
Saint Peter facts for kids
Saint Peter | |
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Apostle | |
![]() Saint Peter as Pope by Rubens
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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
- John
- Jude Thaddeus
- Matthew
- Philip
- Thomas
- Judas Iscariot
- Paul became an apostle after Jesus' death and resurrection.
Images for kids
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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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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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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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Statue of St. Peter in St. Peter's Square at the Vatican
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Christ Handing the Keys to St Peter, by Pietro Perugino (1481–82)
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The key as symbol of St. Peter
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Jesus calling to Peter when walking on water, by François Boucher, 1766
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Jesus gives Peter the keys to Heaven by Pieter Paul Rubens, 1614
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The Miraculous Draught of Fishes, by Raphael, 1515
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Fresco by Pietro Perugino in the Sistine Chapel
