Apostle with the keys to heaven 4 letters. Apostle Peter is the keeper of the keys to heaven. Life of the Apostle Peter. At the right hand of Christ

On the shore of Lake Tiberias the apostles rejoiced: “The Savior has risen! He is with us again! Amidst the general rejoicing, only one person remained despondent. It was Peter who fell away.

Peter had a grave sin on his soul - he denied Christ three times! He, who exclaimed that he loved the Teacher more than others, that he was ready to die for Him, turned out to be a pathetic coward...

Tell His disciples and Peter, - with these words the Angel called on the myrrh-bearing women to tell about the Resurrection of Christ. It was a sentence. Peter was excluded from the Savior's disciples.

And here Peter sits by the fire among the apostles and the Lord. His heart is filled with bitterness and love for God.

Finally Christ asks him three times:

Simon Ionin! Do you love Me more than they?

And each time, lowering his guilty head lower and lower, Peter answers:

Lord, you know everything; You know that I love You.

And only after the third confession of love did Saint Peter hear the call he had been waiting for: Follow Me.

By forcing the Apostle Peter to confess Love, Christ taught him a great lesson in humility, and through Peter, to each of us: Love for the Lord does not tolerate pride, narcissism and envy.

Peter is forgiven. He was restored to the apostolic rank. But all the subsequent days of his earthly life his eyes did not dry out from tears - Saint Peter spent sleepless nights on his knees, crying out to God:

Sorry! Forgive my denial of You.

And the Savior teaches one more lesson to Saint Peter, and through him to us.

Yes, Peter is forgiven, but envy of one of the Lord’s favorite disciples, John, and Peter’s desire to be the best again stirred in his heart, and Peter jealously asks:

Lord, what is he?

And the Lord answered him sternly:

What do you care about this? You follow Me.

And through Peter, Christ addresses each of us: what is that to you? If someone else is better than you, more talented, you follow Me, that is, go and don’t look around, don’t look at others.

Yes, Saint Peter stumbled and fell all the time, but he had the main dignity - to rise and be reborn from the ashes of sin through repentance, therefore “it’s not scary to fall, it’s scary not to rise.”

And it was Peter who the Lord entrusted the keys to paradise, the most ardent and most unstable of His disciples: “The Lord did not entrust the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven to any of the apostles who had not sinned, but gave them to Peter - and this so that when this apostle sees in some or a sinner’s contrition for sins, then he would bring to mind his own fall into sin - and would help the repentant to receive salvation.”

“Follow Me,” Jesus called upon St. Peter, who had been forgiven and restored to his apostolic rank. And this was a call to the Way of the Cross, to the feat of suffering for the human race. And Saint Peter valiantly and joyfully endured all the suffering and hardships - and crowned his earthly exploits with the highest deed - co-crucifixion with Christ!

And the Lord calls each of us: Follow Me. And “do not allow yourself to think that there is pleasure on earth, and repentance in heaven. Here seek permission from your sins, and then Saint Peter will open the doors to the Kingdom of Heaven for you...”

Lyudmila Kopysova

The life of the Apostle Peter is filled with holiness and service to God. Thanks to this, an ordinary fisherman who believes in the truth of the existence of the Lord becomes an apostle of Jesus Christ.

Life before the Messiah

The Apostle Peter, who once had the name Simon, was born in Palestine, in the city of Bethsaida. He had a wife and children, and was engaged in fishing on Lake Gennesaret. Simon's work was truly dangerous: calm waters could suddenly give way to a storm. Thus, the future apostle could spend days fishing, thereby earning food for his family. Such work instilled in him will and perseverance, which later became very useful to him: after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, hungry and tired Peter wandered around the earth, spreading the true faith.

The road to the Lord was open to Simon thanks to his brother Andrei. A fiery love for Christ was kindled in him for the rest of his life. For his devotion and fidelity, the Lord brought him closer to himself than all the apostles.

At the right hand of Christ

There are many biblical stories associated with the Apostle Peter. One of them tells how Simon and his comrades fished all night, but were unable to catch anything. And only in the morning, when the Lord entered the boat of the future apostle, ordering the fishing nets to be cast again, he received a large catch. There was so much fish that part of the catch had to be placed in the neighboring ship of his comrades. Simon was horrified by the unprecedented amount of fish. With trembling hearts, he turned to the Lord and, falling to his knees, asked Him to leave the boat, considering himself unworthy to be next to Jesus Christ. But the Lord, having chosen Simon for himself as his faithful disciple, raised him from his knees and proclaimed him not only “a fisher of fish, but also of men.” Both boats began to sink under the load of catch, but the Lord helped the fishermen pull the vessels ashore. Leaving everything, the man followed Christ, becoming a close disciple along with John the Theologian and James.

Why did Simon earn special favor from the Lord?

Once, while with his disciples, Christ asked them who they thought he was. The Apostle Peter, without hesitation, answered that He is the true Son of the Lord and the Messiah about whom He spoke. For this recognition, Jesus Christ declared him worthy of the Kingdom of Heaven, handing him the keys to heaven. These words of the Lord should not be taken literally. Jesus Christ meant that from now on the holy Apostle Peter is the helper and intercessor of people who were “lost” due to human weakness, committing lawlessness, but repented and corrected themselves. Peter, a disciple of Jesus, sinned more than all the apostles, but he always confessed his misdeeds, as evidenced by the pages of Holy Scripture.

One day, when the Lord was walking on water, Peter wanted to get closer to his teacher and asked him to help him perform the same miracle. Having stepped onto the surface of the sea, the apostle walked on the water. Suddenly, feeling strong wind, he got scared and began to drown, calling on the Lord to save him. Jesus reproached Peter for his lack of faith and, giving him his hand, pulled him out of the depths of the sea. Thus, the Son of God delivered the apostle from death and despair, which was a consequence of lack of faith.

Great sin

While still faithful to Jesus, the holy Apostle Peter heard from the Son of God a bitter prediction that he would renounce Christ before the rooster crowed at dawn. Not believing these words, Peter always swore his loyalty and devotion to God.

But one day, when Christ was arrested after Judas’ betrayal, the apostle and another disciple followed the Lord all the way to the high priest’s courtyard, where they were going to interrogate the Son of God. Jesus heard many accusations against him. False witnesses beat Him and spat in His face, but Christ endured all the torment. At that moment, Peter was in the courtyard warming himself by the fire. One of the maids of the house noticed him and said that the apostle was with Jesus. The fear that gripped Peter's heart did not allow him to admit this. The apostle, fearing for his life, denied the Lord and said that he did not know this man. Another maid who saw Peter leaving confirmed that she saw him with Jesus. The apostle swore that he never knew Him. The high priest's servants who were nearby said with confidence that Peter was one of Christ's disciples, but he, in fear, continued to deny it. Hearing the crow of a cock, the saint remembered the prophetic words of the Son of God and left the house in tears, bitterly repenting of what he had done.

This biblical story is very allegorical regarding human soul. Thus, some theologians believe that Peter’s exposure by the maid is nothing more than a manifestation of the weakness of the human spirit, and the crowing of a rooster is the voice of the Lord from heaven, not allowing us to relax and helping us to constantly stay awake.

In the Theologian, Jesus Christ completely restores Peter as his disciple, asking three times about his love for God. Having received an affirmative answer three times, the Son of God instructs the apostle to henceforth shepherd “his sheep,” that is, to teach the people the Christian faith.

Transfiguration

Before Jesus Christ was arrested and then crucified on the cross, he appeared to his three disciples (Peter, James and John) in God's guise on the At that moment, the apostles also saw the prophets Moses and Elijah and heard the voice of God the Father instructing the disciples. The saints saw the Kingdom of Heaven while not yet being physically dead. After the miraculous Transfiguration, the Lord forbade his disciples to talk about what they saw. And again, the Apostle Peter was called to see the greatness of God, thereby drawing even closer to the Kingdom of Heaven.

Pass to Heaven

Apostle Peter is the keeper of the keys of the Kingdom of God. Having sinned before the Lord more than once, he became a conductor between God and people. After all, who, if not he, knew all the weakness of the human essence and was once plunged into this powerlessness. Only thanks to Christian faith and repentance was Peter able to comprehend the Truth and enter the Kingdom of God. The Lord, seeing the devotion of His disciple, allowed him to be the guardian of the Heavenly Paradise, giving him the right to admit those souls of people whom he considered worthy.

Some theologians (for example, Augustine the Blessed) are confident that the gates of Eden are guarded not only by the Apostle Peter. The keys to heaven also belong to other disciples. After all, the Lord always addressed the apostles in the person of Peter as the chief among his brothers.

After the resurrection of Christ

Jesus appeared to the chief of the apostles first after his resurrection. And after 50 days, the Holy Spirit, who visited all the disciples, endowed Peter with unprecedented spiritual strength and the opportunity to preach the word of God. On this day, the apostle was able to convert 3,000 people to the faith of Christ, delivering a fiery speech filled with love for the Lord. A few days later, by the will of God, Peter was able to heal a man from lameness. The news of this miracle spread among the Jews, after which another 5,000 people became Christians. The power that the Lord endowed Peter even came from his shadow, which, overshadowing the hopeless sick lying on the street, healed.

Dungeon Escape

During the reign of Herod Agrippa, Saint Peter was caught by persecutors of Christians and imprisoned along with the Apostle James, who was later killed. Believers in Christ continually prayed for Peter's life. The Lord heard the voice of the people, and an angel appeared in prison to Peter. The heavy shackles fell off the apostle, and he was able to leave the prison unnoticed by everyone.

Each of the students chose their own path. Peter preached in Antioch and on the Mediterranean coast, performed miracles and converted people to the Christian faith, and then went to Egypt, where he also spoke about the coming of Jesus Christ.

Death of a student

The Apostle Peter knew, by the will of God, when his death would come. At that time he was able to convert Christian faith 2 wives, which caused unprecedented anger from the ruler. Christians, who were persecuted and exterminated during that period, persuaded the apostle to leave the city in order to avoid death. Coming out of the gate, Peter met Christ himself on his way. The surprised apostle asked the son of God where He was going, and heard the answer: “To be crucified again.” At that moment, Peter realized that it was his turn to suffer for his faith and enter the Kingdom of Heaven. He humbly returned to the city and was captured by the pagans. The death of the Apostle Peter was painful - he was crucified on the cross. The only thing he managed to do was persuade the executioners to execute him upside down. Simon believed that he was not worthy to die the same death as the Messiah himself. That is why the inverted crucifix is the cross of the Apostle Peter.

Crucifixion of the Apostle

Some people confuse this symbolism with satanic movements. In anti-Christian teachings it is used precisely as a kind of mockery and disrespect for the faith of Orthodox and Catholics. In fact, the crucifixion of the Apostle Peter has nothing to do with this. As such, it is not used in worship, but has its place as a historical fact. In addition, the cross of Peter is carved on the back of the throne of the Pope, since this apostle is considered the founder catholic church. Nevertheless, the wider dissemination of this crucifix causes many disputes and disagreements among many, mostly non-believers and ignorant in church affairs. For example, when the Pope arrived on a visit to Israel with the Peter's (inverted) cross, many regarded this as his hidden affiliation with Satanism. The image of this crucifix on the epitrachelion (ecclesiastical vestment) of the head of the Catholic Church also evokes ambiguous associations among atheists who condemn the act of a disciple of Christ. Nevertheless to the common man It is impossible to fairly judge Peter, who was able to recover from human weakness and rise spiritually. Being “poor in spirit,” the Apostle Peter, whose biography is complex and multifaceted, did not dare to take the place of Christ. But, defending his faith, he dies in agony in the same way as the Son of God once did.

Petrovo Retreat

In honor of Peter Orthodox Church a period of fasting was established, starting a week after Trinity and ending on July 12 - the day of Peter and Paul. Lent proclaims the “firmness” of the Apostle Peter (his name translated means “stone”) and the prudence of the Apostle Paul. is less strict than the Great - you can eat both vegetable foods and oil, and fish (with the exception of Wednesday and Friday).

Peter, a disciple of Christ, is a great example to many lost souls who desire repentance. For those who correct their sinful lives, the Apostle Peter will definitely open the gates of Eden with the keys that the Lord commanded him to possess.

apostle at the gates of heaven

Alternative descriptions

. (died 1326) Metropolitan of All Rus'

I the Great (1672-1725) grew up. king, emperor

II (1715-30) Russian Emperor from 1727

III Fedorovich (1728-62) Russian Emperor from 1761

Male name: (Greek) strong as a rock, rock

Character by L. N. Tolstoy “The Power of Darkness”

One of the apostles

Musician name Nalich

The Tsar Who Cut a Window to Europe

Milos Forman's film "Black..."

It is this saint who is considered by Catholics to be the patron saint of fishermen

Film by Alexander Mitta “The Tale of How the Tsar... Married a Blackamoor”

A character from the opera by Russian composer I. I. Dzerzhinsky “Grigory Melekhov”

Son of Melekhov from the opera “Quiet Don” by Russian composer I. I. Dzerzhinsky

Oratorio by Russian composer A. A. Nikolaev “...Plaksin”

In the Bible - the son of Ionin and the brother of Andrei, by occupation - a fisherman, condemned to crucifixion and buried near the triumphal route in Rome

A character from the opera “The Power of the Enemy” by Russian composer A. N. Serov

Lyuba's brother from Vasily Shukshin's novel "Kalina Krasnaya"

The Tsar who founded the Kunstkamera

A character from A. N. Ostrovsky’s play “The Forest”

To which of his disciples did Jesus Christ say: “Before the rooster crows, you will deny me three times”?

Who abolished the title of Tsar in Russia?

Which Russian tsar was the first to take the title of emperor?

The king on our cigarettes

Which Russian emperor introduced a beard tax?

Russian Tsar who took Azov

His name means "stone"

Actor name Velyaminov

TV presenter name Kuleshov

Stolypin's name

Name of Academician Kapitsa

Name of the poet Vyazemsky

Tchaikovsky's name

The name of the film director Todorovsky

Russian Tsar

Male name

Character from L. N. Tolstoy’s novel “The Power of Darkness”

A character from N. Gogol’s work “The Evening on the Eve of Ivan Kupala”

Poem by A. Blok

Which Russian emperor moved the capital from Moscow to St. Petersburg?

Lieutenant Schmidt's name

The king who cut beards

Russian Emperor

The king who married the blackamoor

The king who cut through the window

Poet Vyazemsky

Musician Nalich

As a child, his mother called him Petya

The king who married his blackamoor

Royal name

. "stone" among male names

Stolypin

Apostle of Christ

First Russian Emperor

Grown-up Petya

Apostle greeting at the gates of heaven

Russian Tsar with serial number I

As a child he was Petya

Paradise gatekeeper

Who introduced the beard tax?

Great king

Who abolished the title of king?

Todorovsky

Defeated the Swedes

He married a blackamoor

Podgorodetsky's name

Actor Aleinikov

One of the Russian Tsars

A good name for a Russian guy

Keeper of the keys to the heavenly kingdom

Common name for a Russian guy

Common name for an apostle

Proshka Gromov's father

TV presenter Kuleshov

Composer Tchaikovsky

Name (Greek rock, stone)

Biblical apostle

Russian Tsar, carried out government reforms, supervised the construction of the fleet and the creation of a regular army (1672-1725)

Russian architect (12th century)

Christianity spread throughout the earth through the great labors of Christ's disciples - the apostles. They traveled around countries and continents, accepted martyrdom, giving their lives for Christ, Whom they even renounced out of cowardice during their lifetime. Among them, two stand out: the apostles Peter and Paul, called the supreme ones. Let's talk about the holy Apostle Peter - a witness to the earthly life of Christ and the keeper of the keys of heaven.

Why is Apostle Peter supreme

Peter was one of the witnesses to the earthly life of Christ, his closest disciple, but during the arrest of Christ he denied Him. And Paul at first was even a persecutor of Christ - during His earthly life he did not meet Christ. However, these two apostles are the most famous, they worked for the sake of the Lord and for the enlightenment of people, and were able to ascend to the heights of holiness, despite their previous deeds.

IN Orthodox tradition It is customary to pray to different saints in different difficulties, according to different cases. The grace to help in special areas of life is related to the miracles they performed on earth or their destiny. Likewise, the holy Apostle Peter has the grace of help in a large number of matters, because his life was varied, full of spiritual deeds and travels. His journey was longer and more extensive than that of other missionaries. It was the Apostle Peter, together with Paul, who brought Christianity to Rome and to many lands of the Roman Empire. They both ended their lives as martyrs in Rome, preaching the Cross of Christ and His teaching by their very death.

Image of the Apostle Peter

IN church books there remains a description of the appearance of the apostles Peter and Paul. They are almost always depicted together, but in the iconostasis of many churches there are their separate icons - in the second row of icons from the bottom they appear on both sides of Christ praying to Him. All icons of saints always have signatures with their names.

The images of the holy apostles Peter and Paul are the image of two men slightly older than middle age.
The Apostle Peter has a round gray beard, he usually stands on the left, the Apostle Paul has a long brown beard.
The Apostle Peter has a blue lower robe and a yellow outer robe.
Often the apostle is depicted on the icon at full height. Then he holds a scroll in his hands (as a sign of his writings, teachings) or a book of the Gospel.

Ministry of the Apostle Peter - Keeper of the Keys of Paradise

Saint Peter was the son of the fisherman Jonah, the brother of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called. At birth he was named Simon. The Apostle Andrew, whom Christ was the first to call, announced the good news (this is how the word “Gospel” is translated, in a general sense meaning the teaching of Christ) to his elder brother Simon. According to the evangelists, he became the first person to exclaim: “We have found the Messiah, whose Name is Christ!” Andrew the First-Called brought his brother to Christ, and the Lord called him a new name: Peter, or Cephas - in Greek “stone”, explaining that on him, as on a stone, the Church would be created, which hell could not defeat.

Therefore, the Apostle Peter is also called the keeper of the keys of paradise, as if the founder of the Church.

Two simple fisherman brothers, who became the first companions of Christ on His journey, accompanied the Lord until the end of his earthly life, helped Him in preaching, protected Him from the attacks of the Jews and admired His power and miracles.

Apostle Peter - denial

Ardent in character, the Apostle Peter was eager to serve Christ's teaching, however, he just as suddenly renounced Him during his arrest. The Apostle Peter was among the chosen disciples of the Lord, whom he gathered on the Mount of Olives to talk about Last Judgment and the future of humanity. He accompanied Christ and at His sunset earthly path: at the Last Supper he received Communion from the hands of Christ, then, together with the other apostles in the Garden of Gethsemane, he tried to intercede for Christ, but he was afraid and, like everyone else, disappeared. Peter was asked if he had followed Christ, and he said that he did not know Jesus at all. Seeing the death of Christ, like the other apostles, being afraid to approach His Cross, he eventually repented of his betrayal of the Lord.

During the Crucifixion, the apostles, for fear of being killed, did not approach the Cross of the Lord, except for one apostle John. However, after the Resurrection of Christ, they believed in the Divine will about the Crucifixion, death and the Kingdom of the Lord, and understood this to the end.

During the Ascension of the Lord, Apostle Peter and others received from the Lord a blessing to go and teach the Gospel to all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Holy Trinity: God the Father - Sabaoth, God the Son - Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit - the invisible Lord, visibly abiding in human history only in the form of fire, smoke or dove. The Holy Spirit descended on the apostles Peter and his brother Andrew, the Mother of God and other apostles who were in the Upper Room of Zion - the place of the Last Supper - on Pentecost, that is, in memory of the Resurrection of Christ, they celebrated the meal on the fiftieth day after it.

Enlightenment of the Apostles by the Holy Spirit

After the Descent of the Holy Spirit on them, the apostles were enlightened with Divine knowledge. God Himself spoke in them, they instantly spoke in all the languages of the world: the Lord gave them this gift to preach the Gospel throughout the world. All the disciples of Christ, together with the Mother of God, received by lot directions and places where they were supposed to convert people to Christianity by baptizing them.

The Apostle Peter founded the church in Rome and taught many people in the faith. Traveling throughout the Empire, he converted up to five thousand people at a time to Christianity, healed the sick and even raised the dead. In the book of the Acts of the Apostles it is written that in the crowd people carried the sick to the feet of the hastily passing apostle, so that at least his shadow would fall on the sick person - this is how many people were healed.

Execution and death of the Apostle Peter

Emperor Nero ordered the capture of all Christians, and the disciples begged Peter to leave Rome. But on the Appian Way Christ Himself appeared to him... Peter asked him. “Where are you going, Lord?” (“Quo vadis, Domine?”) - and Christ replied that he was going to suffer torment again. The Apostle Peter understood that it was God’s will for him to remain with the faithful Christians to the end. He was crucified on an inverted cross by the Romans - there is a legend that this happened because the holy apostle converted the wife and concubines of the emperor himself to Christianity. This episode and the martyrdom of the apostle are described in Henryk Sienkiewicz’s novel “Quo Vadis?”

The holy apostle humbly, without grumbling, accepted his lot and the will of God about him; Praying to the Lord, even today he intercedes for the requests of all people. He understood that he had to go through the same torment that he was afraid of when his Teacher, his Friend - and after all, Christ, except the apostles and His Mother, had no loved ones - abandoned by everyone, died on the Cross. Perhaps this is why only one of the apostles who remained with Christ at the time of His death, the Apostle John the Theologian, died of old age; the rest, in order to achieve holiness, atone for their sin and sit on the throne in the Kingdom of Heaven, had to testify to their loyalty to God.

According to legend, the supreme apostles were executed on the same day (or on the same day with a difference of a year), on which today all Christians celebrate their memory - July 12 (June 31, old style, on this day their memory is celebrated by the Catholic Church).

Prayer to the Apostle Peter

On this day - July 12 - the day before All-night vigil, and on the day of remembrance of the apostles Divine Liturgy, behind which special songs are sung short prayers to the saint: troparia and kontakion. They can be read online or by heart, except for memorial days, also at any difficult moment in life.

Supreme Apostles, teacher of the entire Universe, Lord of all God, ask the world of the Universe to grant our souls the great mercy of God.

The prayer to Peter and Paul, in which petitions are made first to both apostles separately, and then to each of them, can also be read online:

O holy apostles Peter and Paul, do not lose heart from us, sinful servants of God (names), so that we are not forever separated from the love of God, but through your strong intercession protect and protect us, so that the Lord will have mercy on all of us through your prayers and destroy everything our sins, recorded in Heaven and in hell, and gave His Kingdom with all the saints, so that we would forever glorify the Lord Christ, to whom belongs the glory, honor and gratitude of all people. Holy Supreme Apostle Peter, the rock of faith, standing firmly by your confession in Christ, The main stone of the Church! Pray to Him that we too, always tempted and suffering from the thoughts and lusts of the flesh, may always be strengthened by Christ Himself, the Stone of Life, and guided by His honor, love and election, so that by His grace we too may be transformed into spiritual temples, into a holy priesthood, to offer up the sacrifices of our prayerful labors to the Lord Jesus Christ.
O holy supreme Apostle Paul, chosen vessel of Christ, filled with the grace and glory of God! Ask the Creator Almighty, who rules all His creations, so that He will make us, His unfortunate and weak vessels, honest, sanctified and ready for good. Amen.

Glorification - that is, the glorification of the apostles in gratitude for their help:

We exalt you, the apostles of Christ Peter and Paul, who enlightened the whole world with your teaching, and brought all the ends of the world to Christ.

Petrov's fast - Petrov's fast

Before the day of remembrance of the holy supreme apostles, the Church blesses Christians to fast, celebrating the memory of the holy apostles as a great holiday for which one must carefully prepare, purifying oneself with prayer and fasting. This is how the only other celebrations of the year are Easter, Christmas and the Dormition - greatest holidays. The fast is called Petrov, perhaps as a sign of special respect for the Apostle Peter.

Peter's Fast is considered 50 days after Easter, immediately following the Spiritual Day (Monday after the Feast of Pentecost). Ends on July 12, the day of remembrance of the holy apostles Peter and Paul (that is, July 11 is the last day of fasting).

On fasting days you can't

Meat,
Dairy products,
Eggs,
Fish.

People exposed to bad habit smoking, the Church calls to give it up or limit it.

You can enter into fasting gradually, step by step, starting with at least abstaining from fasting on Wednesday and Friday. Those who thoughtlessly take on the ascetic feats of fasting and begin to fast strictly, either become unhealthy, or become impatient and irritable. The main rule given by the Lord Himself: do not burden your hearts with gluttony and drunkenness. Those who wish to fast can consult with a priest, telling him about their spiritual and physical condition and, of course, during fasting they need to confess and receive communion.

Shrines of the Apostle Peter

According to the testimony of scientists, the relics of both the Apostle Peter and the Apostle Paul are their remains. There are a number of anatomical details that confirm that their bodies have indeed survived to this day. His relics are in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

In Russia, the apostles Peter and Paul are especially revered in St. Petersburg. The city was entrusted by Peter the Great heavenly patron- to the Apostle Peter, and the first cathedral of the Northern capital was founded and consecrated in honor of the holy supreme apostles Peter and Paul. Now the remains of all the emperors from the Romanov family rest here (the remains of the last one are controversial Royal family, Nicholas II).

In Peterhof, a suburb of the capital beloved by Peter the Great, there is also the Peter and Paul Cathedral, built with the personal participation of Emperor Alexander III in a neo-Russian style, similar to St. Basil's Cathedral - with a tent, tiled domes and beautiful frescoed interiors.

What do they pray to the Apostle Peter for?

It is known that in the Orthodox tradition it is customary to pray to different saints in different difficulties, on different occasions. The grace to help in special areas of life is related to the miracles they performed on earth or their destiny. The Apostle Peter has the grace of help

In science, studies - students and schoolchildren, understanding of the Holy Scriptures;
In healing from ailments of body, day and spirit, deliverance from sins.
In choosing, making an important decision.

The Apostle is known for his works, therefore, according to the testimonies of businessmen, he helps those who start their own business, showing success.

Also, the Apostle Peter is considered to be the helper of fishermen and sailors, since he himself fished a lot before his apostleship.   Men named Peter turn to their patron saint for all their needs. It is known that for saints there are no unimportant prayers. The prayer to Saint Peter, if you bear that name, goes like this:

“Pray to God for me, holy Apostle of God Peter, for I diligently ask for your intercession, an assistant in everything and a prayer book for my soul.”

May the Lord protect you through the prayers of St. Peter the Apostle!

apostle greeting at the gates of heaven