, so he continued with his false miracles. One day, unable to defeat the apostle Peter in anything, Simon promised that he will ascend. He climbed a tall building and, summoning all the demons that served him, began to float in the air. Then the holy apostle Peter prayed aloud to Christ, saying: “Lord Jesus Christ, my God, reveal the deception of this sorcerer so that the people who believe in You will not be deceived!” And he ordered the demons: “To you, oh demons, I command you in the name of my God: carry him no more, but leave him where he is now in the air!” At that moment the demons, obeying the words of the apostle, left Simon in the air, and he fell to the earth and was crushed. The next day Simon died, giving his soul into the hands of demons, and the people glorified Peter and the Lord Jesus Christ, the true God and Saviour, which Peter preached.
When Nero found out about Simon’s death, he became very angry and bitter towards Peter, but he carried out his evil intention, to kill him, even until several years later. Saint Peter, on the other hand, as a tireless worker and zealot, could not remain calm until the Church of Christ spread all over the world. He ordained Linn as the first episcope of Rome, and soon after he went to Spain, then to Cartagena, in Africa, and then he came to Egypt. Coming to Egypt, he appointed episcopes: He appointed Rufus to be episcope of Thebes, and the evangelist Mark to Alexandria. Then, after having a revelation, he was transported to Jerusalem due to the Assumption of the Most-Holy Mary, then he returned to Egypt again. Passing through Africa, he came to Rome, and from there to Mediolan, then to Photicin, appointing presbyters and episcopes everywhere. He also travelled to Britain, where he lived for a long time, bringing many people to the faith of Christ
Domine, quo vadis?
But the end of everything is near. So be wise and cheerful in your prayers.
And above all, have constant love for one another,
because “love covers many sins”.
(1 Peter 4, 7–8)
In Britain, an angel of God appeared to Saint Peter and said to him: “Peter, the time of your departure from this world is near. Therefore it is necessary for you to go to Rome; there you will suffer the death of the cross and receive a just reward from Christ the Lord.”
Saint Peter tarried a little longer in Britain, fortifying the Church of God; he appointed priests and episcopes, and in the twelfth year of Nero’s reign he returned to Rome. And there he did not rest, he kept tirelessly preaching and teaching the people about Christ. His preaching also reached Nero’s two favourite concubines, and they believed and were baptised. After they were purified and received the gift of the Holy Spirit, they decided to live chastely, but this enraged Nero, who wanted to take revenge on Saint Peter and kill him.
Saint Peter was ready and willing to suffer and be killed, but the faithful convinced him and begged him for their sake and the needs of the Church to leave Rome and hide. The holy apostle did not agree at all, but finally, after long persuasions, he agreed and after the congregational prayers, he headed out of the city. But in the night when he was leaving the city, in front of the city gate, Saint Peter saw the Lord Christ walking towards the city, so bowing to Him, he asked Him: “Lord, where are you going?” (Domine, quo vadis?) The Saviour answered him: “I’m going to Rome to be crucified again!”
Defeated, the apostle Peter realised that his flight from Rome was not pleasing to the Lord, so he returned and was imprisoned, together with Clement, Herodion, Olympus and many other believers, who were sentenced to death by beheading, and the holy apostle Peter was condemned to crucifixion. Saint Clement, being a relative of the emperor, was released, but the others suffered for Christ. On June 29/July 12, year 67, the holy apostle Peter was crucified. But he begged the crucifiers to crucify him upside down, deeming himself unworthy to suffer the same death as the Saviour, and willing to bow his head at His feet.
This is how the life of the great apostle of the Lord, Saint Peter, ended, glorifying God with death on the cross: enduring great pain from the nails in his hands and feet, he surrendered his innocent soul into the hands of God. His disciple Saint Clement, Episcope of Rome, buried his holy body, and the faithful often came to pray at his grave, which is why a beautiful temple was later built in that place in honour of the holy apostle Peter.
Fr. Gavril Galev
Abbot of the monastery “St. Clement of Ohrid”,
Kinglake, Melbourne, Australia
