One of the most popular in the world of religion is Christianity.It appeared in the 1st century. And this event is associated with the birth and preaching the laws of God through Jesus Christ, which is considered to be the son of God and redeemer of mankind from the bondage of original sin.
having several trends and tendencies, Christianity brings together in one group more than 2.4 billion people.It affects not only the number of the faithful, but also its geographical distribution.Almost every country, every inhabited corner of the globe has a particular representation of the religion.It is not surprising that some of the church dates marked bigger than the state.One such example is the feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul.About him today and we'll talk.
Memorial Day
full title of this church dates - Day of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul.When the feast of Peter and Paul is celebrated by Orthodox Christians?We have it on July 12 to the new style.
should also be noted that, unlike many religious celebrations that are changeable calendar, the Orthodox feast of Peter and Paul is celebrated on a specific day.This church date honoring the memory of Christ's disciples, picked the day of their death.It was on 12 July, a difference of one year and Peter and Paul were martyred in the name of their faith and beliefs, which they carried to the people, hoping to sow the seeds in the hearts of people of good hope and faith in God.
first mention
When feast of Peter and Paul was celebrated for the first time?This is a fairly common question asked by believers.The first mention of it belong to the IV century.The venue was the city of Rome, where he entered the tradition of local bishops.Unfortunately, there is no reliable information on current events in those days to the present day never came.
apostles - who are they?
As you know, Peter and Paul were apostles.This concept has several meanings, but they all involve a messenger or a follower of any idea.The main association that arises in almost all the people at the mention of the word, is it the disciples of Christ, to learn from his teachings of Christianity.
Apostles accompanying Christ was only 12. They were men of different professions.All of them were from various segments of the population.Neither the city nor the occupation - nothing unites these people.Nothing but the belief in one God and his son Jesus.
sincere attitude to their work, a deep belief in the correctness of the chosen path, and the ability to convince the people around them - that's what distinguishes these people from the rest of predetermined range of Christ in the election of their own students.Brothers James and John, Bartholomew, Thomas, Philip, James the son, Matthew, Simon the Zealot, Judas Iscariot, Judas Jacob and brothers Peter and Andrew - the names of the first apostles of Christ, who comprehended the light of the future greatness of the kingdom of heaven in the life of the son of God.
Apostle Peter
Peter was one of the most beloved and close to Christ disciples.It was he who called him the Messiah and zealously served him, fulfilling all of its covenants.The name Peter, which means rock, he received from Jesus after the adoption of the new faith.
Until that moment, he was an ordinary fisherman, who wore secular name Simon, had a wife and two children.The turning point in the life of the apostle was the appearance of the Son of God, who has called him to his disciples, he reveals the miracle that Jesus Christ came to his fishing boat right on the water.And he has done it in a storm and then rebuked the raging elements.
was a time when the Messiah's favorite disciple three times disowned him after the conclusion of the prison.But this act had no effect on their future relations.After repentance, he was forgiven, but because of their faith is more than proved his further activities.
Being uneducated man, Peter is already in his first sermon turned to the true faith of more than 3 thousand. People.He had the gift to heal people and was able to anticipate many of the events.Even his death he predicted in advance, but was not afraid of it and walked along the chosen path to the end.In '67 Peter was crucified on one of the squares of Rome.
Paul
Paul, unlike most of the Apostles, was a disciple of Christ in his life.Saul was the name of Paul to the acceptance of Christianity was born in Asia Minor, was very good for that time education was one of the most zealous persecutors of Christians.It is for this reason that the way to Jesus and his faith was a long and thorny.Following
to Damascus for another massacre of Christians in the city, he was dazzled by the divine light and heard the voice of Christ, who asked him about the reasons for the persecution of his followers.Christ called him to his disciples and to further repentance.It is surprising that no light, no voice, accompanying Paul's people have not seen or heard.
After returning to the patient of one of the disciples of Christ, Paul was finally convinced in the power of God and the need to bring it up to each individual.With a good education, Paul was an excellent orator and easily find their way to the hearts of not only ordinary people but also of philosophers and scholars of his time.He, like many of the other apostles, could do great things, healing people and even raise them from the dead.
Paul first who left a written legacy of Christianity.He received a martyr's death, deprived of the head, as the laws of the Roman Empire, he, being a citizen could not be crucified on the cross.
Differences between Peter and Paul
Despite the general ideas and goals one direction, have been among the great apostles of some controversy.Paul was not a supporter of Peter's tolerance to certain habits and actions originating from the times of the Old Testament.Peter, in turn, considered some points in his remarks a few like-minded incomprehensible and indigestible.Of course, these differences were primarily due to differences in education, entailing such a different life position.
The church feast of Saints Peter and Paul, is associated with the point of martyrdom, and the pilgrimage of redemption, and it is reflected in the church services.
Folk traditions
The people holy day of Peter and Paul always special honor.On the day of his attack left the young to meet the dawn.It was believed that the sun shines on a day in a special way and can bring the beauty, strength and good luck.People believed that the water in this day can wash away sins and lighten the soul of man.But people were afraid to swim, because the water could "pick up the victim."Bathing in streams and lakes have helped farmers in their quest to purify.This day was also favorable for fishermen and farmers, who often proceeded to harvest.
