Icon of Saint Peter (Sinai, 5-6th c.) – S197

Description

Saint Peter was the foremost leader of the Twelve Apostles of Christ, and with Saint Paul, greatly moved the early Church from a small Galilean sect of Judaism to its worldwide mission.   Saint Peter was at first Simon, but Christ changed his name to Cephas, which is “kefa” of Aramaic origin, meaning a “rock,” or “stone.”   Christ, by this, refers to the rock of Peter’s confession that He is the Son of God,  revealed to Saint Peter directly by God the Father.

Saint Peter with SS James and John, the sons of Zebedee, were witnesses of many special revelations and experiences with their Teacher Christ.  They were with Him at the Transfiguration, apart with Him at Gethsemane, with Him when He raised up Jairus’ daughter, and saw and heard what many prophets had yearned to hear before them.  Saint Peter walked on water to come to Christ, but wavered and was saved by Him.  Eloquent in his preaching of faith, Saint Peter drew many to Christ at Pentecost and beyond.  He was a martyr in Rome, dying upside down on a cross in a.d. 64.  In this famous 5th to 6th century encaustic (wax pigmented) icon of Saint Peter, he is holding his cross and the keys to the Kingdom of God.