Apostle · 1st century
Peter
The Holy, All-Praised Apostle Peter
New Calendar June 29 Old Calendar July 12
Why they are a saint
Peter was a foremost of the Twelve; confessed Christ as the Son of the living God; preached after Pentecost and was martyred in Rome. The years given for this life are 1st century. The Church commemorates him with the apostolic company that first carried the Gospel.
Life
Saint Peter, first called Simon, the brother of Saint Andrew, was a fisherman on the Sea of Galilee. He was married, and Christ healed his mother-in-law. He was called Cephas, or Peter, and after he confessed Jesus as the Christ, the Son of the living God, the Lord said, 'You are Peter, and on this rock I will build My Church.' With James and John he witnessed the most important miracles of the Lord's earthly life.
On the night before the Crucifixion he denied Christ three times; after the Resurrection the Lord asked him three times whether he loved Him and told him to feed His sheep. After Pentecost he preached to the crowd, worked many miracles in Christ's name, baptized Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, and escaped from prison with the help of an angel. He travelled to many places proclaiming the Gospel and wrote two Epistles.
He was put to death in Rome in the reign of Nero. According to Tradition, he asked to be crucified upside down, not feeling worthy to die as his Lord had. He is honoured with Saint Paul on June 29 as one of the leaders of the Apostles.
Sources: OCA Lives of the Saints · OCA Lives of the Saints. Retold in our own words.
Traditional patronage
The cited source names no specific patronage.
Patronage / why chosen as patron
Patron of The Church, fishermen, because he was a fisherman before following Christ.
Prayer
O holy Peter, pray to God for us.
A short general prayer to a saint, not a liturgical text. No public-domain troparion for this saint is included.