The Day of Peter and Paul is a great Christian holiday honoring the two most important apostles and disciples of Christ, who suffered a painful death, but did not renounce the faith. Their life path is an example for every true believer.
History and date of the holiday
In 2019, the Feast of the Holy Primate Apostles Peter and Paul, according to the church calendar, falls on June 29. The history of these holy great martyrs is beautiful and sad at the same time. They passed the most important part of their life path with their teacher Jesus Christ, but they did not become one of his apostles at once. Peter, who received the name Simon at birth, was born and brought up in a simple fishing family with his brother Andrey. The latter introduced the young fisherman to Jesus.
Later, Peter became a key participant in most of the evangelical events and was present with Jesus in the Garden of Gethsemane. During the attack on the Teacher of the guards who came with Judas, he denied Christ three times, for which he later repented for a long time and was forgiven to those whom he almost betrayed. Having embarked on the true path, Peter began to wander and convert people to Christianity. Like the Teacher, he possessed healing power, was famous for his kindness, modesty and generosity. As a result, the Romans seized the apostle and sentenced him to death by crucifixion. He insisted on being crucified with his head down, because he considered himself unworthy to die like Jesus.
Paul, who bore the name Saul from birth, was at first a fierce opponent of Christians. It is believed that one day he heard the voice of Jesus himself, which made him believe and repent of his deeds. The young man went through the rite of baptism and since then began to be called Paul, a devoted disciple of Christ and a preacher of Christianity. For his sermons, he was sent to prison more than once, and as a result, the Romans sentenced him to beheading. Paul died stoically, never for a second abandoning his faith.
How the holiday is celebrated
The Holy Apostles Peter and Paul are called the Church of the First, because they stood at the origins of the spread of Christianity. Thanks to Peter, the religion spread to the Jewish lands, and through the efforts of Paul, a large number of Roman pagans were converted. This great Orthodox holiday is preceded by Peter Lent. On the eve of the celebration, services are held, during which paremias are read and canons are sung with an appeal to the holy apostles.
On this day, believers visit temples and cathedrals throughout the country, taking a direct part in divine services. Also on the holiday it is customary to confess, receive communion and sing akathists. According to tradition, the clergy performing the rituals wear yellow or white clothes. Prayer chants sounded on the holiday glorify not only Peter and Paul, but also the Lord God, who endowed the young men with great reason and meek disposition, deprived of evil intentions and deeds. Today, the holy apostles are considered teachers and instructors of all believers.
The first churches in memory of Peter and Paul began to be erected as early as 324 after the birth of Christ. It is believed that the Feast of the First Apostles has been celebrated since that time. Many church institutions in Russia are named after them, and even today you can see the first icon on Russian soil depicting the apostles in the Novgorod Sophia Cathedral.
