Life of the Apostle Peter executed holiness and the service of God.Due to this the usual fisherman, believed in the truth of the existence of God, it becomes an apostle of Jesus Christ.
Life before the Messiah
apostle Peter, who had no time to name Simon, was born in Palestine, in the town of Bethsaida.He had a wife and children, was engaged in fishing in the lake of Gennesaret.Simone was truly dangerous: calm water could be replaced overnight storm.Thus, the future apostle could days to fly fish, thus earning a livelihood for his family.This work brought him the will and persistence, which later proved very useful to him: after the resurrection of Jesus Christ, hungry and tired, Peter walked on the earth spaces, spreading the true faith.
The road was opened to the Lord to Simon because his brother Andrew.Fiery love for Christ lit it for the rest of his life.For his dedication and loyalty to the Lord more than all the apostles she brought him to her.
On the right hand of Christ
with the apostle Peter related to many biblical stories.One of them tells the story of how Simon and his comrades were engaged in fishing all night, but he could not catch anything.It was only in the morning when the Lord came into the boat, the future apostle, ordering re-throw fishing nets, he got a big catch.Fish was so much that the catch had to be arranged in a nearby ship his comrades.Simon was seized with horror from the unprecedented number of fish.With trembling heart, he turned to the Lord, and fell to his knees and asked him to leave the boat, believing himself unworthy it is next to Jesus Christ.But the Lord chose for himself Simon as his faithful disciple, picked it up from his knees and proclaimed not only "a fisher of fish, but also the people."Under the weight of the catch both boats began to sink, but the Lord helped fishermen pull the ship to shore.Leaving all, the man followed Christ, becoming a disciple approached along with John the Theologian, and Jacob.
Why Simon has earned a special arrangement of the Lord?
Once, while with his disciples, Christ asked them what they think of it.The apostle Peter, without hesitation, replied that he is the true Son of the Lord and the Messiah spoken of the prophet Elijah.For this recognition, Jesus Christ declared him worthy of the kingdom of heaven, gave him the keys to paradise.I do not understand these words of the Lord literally.Jesus meant that henceforth the Holy Apostles Peter and is an assistant defender of people who "lost" due to human weakness, lawlessness, but repented and reformed.Peter, a disciple of Jesus sinned more than all the apostles, but always confess their misdeeds, as evidenced by the pages of Scripture.
Once, when the Lord walked on the water, Peter wanted to get closer to his teacher and asked him to help him make the same miracle.Stepping on the sea surface, the Apostle went in the water.Suddenly, he felt the strong wind, he was afraid and began to sink, calling on the Lord to save him.Jesus rebuked Peter's lack of faith and gave him her hand, pulled out of the sea depths.Thus the Son of God delivered the apostle of death and despair, which was the result of lack of faith.
great sin
still being faithful to Jesus, the Apostle Peter by the Son of God heard the bitter prediction that he deny Christ before the cock crows at dawn.Do not believe these words, Peter always swore their loyalty and devotion to God.
But one day when, after the betrayal of Christ by Judas was arrested, the apostle, and another disciple followed the Lord to the courtyard of the high priest, where the Son of God were going to interrogate.Many accusations heard Jesus in his address.A false witness shall beat him and spat in his face, but Christ endured all suffering.At this point, Peter was in the courtyard and warming himself by the fire.One of the maids will take it home, and said that the apostle was with Jesus.The fear was overcome Peter's heart, would not allow him to admit it.Apostle, fearing for his life, denied the Lord, and said he did not know the man.Another maid who saw going out into Peter, confirmed that she had seen him with Jesus.Apostle swore that he never knew him.Is located next to the slaves of the high priest said with certainty that Peter one of the disciples of Christ, but the fear continued to deny it.Hearing the cock, he recalled the prophetic words of the holy Son of God and crying out of the house, bitterly regretting his actions.
This biblical story is very allegorical in relation to the human soul.For example, some scholars believe that Peter incrimination servant - is nothing but a manifestation of weakness of the human spirit, and the cry of a rooster - is the voice of the Lord from heaven, not allowing us to relax and helps us constantly awake.
In the Gospel of St. John the Evangelist, Jesus Christ completely restores Peter as his disciple, three times asking about his love for God.Thrice received an affirmative answer, the Son of God entrusts the Apostle continue to mouth "his sheep", that is to teach the people of the Christian faith.
Transfiguration
Before Jesus was arrested and crucified on the cross, he came to his three disciples (Peter, James and John) in the guise of God on Mount Tabor.At that moment, the apostles and prophets have seen Moses and Elijah, and heard the voice of God the Father, instructing students.We saw the holy kingdom of heaven, even without being physically dead.After a miraculous transformation Lord forbade his students to talk about what they saw.Again, the apostle Peter was called to behold the majesty of God, thus further approaching the kingdom of heaven.
Skip to heaven
apostle Peter - the keeper of the keys of the kingdom of God.Sinned before the Lord more than once, he became a conduit between God and man.After all, who, no matter how he knew all the weakness of human nature, and he was once thrown into this weakness.Only thanks to the Christian faith and repentance, Peter was able to grasp the truth and to enter into the kingdom of God.Lord, seeing his devotion student allowed him to be the guardian of the Heavenly Paradise, giving it the right to let the souls of the people he deems worthy.
Some theologians (such as St. Augustine) believe that the gates of Eden protects not only the apostle Peter.The keys to paradise also belong to other students.After all, the Lord is always addressed to the Apostles in the person of Peter as the chief among his brothers.
After Christ's resurrection
Chief of the apostles, Jesus was the first after his resurrection.And after 50 days of the Holy Spirit, who visited all the disciples, Peter gave an unprecedented spiritual power and the ability to preach the word of God.On this day, the apostle was able to draw 3000 people in the faith of Christ, saying fiery speech, performed with love for the Lord.A few days later by the will of God, Peter was able to heal people from lameness.The news of this miracle spread among the Jews, after which another 5,000 people became Christians.The power which the Lord gave Peter came even from his shadow, which, in the autumn lying on the street hopeless patients healed.
Escape from prison
During the reign of Herod Agrippa St. Peter was caught persecutors of Christians imprisoned in the prison with the apostle James, who was later killed.Believers in Christ constantly prayed for the life of Peter.The Lord heard the voice of the people, and the angel appeared to Peter in prison.Heavy shackles slept with the Apostle, and he quietly all able to leave the prison.
Each of the students chose to go his way.Peter preached in Antioch on the Mediterranean coast, performed miracles and brought people into the Christian faith, and then went to Egypt, where he also talked about the coming of Jesus Christ.
Death student
apostle Peter clearly knew the will of God, when his death.While he was able to turn to the Christian faith 2 wives of Roman Emperor Nero, which led to unprecedented anger of the ruler.Christians who are persecuted and massacred during this period, the apostle was persuaded to leave the city in order to avoid death.Coming out of the gate, Peter met on his way Christ himself.Surprised by the apostle asked the son of God, where he was going, and he heard the answer: "In order to be crucified again."At the time, Peter realized that it was his turn to suffer for the faith and enter the Kingdom of Heaven.He humbly returned to the city and was captured by pagans.The death of the Apostle Peter was excruciating - he was crucified on the cross.The only thing he could - is to persuade torturers to execute him upside down.Simon thought that is not worthy to die the same death as the Messiah himself.That is why an inverted crucifix - the cross of the apostle Peter.
Crucifixion of St.
Some confuse this with satanic symbolism currents.The anti-Christian teachings inverted cross is used as a kind of mockery and disrespect of the Orthodox and Catholic faith.In fact, the crucifixion of St. Peter does not have anything to do with this.As such, it is not used for worship, but we have to be as a historical fact.In addition, Peter Cross carved on the back of the throne of the Pope as the Apostle is considered the founder of the Catholic Church.Nevertheless, the wider distribution of this crucifixion is many, mostly unbelievers and ignorant in church matters, a lot of debate and controversy.For example, when the Pope arrives in Israel with Petrovsky (inverted) cross, many regarded it as his hidden accessory to Satanism.The image of the crucifixion on his stole (ecclesiastical robes), head of the Catholic Church also is ambiguous association atheists, condemn the act of a disciple of Christ.Nevertheless, the common man can not be fair to judge about Peter, who was able to recover from human weakness and spiritually exalted.Being "poor in spirit", the Apostle Peter, whose biography is complex and multifaceted, not dared to take the place of Christ.However, defending their faith, he dies in agony as well as once the Son of God.
Petrovo Lenten Retreat
In honor of Peter Orthodox Church was established during Lent, beginning a week after Trinity and ending July 12 - the day of Peter and Paul.Post proclaims the "hardness" of the Apostle Peter (whose name translated means "stone"), and the prudence of the Apostle Paul.Petrov post is less strict than the Great - in food can be used as plant food and oil, and fish (except Wednesdays and Fridays).
Peter, a disciple of Christ is the great example of the many misguided, but souls who wish to repent.For those who corrects his sinful life, the Apostle Peter is required to open the gates of Eden to those keys, which he commanded to possess God.
