St. Peter the Apostle

Simon son of Jonah, a fisherman of Bethsaida who lived at Capernaum, was brought to Christ by his brother Andrew, and Christ named him Cephas, Peter, the rock. He confessed Jesus as 'the Christ, the Son of the living God', the rock being, in St John Chrysostom's reading, the faith of that confession. On the night of the Passion he denied his Lord three times, and the risen Christ restored him at the Sea of Tiberias with the threefold charge 'Feed my sheep'. At Pentecost he preached the first sermon; at Joppa he raised Tabitha; at Caesarea he received the Gentile Cornelius and his household. Two epistles bear his name. He was crucified at Rome under Nero, by tradition head downward. The chains that fell from him in Herod's prison are venerated on January 16. Feast: January 16; with St Paul, June 29.