Who is St. Peter?

Saint Peter is one of the most recognized saints in Christianity. He was the earliest leader of the Christian Church and is widely regarded as the first Pope. Although his existence dates back to the first century, his legacy continues to live on even today. St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City is solely dedicated to his martyrdom. Keep reading to find out Saint Peter’s story.

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Official name: Shimon Bar Yonah

Other names: Simon, Peter, Simeon, Peter the Apostle

Birth: 1 AD

Papacy: 30 AD

Death: Between 64 to 68 AD

Burial: Vatican Hill

About: Apostle of Jesus Christ/First Pope of Rome

Peter the Apostle

Peter was Jesus' closest friend and disciple and became an apostle during his ministry. After the death of Jesus, Peter became the leader of the apostles and is often described as their spokesperson in the gospels.

Aside from his position as the most important apostle, legend has it that he held the keys of heaven and hell, which he received from Jesus Christ himself after he was made the leader of His new church. He is always mentioned first in the Bible and any other historical texts because he was the representative of the Twelve Apostles. This shows us how important St. Peter was to Christianity.

Leader of the early church

Peter was considered as one of the pillars of the early church along with James and John. After Christ's crucifixion and resurrection, Peter began to preach his own version of Christ's teachings to everyone he could find. He began assuming the position of a leader and gathered a group of followers.

He took his preachings far and wide as he set out on various missionary activities. His dedication and contribution to the teachings of Christ and the Church is why he was considered the first Pope of Rome.

Saint Peter’s Papacy & connection to Rome

It is widely held that Saint Peter was the first Pope of Rome. He is believed to have founded the first Church in Rome and laid the foundation for all future Popes to come. All Popes are generally considered as the successors of the Saint.

Historical records suggest that the Apostles Peter and Paul traveled to Antioch and then to Rome to preach the Word of God. These texts also suggest that after founding the Church in Rome, they appointed Pope Linus as their immediate successor. The chair used by Peter in Rome for all his sermons was preserved and celebrated for years to come in commemoration of him being the first Pope of Rome.

Death & burial of Saint Peter

During the reign of Emperor Nero, a widespread fire was unleashed in Rome, for which he blamed the Christians. This led to Saint Peter’s crucifixion at a site earlier known as Nero’s Circus. He requested that he be crucified with his head pointing downwards because he didn’t consider himself worthy enough to die the same way as Jesus.

After St. Peter’s death, he was buried on Vatican Hill, close to the site of his martyrdom. To honor his death, Emperor Constantine I built a church over his tomb. This church existed for over 1,200 years, after which it began crumbling, unable to be restored through reparation. However, this site continued to remain as the final resting place of the Saint.

Relics of the apostle

In the year 1950, a set of human bones were discovered under the altar of St. Peter’s Basilica, which was believed to belong to the Apostle. A few years later in 1953, excavations in Jerusalem revealed an alleged tomb of Saint Peter. It was found next to other tombs with the names Jesus, Mary, John, James, and the other Apostles. This was discredited as those names were very common at the time.

During the 1960s, the earlier relics were reexamined and found to belong to a 61-year-old male from the first century. Following this analysis, Pope Paul VI announced to the public that the bones most likely belonged to Saint Peter. These relics were presented to the public at a mass held on November 24, 2013.

St. Peter’s Tomb

Today, Saint Peter's Tomb is located in Vatican City inside St. Peter’s Basilica. It is a large and ornate structure that is said to hold the remains of Saint Peter. The tomb is located in the center of the Church beneath the High Altar.

Before St. Peter’s Basilica existed, the tomb of the Apostle rested below Old St. Peter’s Basilica. After the new Basilica was built, the tomb was preserved below the Church as part of the Vatican Necropolis. Saint Peter’s tomb is enclosed within a grand structure, visited by millions of people every year.

More about St. Peter's Tomb

Feast of the Chair of St. Peter

Saint Peter traveled around the world preaching the word of God. In Antioch and Rome, the chair that he sat on while giving his sermons became an important symbol in Christianity. Leaders of the Church decided to commemorate the contribution and martyrdom of the Apostle, by celebrating a feast day which came to be known as the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter.

Although the feast was initially celebrated on two different dates - January 18 and February 22, it was eventually decided to have just one official feast on February 22. This date is now an important one in the Roman Calendar, with celebrations taking place at the Vatican and across the globe.

More about the Feast of the Chair

Visit St. Peter’s Tomb at St. Peter's Basilica

St. Peter’s Tomb is now a popular tourist attraction. Every year millions of people pay a visit to the grand tomb of the Apostle located inside the Vatican Necropolis. This burial site can be accessed through St. Peter’s Basilica. Pay a visit to St. Peter’s Tomb as well as many other nearby Papal tombs on your visit.