St. Peter, Prince of the Apostles

Simon, later called Peter by Jesus, was a fisherman of Capernaum (Mark 1:30) or Bethsaida (John 1:44). He was married, and his wife, whose mother Jesus healed, may have accompanied him on his missionary journeys (1 Corinthians 9:5).

The gospels are unanimous in describing him as one of the first disciples and the leader of the apostles. He was present at most of the chief incidents in Jesus’ life and, with the sons of Zebedee, formed Jesus’s inner circle.

He is best remembered for two acts: his recognition of Jesus as Messiah at Caesarea Philippi and his denial of Jesus at the crucifixion. After the first, Jesus bestowed the name Peter on him: “Thou art Peter and upon this rock will I build my church” (Matthew 14:17-19). After the denial, Peter fled, probably home to Galilee to resume fishing. And Peter was present at two important events in the life of Jesus: the Transfiguration and the Ascension.

Later, after Pentecost, Peter became the recognized leader of the Apostles and spent the rest of his life teaching, preaching, healing, and doing missionary work. He is said to have been the first bishop of Antioch and served as the first bishop of Rome – hence the first pope. He was crucified in Rome under Nero around A.D. 64. At his own request, Peter died head downward because he claimed he was not worthy to die in the same manner as Christ.

Saint Peter’s feast day, which he shares with another great apostle, Saint Paul, is June 29.

Even though he had betrayed his Lord, Peter went on to baptize many, including Cornelius, the first Gentile admitted into the church. He healed the sick and lame, raised the dead, and performed many kind acts – while preaching the Good News of Jesus. For this, he was frequently thrown into prison or otherwise punished. His story appears in the gospels and Acts.

As one of the first disciples, Peter eagerly answered Jesus’ call, left his fishing nets, and followed Jesus during his ministry. It was Peter who first identified Jesus as the Messiah, or “the Christ, the Son of the Living God.” And it was Peter who first led the Christian church and died for it as an early martyr. Even though he denied Jesus at the time of the crucifixion, he spent the rest of his life serving the church. He was the first pope. Finally, he sacrificed his life for his Lord, being hung on a cross upside-down in humble deference to the way the Lord was crucified.

The Rock

Several of the disciples were known by new names when they became followers of Jesus. Peter was named Simon Bar-Jona or Simon, son of John, by his family. After Simon declared to the disciples that their leader was the Messiah (Matthew 16:16), Jesus referred to this special disciple by the Aramaic surname of Kepha, which means rock. Using Greek letters to transliterate the word, it comes out Cephas. Translated into Greek the word is Petros. The Greek counterpart becomes Peter in English. Matthew 16:18 records Jesus’ conferring of the descriptive title: “And I tell you that you are Peter, and upon this rock I will build my church, and the gates of Hades will not overcome it.” (NIV) Jesus declared that Peter’s confession would be the solid foundation, or the rock, of the future church. Peter was a constant companion of Jesus and many of the highlights of his life as an apostle involve rocks or stones.

Matthew 14:28-33 – Peter attempts to walk on water
Matthew 16:13-19 – Peter’s name, character, confession
Matthew 17:1-8 – Peter witnesses the Transfiguration
John 20:1-10 – Peter at the tomb after the Resurrection
John 21:10-17 – Peter meets the resurrected Jesus
Luke 24:50-53 – Peter observes Jesus’ ascension

After reading these passages, look through the Bible atlases and other reference books to understand the geography of the area. It was a very rocky region. Scenes of landscape, seashore, and buildings consist of rocks, pebbles, or boulders. There were probably rocks in the water when Peter began to sink after attempting to walk toward Jesus. When Jesus and the disciples cooked breakfast on the beach, the firepit was most likely formed with rocks. Peter was among the first witnesses to see the heavy rock rolled away at the empty tomb after Jesus’ resurrection. The Transfiguration took place on a mountain, which was a rocky site. In Luke, Jesus led the followers to Bethany, then ascended into heaven. Pictures of surroundings will show stone buildings and rocky landscapes.

Enter the Parish of St. Peter

Our parish is built with bricks- the main ingredient of brick is clay, a group of surface minerals that arise from the weathering of igneous rocks.  The brick parish building serves as a reminder that God created man from clay (earth/dust) and breathed his soul into him creating two parts: the physical (natural) and the spiritual (supernatural) (Genesis 2:7). Applying the symbolism of the Potter and the clay (Jeremiah 18; Isaiah 64:8) we are reminded that God has created each of us the way He wants us (Psalm 139:13-16; Exodus 4:11).  Our responsibility to take what He has given us and use it for His glory and pleasure is inspired by our patron saint and how he answered our Lord’s call, ‘Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matthew 4:19) and gave his life over to Christ even unto death.  

We would like to extend a warm invitation to enter our brick parish reflecting on God as our Creator and our inspiring patron saint, St. Peter.  Join us on our journey to grow closer to God – working together, we find great joy in doing God’s work here on earth. Our parish is proud to offer many opportunities for parishioners to come together in faith as we pray, work and play together – as individual parts of the one Body of Christ (Colossians 3:15; 1 Corinthians 12:12-14; Ephesians 4:1-16) built on a Rock.    

Novena to Saint Peter

​O Holy Apostle, 
because you are the Rock upon which Almighty God has built His church; obtain for me I pray you, lively faith, firm hope and burning love; complete detachment from myself,  contempt of the world, patience in adversity, humility in prosperity,  recollection in prayer, purity of heart, a right intention in all my works, diligence in fulfilling the duties of my state of life, constancy in my resolutions, resignation to the will of God and perseverance in the grace of God even unto death; that so, by means of your intercession
and your glorious merits, I may be worthy to appear before the chief and eternal Shepherd of souls, Jesus Christ, Who with the Father and 
the Holy Spirit lives and reigns for ever. 
Amen.

More Information

Facts

  • Born c.1 in Bethsaida as Simon
  • Martyred c.64 in Rome, Italy
  • Crucified head downward
  • Professional fisherman
  • Brother of Saint Andrew the Apostle.  
  • Renamed Peter (rock) by Jesus
  • Bishop
  • First Pope
  • Miracle worker

From a Sermon By Pope Saint Leo the Great

Out of the whole world one man, Peter, is chosen to preside at the of all nations and to be set over all the apostles and all the fathers of the church. Though there are in God’s people many bishops and many shepherds, Peter is thus appointed to rule in his own person those whom Christ also rules as the original ruler. Beloved, how great and wonderful is this sharing in his power that God in his goodness has given to this man. Whatever Christ has willed to be shared in common by Peter and the other leaders of the Church, it is only through Peter that he has given to others what he has not refused to bestow on them. Jesus said: “Upon this rock I will build my Church, and the gates of hell shall not prevail against it.” On this strong foundation, he says, I will build an everlasting temple. The great height of my Church, which is to penetrate the heavens, shall rise on the firm foundation of this faith. Blessed Peter is therefore told: “To you I will give the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound also in heaven. Whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed also in heaven.”

Memorial and Feast Days

  • June 29 -Feast of Peter and Paul
  • February 22 – Feast of the Chair of Peter
  • August 1 – Saint Peter in Chains
  • November 18 – Feast of the Dedication of the Basilicas of Peter and Paul

Other Names St. Peter Is Known As

  • Cephas
  • First Pope
  • Keipha
  • Kepha
  • Pre-eminent Apostle
  • Prince of the Apostles
  • Shimon Bar-Yonah
  • Shimon Ben-Yonah
  • Simeon
  • Simon
  • Simon bar Jonah
  • Simon ben Jonah
  • Simon Peter

Patron Of

  • Parish of St. Peter, Archbold, Ohio
  • Against feet problems
  • Against fever
  • Against foot problems
  • Against frenzy
  • Bakers
  • Bridge builders
  • Butchers
  • Clock makers
  • Cobblers
  • Fishermen
  • Harvesters
  • Locksmiths
  • Longevity
  • Masons
  • Net makers
  • Papacy
  • Popes
  • Ship builders
  • Shipwrights
  • Shoemakers
  • Stone masons
  • Universal Church
  • Watch makers