 |
Saint Peter |
Simon Bar Jona ("Son of the Dove") was the foremost of the 12 apostles. He was the leader of the early Church and traditonally first Bishop of Rome. He was originally known as Simon and later named Kepha or Peter (Rock) by Jesus (Mark 3:16, John 1:42). St. Peter was the leading disciple of Christ. He holds the outstanding place among the apostles, most frequent spokesman amongst them and named in first in all lists of the twelve |
|
. |
|
| After Peter's confession at Caesarea Phillipi, Christ called him the rock on which He would build His Church and said that He would give him the keys to the kingdom of Heaven (Matthew 16:18). | |
| .. | |
| About A.D. 64, in the persecution of Nero, he was crucified. Some say head downwards because he thought himself unworthy to die like his Master. | |
Saint Paul |
|
| The interpretation of Christianity and its spread into the Western World are bound up with the apostolic ministry of St. Paul. He saw the universal implications of the new faith, struggled passionately to have them
recognized and applied, and endured the most severe hardships and persecution to extend the faith of the uttermost parts of the Mediterranean world.
He was born of Hebrew parents probably about the same time as Jesus in the "not undistinguished city" of Tarsus in Cilica. He had two names: Saul, the Hebrew name, which his parents gave him and Paul, the Gentile name. At the age of 14, he was sent to Jerusalem to study the law under Gamalie, the grandson of Hillel and one of the greatest Rabbis of his time. |
|
. |
|
| Paul's conversion to Christianity took place while he was on his way to Damascus to arrest some Christians and take them to Jerusalem for judgment. It is described three times in the Acts (9:1-19, 22:5-16 and 26:11-20). In the heat of the noonday sun, he saw a brilliant flash and heard a voice "Saul, Saul, why do you persecute me?...I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting." Jesus told him he must proclaim the Christian gospel. The experience left Paul physically blind. He was baptised when his sight was restored. | |
| To mark the 2000th anniversary of St. Paul's birth, Pope Benedict XVI has declared June 2008 to June 2009 as Year of St. Paul. | |
 |
 |
