Saint Peter facts Kids Encyclopedia Facts

Saint Peter
Apostle
Saint Peter as Pope by Rubens
Orders
Ordination	by Jesus
Personal details
Birth name	Shimon or Simeon (Simon)
Born	1 BC Bethsaida, Gaulanitis, Syria
Died	AD 67 age 68 Rome, Italy, Roman Empire
Parents	Jonah or John
Occupation	Fisherman

Peter (Greek: Πετρος, "rock") also called Simon (Kephas) Peter is one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. He is often talked about in the New Testament. Most of what we know about Peter comes from the Bible. It is not known when Peter was born. But the date of his death is about the year 64 C.E. He died by being nailed to a cross in Rome. This type of death is called crucifixion. There is a legend that says that Peter asked to be crucified upside down, as he felt unworthy to die as Jesus did. Most historical sources only say he was crucified.

The Roman Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox, Lutheran Church and Anglican Communion, consider Simon Peter a saint. Roman Catholics believe that the Pope is Peter's successor. For this reason, he is the rightful head of all other bishops. Eastern and Oriental Orthodox also recognise the Bishop of Rome as the successor to Saint Peter and the Ecumenical Patriarch sends a delegation each year to Rome to participate in the celebration of his feast. In the Ravenna doumernt of 13 October 2007 the representatives of the Eastern Orthodox Church agreed that "Rome, as the Church that 'presides in love' according to the phrase of St Ignatius of Antioch (To the Romans, Prologue), occupied the first place in the taxis (order), and that the bishop of Rome was therefore the protos (first) among the patriarchs. They disagree, however, on the interpretation of historical evidence from this era regarding the rights of the bishop of Rome as protos, a matter that was already understood in different ways in the first millennium."

The historical accuracy of the accounts of Peter's role in Rome is a matter of ongoing debate.

In art, he is often shown holding the keys to the kingdom of heaven (interpreted by Roman Catholics as the sign of his primacy over the Church), a reference to Matthew 16:19.

Peter was married according to the gospel of Mark. The name of his wife is unknown.

Pope

Christian tradition says Saint Peter was the first leader of an early apostolic community for at least 34 years. At that time the word Pope or "Papa" was not used to name the leader of the Roman Catholic Church. At that time there was only one Christian Church. Later, the Roman Catholic Church would say that Peter was their first Pope.

Tradition also locates his burial place where St. Peter's Basilica was later built, in Vatican City.

Other pages

The following people were the twelve apostles of Jesus:

• Andrew
• Bartholomew
• James of Zebedee
• James of Alphaeus
• John
• Jude Thaddeus
• Matthew
• Philip
• Simon the Zealot
• Thomas
• Judas Iscariot
• Paul became an apostle after Jesus' death and resurrection.

Images

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  Calling of Peter and Andrew, Caravaggio

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  Ruins of ancient Capernaum on north side of the Sea of Galilee

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  Saint Peter by Bartolomé Esteban Murillo (1617–1682)

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  The tears of Saint Peter, by El Greco

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  The Denial of Saint Peter, by Caravaggio

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  Church of the Primacy of St. Peter on the Sea of Galilee

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  St. Peter Preaching the Gospel in the Catacombs by Jan Styka

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  The Liberation of St. Peter from prison by an angel, by Giovanni Lanfranco

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  The Apostles Peter and Paul, detail of cupola fresco by Correggio

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  Domine quo vadis? (1602) by Annibale Carracci

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  The Crucifixion of Saint Peter (1601) by Caravaggio

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  Looking down into the confessio near the tomb of Apostle Peter, St. Peter's Basilica, Rome

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  St. Peter's Basilica, believed to be the burial site of St. Peter, seen from the River Tiber

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  Saint Peter's vision on the roof of the house

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  Statue of St. Peter in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican

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  Statue of St. Peter in the Archbasilica of St. John Lateran by Pierre-Étienne Monnot

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  Christ Handing the Keys to St Peter, by Pietro Perugino (1481–82)

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  Saint Peter by Dirck van Baburen
  

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  Icon of Saint Peter, c 1500

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  Saint Peter and the angel, by Antonio de Bellis

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  Saint Peter by Vasco Fernandes

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  St Peter painted by Francesco del Cossa

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  The key as symbol of St. Peter

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  Miraculous catch of fish

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  Saint Peter sinking on water by Eero Järnefelt

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  Medieval mosaic of Saint Peter in the Chora Church, Istanbul

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  Icon of Saint Peter and Paul

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  St. Peter, holding a key and a book, depicted in a medieval Welsh manuscript, 1390–1400

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  Jesus calling to Peter when walking on water, by François Boucher, 1766

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  An angel takes off Peter's chains by Bernardo Strozzi, 1635

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  Jesus gives Peter the keys to Heaven by Pieter Paul Rubens, 1614

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  Statue of Saint Peter Arnolfo di Cambio from the 13th century, found within St. Peter's Basilica, Rome

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  The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, by Raphael, 1515

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  Jesus calling Simon Peter and Andrew by Duccio di Buoninsegna, 1308-1311

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  Alessandro Turchi, Saint Agatha Attended by Saint Peter and an Angel in Prison

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  Fresco by Pietro Perugino in the Sistine Chapel