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Holy glorious and all-praised supreme Apostles Peter and Paul The Holy Apostle Peter, before his Apostleship called Simon, was from Bethsaida, a Jew, the son of Jonah, the elder brother of Andrew the First-Called, was a fisherman, married (Matt. 8:14–15, 1 Cor. 9:5) and had children. In the words of St. Chrysostom was a fiery man, unbookish, simple, poor and God-fearing. Initially, he was brought to the Lord by his brother Andrei, and then - at His first glance at a simple fisherman - the Lord gave him the name Cephas in Syriac or Peter in Greek, that is, stone (John 1:40-42). But Peter remained in his usual occupations until the Savior Himself called Peter from catching fish to become one of the wise fishers of men, and Peter showed his high obedience and deep humility; became a follower of Christ (Matthew 4:18–19; Luke 5:10–11) and was an excellent disciple of the Lord. Upon the election of Peter to the number of the Apostles, the Lord visited his poor home and healed his mother-in-law from a fever (Mark 1:19-31). Among His three most chosen disciples, the Lord deigned Peter to be a witness of His Divine glory on Tabor, His Divine power at the resurrection of the daughter of Jairus (Mark 5:37) and His humiliation according to humanity in the Garden of Gethsemane. The Lord distinguished Peter, who distinguished himself from others by the simplicity of his right heart, special devotion and ardor for Jesus Christ. Peter was so zealous and zealous for Jesus Christ that more often, before, more quickly and more ardently than the other Apostles, he showed his faith and readiness for Him, and out of his great zeal, before the descent of the Holy Spirit, he often and more often than other disciples of Christ revealed his human weaknesses, which the Lord wisely exposed and corrected. So once, from among the disciples, embarrassed by the vision of the unrecognized Lord walking on the waters, Peter cried out: Lord, if You art, command me to come to You on the waters. At the command of the Lord, Peter walked on the waters. But from lack of faith he began to drown and was saved and convicted by the Lord of his lack of faith (Matthew 14:25–31). After the Savior, through His teachings and miracles, revealed Himself to the people as the Son of God, being in Caesarea Philippi or Panea, He asked the disciples: who do they say Him to be? Peter, at the inspiration of God, on behalf of all the Apostles, confessed Him as Christ, the Son of God. The Lord praised this firm confession of Peter and pointed to this confession as the corresponding meaning of his name - a stone and necessary for the Church so that the gates of hell would not prevail against it. Having praised Peter's confession, the Lord did not praise his person and did not show off his leadership before the other Apostles. The confession, regardless of the person who pronounced it, was firm and commendable, and the confessor could retreat from his words and fall. So, after his exemplary confession, Peter, contrary to the words of the Lord, out of special zeal for Him, began to reproach Him that He would not suffer, and heard from Him a strict reproof and humiliation before the disciples, which He endured with humility (Matthew 16:15-23). When many of Christ’s disciples, unable to comprehend the words of the Lord about the sacrament of St. communion, departed from Him and He said to the deceived ten: food and you want to go, Simon Peter answered: Lord, to whom are we going; verbs of the belly of the eternal imashi (John V). Despite Peter’s firm confession of Jesus Christ, the Lord especially prayed for him, so that his faith would not fail, and Peter’s readiness to suffer and die with the Lord, the Lord predicted to him that he would deny Him three times (Luke 22:32–34.) When Judas the traitor with a crowd of people came to the Garden of Gethsemane to the Heavenly Hero to betray Him to suffer. and death, Peter, out of his zeal for Jesus Christ, one of the Apostles dared to defend Him, but soon fell deeply, denying Christ three times. However, he washed his renunciation with bitter tears of repentance; the first of the Apostles entered the tomb of the Savior after His resurrection and the first of the Apostles was honored to see the Risen One (Luke 24:34). The Risen One once appeared on the Sea of ​​Tiberias. Peter, hearing about this, out of his great love for the Lord, plunged into the sea in order to quickly get closer to Jesus Christ, and the friends arrived by ship; but at the same time the Lord asked Peter three times: Do you love Me more than these, and Peter was offended by this question, with which the Lord reminded him of his recent threefold renunciation and with which once again, after His resurrection, he restored him to the Apostolic title. After the ascension of Jesus Christ, the Apostle Peter invited the assembly of Christ’s disciples to elect among the 12 Apostles, diminished by the fall of Judas, the traitor - one of those who, as the Apostle Peter said, were with us throughout the entire time when the Lord Jesus stayed and spoke with us. And so, through the congregational prayer, Matthias was chosen by lot (Acts 1:15–16). After the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles, who clothed them with Divine power to live and teach holyly, act and govern, Peter’s former zeal for Christ was completely sanctified, exalted and appeared unshakable. The grace of the Holy Spirit was revealed in powerful teaching, in miracles, signs and Peter’s constant willingness to endure everything for the name of Christ. Previously, when questioned by the bishop’s servants, he renounced Christ out of fear; now, persecuted by the Sanhedrin, he fearlessly - with great boldness - preaches the risen Christ (Acts 4:13-31), even in the face of the enemies who crucified Him and forbade preaching about Him (Acts 4:19,5:29) and rejoices, enduring beatings and desecration for the name of the Lord Jesus Christ (Acts 5:40-41). The power of the word of the Apostle Peter was so powerful that he suddenly converted three and five thousand people to Christ, and was accompanied by miraculous signs. According to the word of Peter, those convicted of crime fell dead (Acts 5:5,10); and the dead were raised (Acts 9:40); the sick were healed (Acts 9:33–34) even from the touch of one shadow of Peter passing by (Acts 5:15). However, the jealousy that distinguished Ap. Peter from the other Apostles and disciples of Christ did not give him the primacy of power, but only the primacy of honor according to the works of the Apostles. He proposed the affairs of the Church to the Council (Acts 1:15; 15:7) just like others (Acts 15:7,12–14). Matters were decided by the common voice of the Apostles and Elders with the entire Church (Acts 1:23–26; 6:2–6; 15:22–23). Ap. Paul, speaking about the Apostles, revered as pillars, puts James in first place, and then Peter and John (Gal. 2:9), and ranks himself among them (2 Cor. 11:5) and compares him with Peter (Gal. 2:7-8). The Council sent Peter to the work of ministry in the same way as other disciples of Christ (Acts 8:14); and, as at one time all the believers quarreled with Peter because he opened the door of faith to the Gentiles, thinking that the Gospel was appointed only for the circumcision (Acts 11:2); So once did Ap. Paul confronted him in person (Gal. 2:11). Thus, from the acts of Peter and the other Apostles, his primacy over them is not visible, and, therefore, it was not given to him by the Savior. If the Lord had established it, it would have been clearly revealed in the actions of St. Apostles. Peter was primarily an Apostle to the Jews (Gal.2:7). On the day of the descent of the Holy Spirit on the Apostles in the form of tongues of fire, when the people gathered and marveled at this extraordinary phenomenon, Apostle. Peter multiplied the Church of Jerusalem with his short sermon, adding about 3,000 souls to it on that day (Acts II) and soon after that - about 5,000 people (Acts III; Acts 4:4). For his preaching, he was the first to become a prisoner. His first imprisonment ended for him with a prohibition from the leaders and elders of the Jews to preach about the Risen One and threats if he did not stop teaching (Acts 3:3-37). Peter was also among those Apostles who were the first to suffer reproach and beatings for the Gospel, which they, despite the threats of the leaders of the Jews, fearlessly continued to preach (Acts V). Together with the other Apostles, Peter participated in the Council to elect deacons, so that by entrusting them with the daily distribution of needs to widows and other needy people, the Apostles could more easily preach the word of God (Acts 6:1-7). Hitherto the activities of Ap. Petra was limited to Jerusalem, where the convert Ap. came in 37 A.D. Paul was Peter's spy (Gal.1:18). After the inhabitants of Samaria accepted the word of God, around 45 A.D., when the Apostles heard that the Samaritans accepted the word of God: they sent Peter and John to them; and this was Peter's first Apostolic journey. Having testified and preached the word of the Lord in Samaria, Peter returned to Jerusalem, preaching the Gospel along the way (Acts 8:14–25) in many villages of Samaria. On his second journey from Jerusalem, Peter, visiting the Churches in Judea, Galilee and Samaria, came to the saints living in Lydda, that is, believers in Christ, where he healed Aeneas from relaxation and turned many to the Lord; was in Joppa, where he raised Tabitha, and many believed in the Lord (Acts 9:31–43); then in Caesarea Palestine or Stratonia. Here is Ap. Peter, taught by a divine vision, was the first to open the door of faith to the pagans, baptizing Cornelius, the centurion of Rome, and his household in Caesarea (Acts 10:7,11:1-18). From Caesarea, Peter arrived in Jerusalem for Easter. Here, by order of Herod, who initiated persecution against the Church of Christ, Apostle. Peter was imprisoned for the third time. Miraculously freed from prison by an Angel, Peter made his third journey. From Jerusalem he returned again to Caesarea and lived there (Acts 12:1-19). Probably St. traveled from Caesarea. Peter to preach the Gospel throughout the cities of Phenicia. Around the year 50, he arrived in Jerusalem and was present at the Apostolic Council to resolve the dispute raised by the zealots of Judaism: should Christians keep circumcision and other Old Testament rites? Ap. Peter opened the council with his speech (Acts 15:1-7). After the cathedral of St. Peter undertook his fourth Apostolic journey from Jerusalem. He went to Syria; and traveled to Antioch and other countries and cities. According to the legend of Eusebius and other writers, Peter later preached the word of salvation in Asia Minor - Cappadocia, Galatia, Pontus, Bithynia. From Bithynia Ap. Peter returned again to Antioch and, having ordained Evoda as bishop of Antioch, arrived in Ilion or Troy, for which he installed Cornelius as bishop, and returned to Jerusalem. From Jerusalem the Apostle made his fifth Apostolic journey to Egypt. From Babylon of Egypt, where the co-worker Ap. was there to preach. Peter - Mark, if the words: you are kissed by your fellow chosen one in Babylon, and my son Marco (1 Peter 5:13) are taken literally, Peter also wrote his first conciliar letter to the Jewish Christians who were in dispersion in the countries of Asia Minor. In the 4th century, when the idea of ​​​​the long-term stay of Ap. Peter in Rome, some said that under the name of Babylon Ap. Peter understood Rome, and from here he wrote his first conciliar letter. But it is not easy to believe that the Apostle, signifying the place where his epistle was written, named it allegorically. Having installed Mark as bishop of Alexandria, St. Peter returned to Jerusalem on the day of the Dormition of the Mother of God. After the Dormition of the Mother of God, St. The Apostle Peter made, it seems, his last Apostolic journey from Jerusalem. From Jerusalem he again arrived in Egypt, and from here he sailed to Britain, from Britain to Greece; was in Corinth and other Greek cities; Finally, around 67, he arrived in Rome. In Rome St. Ap. Peter with great zeal preached the faith of Christ, multiplied the number of Christians, defeated enemies and strengthened the believers. In Rome Ap. Peter exposed the deception of Simon the sorcerer, who pretended to be Christ, and converted two wives loved by Nero to Christ; from Rome around 67 A.D. Peter wrote his second conciliar letter to Christians who had converted from Jews and pagans who were in dispersion within Asia Minor. In Rome, the Supreme Ap. Peter was foretold by the Lord about the laying off of his body (2 Pet. 1:14), and this soon came true. By order of Nero, who was angry with Ap. Peter for the death of Simon the Magus and for the conversion of his beloved wives, the Apostle was crucified on June 29, 67 A.D. He asked his tormentors to crucify himself head down, wanting by this image of death to show the difference between his suffering and the suffering of his Divine Teacher. Saint Apostle Paul, who was called Saul in Hebrew before his Apostleship, was a Jew from the tribe of Benjamin, from the noble Cilician city of Tarsus (Acts 21:39), had the right of Roman citizenship given to his ancestors (Acts 22:25–29); according to the law of the Pharisee (Phil.3:5), Saul was carefully brought up in the law of his fathers, so that he was ardently zealous for God (Acts 22:3). He also had external learning (Acts 26:24,17:28. Tit.1:12), and knew the craft of making tabernacles (Acts 18:3). His upbringing was entrusted to the teacher of the law Gamaliel, respected by all the people (Acts 5:34). But at first the disciple not only did not show the inclination towards Christianity that his prudent boss had, on the contrary, Saul’s fiery zeal for Judaism inspired him with strong hatred against Christians. Even in his youth, Saul approved of the murder of Archdeacon Stephen and guarded the clothes of those who beat him (Acts 7:58,8:1,12:29). Breathing threats and murder against the disciples of the Lord, Saul tormented the Church of Christ, entering the houses of Christians, dragging men and women and handing them over to prison (Acts 8:3). He even asked the Sanhedrin for the power to persecute Christians everywhere and bring those bound to Jerusalem; He carried out the instructions of the Sanhedrin with all care. He tells about himself (Acts 11:1-28,22:3-15,26:9-18): “I thought that I should act strongly against the name of Jesus of Nazareth, and I did this in Jerusalem. Having received power from the high priests, I imprisoned many saints (i.e., Christians), and when they killed them, I gave my voice to it. And throughout all the synagogues he repeatedly tormented them and persecuted them even in foreign cities. In these thoughts (about 35 A.D.), going to Damascus with authority and commission from the high priests, in the middle of the day on the road I saw from heaven a light surpassing the radiance of the sun, which shone on me and those walking with me. We all fell to the ground, and I heard a voice to me, speaking in Hebrew: Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me? It is cruel (difficult) to eat against the pricks of the enemy. Who are you, Lord, I cried out in trepidation and horror? “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting,” answered the mysterious voice. Lord, what will you tell me to do? Arise and go into the city, and it is said that it is fitting for you to do. The people walking with him stood in a daze, hearing the voice but not seeing anyone. Saul got up from the ground and with his eyes open he saw no one.” His companions, no less amazed by the wondrous event, had to lead him by the hand; the glare of the light blinded him. Arriving in Damascus, Saul did not see anything for three days, did not take food or drink, and remained in fasting and prayer. In this city lived one of the 70 disciples of Christ, St. Apostle Ananias; The Lord, in a vision, revealed to him Saul’s dwelling and commanded him to go to him. "God! answered Ananias, I have heard from many about this man, how much evil he did to Thy saints in Jerusalem. And here he has authority from the high priests to bind all who call on Your name.” Go, the Lord said to him, for I have been chosen as a vessel to carry My name before the nations and the kings and the sons of Israel. Ananias found Saul and, laying his hands on him, said: Brother Saul! The Lord Jesus, who appeared to you, sent me so that you could receive your sight and be filled with the Holy Spirit. And immediately, as if scales fell away from Saul’s eyes, he suddenly began to see; He was immediately baptized and became, in the words of Chrysostom, from a wolf to a lamb, from thorns to grapes, from tares to wheat, from an enemy to a friend, from a blasphemer to a Theologian. Instead of persecuting the name of Christ, he began to preach in synagogues and everywhere that Jesus Christ is the Son of God, to the great surprise of everyone who knew Saul as a persecutor of Christians. Who does not recognize the supernatural right hand of God in the conversion of Saul, so unexpected and open? A persistent persecutor of Christianity suddenly becomes a tireless preacher of the Gospel! Paul's life, actions, words, epistles - everything testifies to him as a chosen vessel of the grace of Christ. Neither sorrow, nor distress, nor persecution, nor famine, nor weather, nor danger, nor sword, nor death, nor life, nor angels, nor principalities, nor powers, nor the present, nor the future, nor height, nor depth, nor any other creature could weaken in the heart of Paul the fiery love for God, even in Christ Jesus our Lord (Rom. 8:35,38-39). Saul sealed his appeal to Jesus Christ and the title of Apostle by adopting the new name Paul, which, like a treasury, hides the memory of high Christian virtues, exploits and the powerful teaching of the Apostle of Languages: “When I hear about the Apostle Paul, says St. Chrysostom, I imagine how he was in sorrows, in cramped conditions, in beatings, in prisons, in the depths (of the sea) day and night (2 Cor. 11:23–28), how he was caught up to the third heaven, heard unspeakable words in paradise (XIII, 2–4); I imagine this chosen instrument, the leader of Christ, who would like to be excommunicated from Christ for his brothers (Rom. 9:3). “A number of the saint’s deeds, when remembering his name, are revealed to the attentive mind, just like a golden chain.” On the wonderfully chosen vessel of the Lord (Acts 9:15) - St. For Apostle Paul, the grace of the Holy Spirit was poured out repeatedly and exceedingly. After joining the Church of Christ, he had many visions and revelations (2 Cor. 12:1,7). In the work of the Apostolic ministry, he made all his journeys at the attraction of the Holy Spirit (Acts 22:17–21,20:22–23; Gal.2:2). The Holy Spirit so overshadowed and controlled all the powers of the mind and will of the Apostle Paul that sometimes he forbade and did not allow the Apostle to fulfill such intentions, which he clearly and definitively suggested and was already preparing to fulfill (Acts 16:6-7). Chosen to be a witness of the Lord before all men (Acts 22:15), Paul made constant journeys to different countries to preach the Gospel to the Jews and especially to the Gentiles (Gal. 2:7–8). “To the churches of Christ in Judea,” writes the Apostle Paul, “I was not personally known, but they only heard that the one who had once persecuted them was now preaching the faith that he had previously tried to destroy, and they glorified God for me” (Gal. 1:22–24). During his incessant Apostolic wanderings, Paul wrote ΧΙV epistles, which, as St. says. Chrysostom, protect the Universal Church in the likeness of a wall built of adamant. Enlightened by the faith of Christ and having become a zealous preacher of Christianity in Damascus, from here the Apostle Paul made his first journey preaching the Gospel; he went to Arabia and soon returned to Damascus again. After Paul's three-year stay in Damascus, he had a second journey. Christians, in order to save his life from the irritated Jews, defeated by his Divinely inspired word and miracles, secretly escorted him from Damascus to Jerusalem, where he arrived in the 37th year after the Nativity of Christ to spy for the Apostle Peter (Gal. 1:18). Not knowing about Saul’s conversion, Christ’s disciples shunned him as a persecutor of Christians: the Apostle Barnabas introduced him to the Apostles and told them about his miraculous conversion to Christ and about his zealous preaching of the Gospel. From then on, Saul always dealt with them in Jerusalem (Acts 9:22–28). From Jerusalem Ap. Paul went on his third Apostolic journey - to the countries of Syria and Cilicia. From Jerusalem, due to the danger from the Greek-Jews, the brethren released him to his home city of Tarsus (Acts 9:29-30), and from here with Ap. Barnabas Paul went to Antioch in Syria, before St. Petra. Gathering with the local Church for a whole year, they acquired a considerable number of disciples here, who were the first to be called Christians. Just as Jerusalem was the mother of the Jewish Christians, so Antioch became the mother of the Gentile Churches. On the occasion of famine, Ap. Paul was sent from Antioch with alms to Jerusalem (Acts 11:25–30), and upon fulfilling the assignment he returned to Antioch (Acts 12:24). According to the sufficient approval of the Church of Antioch, Saul, at the inspiration of the Holy Spirit, guided by fasting, prayer and ordination, was released from Antioch and made his fourth journey (about 42–50 years) to preach the Gospel in various distant countries (Acts XIII, XIV). From Antioch Ap. Paul, sent by the Holy Spirit, came to Seleucia, and from there he sailed to Cyprus and traversed the entire island. In Paphos, the main city of the island, the proconsul Paul, amazed at the power of Saul's preaching over the magician Elymas or Barisus, whom he blinded with his word, believed in Christ, marveling at the teaching of the Lord: from that time on, Scripture begins to call Saul Paul. Setting out from Paphos, Paul preached the Gospel in some regions of Asia Minor, such as: in Perga - the city of Pamphylia, Antioch of Pisidia or the main city of Pisidia in Asia Minor, where the whole city gathered to listen to the word of God, which was spreading throughout the country. Persecuted by the envy of the Jews, Apostle. Around the year 45, Paul retired from Antioch to Iconium, the main city of Lycaonia, where he preached so that a great many Jews and Greeks believed in Jesus Christ. Among those who turned to Christ at this time, the first martyr Thekla is especially famous. The Apostle stayed in Iconium for quite a long time. The Lord, as a testimony to the word of His grace, performed signs and wonders with the hands of the Apostle. Persecuted here too by the enemies of Christ, Apostle. Paul went to the Lycaonian cities: Lystra and Derbe and surrounding places. In Lystra, the pagans, amazed at the miraculous healing of the lame Apostle Paul and his companion Barnabas, called them gods - Paul Mercury, because he excelled in words, and Barnabas - Jupiter, and they wanted to make a sacrifice in honor of them, so the Apostles barely persuaded the people not to do this. Persecuted in Lystra by unbelievers, the preachers of the Gospel withdrew to Derbe. Having acquired quite a few disciples here, on their way back they were again in Lystra, Iconium and Pisidian Antioch, strengthening the souls of the disciples and exhorting them to continue in the faith. Having ordained elders for each Church, they went through Pisidia to Pamphylia, then to Perga, and from there they sailed to Syrian Antioch, and thus Ap. Paul completed his fourth journey, during which the gospel spread from Jerusalem to Illyricum (Rom. 15:19). Around 50 A.D. St. Paul began his fifth Apostolic journey (50–56). On the occasion of a dispute about the observance of the ritual law, he went from Antioch to Jerusalem, and from here the Apostolic Council sent him with its determination to Antioch. After some time in Antioch, Ap. Paul said to Barnabas: “Let us go and visit the brothers in all the cities in which we have preached the Word of the Lord, and see how they live.” Having chosen a new companion - Strength, Ap. Paul went with him through Syria and Cilicia, establishing the Church (Acts XV); reached Derbe and Lystra. While visiting the Churches, the Apostles instructed the faithful to observe the definitions established by the Apostles and elders in Jerusalem. In this way the Churches were established in the faith and multiplied daily. Ap. Paul and his companion passed through Phrygia, the Galatian country, Mysia, and arrived at Troas, otherwise called Antigonia, a city in Asia. Here is Ap. Paul had a vision at night: a Macedonian appeared to him and asked: “come to Macedonia and help us.” After this vision, the Apostle writes, we decided to go to Macedonia, concluding that the Lord was calling us to preach the Gospel there. Departing from Troas, we sailed straight to Samothrace, a small island of the Archipelago, the next day to Naples, a city in Macedonia, and from there to Philippi, once the main city, and then the Roman settlement of Macedonia. But here their preaching, accompanied by the healing of one maid possessed by the spirit of divination, who brought great income to her masters through divination, subjected the preachers to beatings and chains. While in prison, the Apostles prayed around midnight and sang praises to God, while the prisoners listened to them. Suddenly there was a great earthquake, so that the foundation of the prison shook; and immediately all the doors opened and the shackles fell off everyone. This miraculous event brought freedom to the Apostles and converted the warden to Christ (Acts XVI). From Philippi they traveled to Thessalonica, the main city of Macedonia. Here their gospel was, says Ap. Paul, not in word exactly, but also in power and in the Holy Spirit and in telling many (1 Thess. 1:5), and a considerable number believed in Christ. But the Jews rebelled against the people, and the Apostles had to retire to Berea, where many also believed in the Gospel. But the Jews who came from Thessalonica to Berea and here rebelled against the Apostles and the people; then the brethren immediately released Ap. Paul to Athens. In Athens, that ancient seat of science, the Apostle was grieved in spirit, looking at the city of science, full of idols. In the Areopagus, some of the learned pagans, having heard the sermon of Ap. They laughed at Paul about the resurrection of the dead, others did not want to listen to him, but others believed (Acts XVII). Among those who believed, Dionysius the Areopagite, who was the first bishop of Athens, is famous. From Athens Ap. Paul arrived in Corinth around 52 A.D. and initially addressed his preaching to the Jews, but with vexation of spirit he preached the gospel to them, for they opposed and slandered him, and therefore he turned to the pagans. Many of them believed. Then the Lord said to Paul in a vision at night: “Do not be afraid, speak, and do not be silent.” Zane Az is seven with you; and no one would try to embitter you, and he stayed there for a year and six months, teaching the Corinthians the word of God. From Athens or Corinth, around 52 A.D., the Apostle wrote the first epistle to the Thessalonians (Acts 18:5; see 1 Thessalonians 3:6), and soon after, from the same place, the second epistle to the Thessalonians. From Corinth the Apostle traveled to Syria and reached Ephesus. Having been in Caesarea and during the Passover in Jerusalem, he returned to Antioch and thus ended his fifth journey (Acts 18:1-22). Ap. was undertaken from Antioch. Paul's sixth journey (56–63), which was as distant and long as the two preceding ones. After spending some time in Aitiochi, the Apostle of the Languages ​​set out preaching the Gospel and passed through the country of Galatia and Phrygia in order, confirming all the disciples in the faith (Acts 18:23). Having passed through the upper countries of Asia Minor, Paul arrived at Ephesus. Here the Apostle spread and confirmed the word of God for about three years (Acts 20:31). In Ephesus, he wrote, according to some, around the year 56, an epistle to the Galatians, who were converted to Christ by the preaching of St. Pavel. According to another legend, this letter was written in Rome. It is also believed that the first letter to the Corinthians (Cor. 16:5) was written from Ephesus around 57 A.D., after the first visit to Corinth (1 Cor. 16:8). In Ephesus and in Asia in general, the Word of God grew and acted so strongly that all the inhabitants of Asia heard the sermon about the Lord Jesus, both Jews and Greeks. God also performed considerable miracles with the hands of Ap. Paul, so that the handkerchiefs and towels that were on his body were placed on the sick, and their illnesses stopped and evil spirits left them. Even some of the Jewish exorcists who went through the villages began to use the name of Jesus over those possessed by evil spirits, saying: We conjure you by Jesus, whom Paul preaches, and the name of the Lord Jesus was glorified. Many of the believers came and confessed, revealing their deeds. And there were quite a few who, while engaged in secret knowledge, took books to one place and burned them in front of everyone, worth 50,000 silver drachmas. The artisans who made idols said: this Paul, not only in Ephesus, but in almost all of Asia, convinced a considerable number of people, saying that gods made by hands are not gods. We must fear that our craft will come into contempt and the church of the goddess Diana will be revered as nothing. Having heard this, they were filled with rage and caused a rebellion among the people (Acts XIX). When the rebellion was stopped by the prudence of the city scribe, Ap. Paul left Ephesus and arrived preaching the Gospel in Macedonia - in Philippi. From here, around the year 57, or about a year after the first letter, he wrote a second letter to the Corinthians and the faithful of all Achaia (2 Cor. 1:1). From Macedonia, the vigilant preacher of the Gospel, Apostle. Paul came to Corinth for the second time and stayed here for three months, teaching the believers abundant instructions (Acts 20:3). From Corinth before his last journey to Jerusalem (Rom. 15:25) and before his arrival in Rome (Rom. I, II), about 58 or a little later, Apostle. Paul wrote his letter to the Romans and after that he went to the feast of Pentecost in Jerusalem - to the mother of all Christian Churches. His path to Jerusalem from Greece was through Asia, Troas, where he resurrected a young man who fell from a window and was killed to death, through Assos, Mytilene - the main city of the island of Lesbos, Chios, Samos, Miletus, where he, having called the shepherds of the Ephesian Church, gave them his last instructions, and all the believers shed tears, grieving especially that they would no longer, as the Apostle predicted, see his face, and with prayer, tears and kisses they escorted him to the ship (Acts XX). Hence Ap. Paul walked through Rhodes, Patara and Tyre. Here the believers, under the inspiration of the Spirit, told Paul not to go to Jerusalem, escorted him out of the city and with prayer released him to Ptolemais, from where he arrived in Caesarea, where they also with tears convinced him not to go to Jerusalem. But Paul answered: “Why do you cry and touch my heart? I am ready not only to be a prisoner, but also to die in Jerusalem for the name of the Lord Jesus. The Lord's will be done." Upon arrival in Jerusalem, the brethren received Paul with joy. He told the elders in detail about everything that God had done among the Gentiles through his ministry, and they glorified God (Acts 21:20). This is how his journey was completed. Ap. Paul was in Jerusalem no more than 12 days. New seventh, long journey of St. Paul was in bonds. Slandered by the Jews in Jerusalem, that he was teaching everyone everywhere against the people and the law of the Jews and the temple of Jerusalem, the Apostle was subjected to beatings and chains (Acts 21:20–40). In a night vision, the Lord appeared to him, saying: Be of good cheer, Paul: just as you have testified about Me in Jerusalem, it is fitting for you to testify in Rome. The fox commander, wanting to save the life of the Apostle from the irritated Jews who had conspired to kill him, took Paul under guard to the governor Felix in Caesarea (Acts XXIII. 2 Tim. 4:17), before whom they accused Paul as a plague on society, calling him the instigator of rebellion between the Jews throughout the earth and the leader of the Nazirite heresy, who dared to desecrate church. In Caesarea the Apostle was kept in chains for two years (Acts XXIV). From Festus, successor of Felixov, St. Paul, although recognized as innocent, but as having demanded judgment from Caesar, was sent in chains to Rome (Acts XXV-XXVI), which he had never seen before (Rom. 1:13). While sailing in the Mediterranean Sea, the prisoner Apostle was a prophet and comforter to those floating. Upon arrival at the island of Candia, he advised the centurion to linger near the island. “I see,” he said, that further voyage will be fraught with difficulties and great disaster not only for the cargo and the ship, but also for our very lives.” But the centurion did not listen, and all those who sailed suffered a terrible shipwreck, so that there was no hope of salvation. And as those on the ship did not eat for a long time out of fear, Paul, standing in the midst of them, said: “My lords! I urge you to take heart; because not a single soul of you will perish, but only the ship. For the Angel of God, Whom I serve, appeared to me that night and said: “Do not be afraid, Paul, behold, God has given you all those who sail with you” (i.e., for your sake everyone will be saved). And so be of good cheer. We need to be thrown onto some island. Therefore, I ask you to take food; not one of you will lose a hair from his head.” Having said this and taking the bread, he thanked God in front of everyone and began to eat. Then everyone took heart and also took food. The ship actually ran aground and was broken by the rush of the waves (Acts ΧΧΥΙΙ). In Malta, where they got off the crashed ship when Ap. Paul was making a fire; a viper hung on his hand; but he suffered no harm, and the pagans said about the Apostle that he was a god. On the island, the Apostle miraculously healed a man possessed by fever by laying his hand on him. When this miracle became known, others on the island who had illnesses came and were healed. And for this, all those who arrived on the ship were honored with great honor and, upon departure, were provided with what they needed. So, the Apostle arrived as a prisoner in Rome, where he lived for two whole years and received everyone who came to him, preaching the Kingdom of God and teaching about the Lord Jesus Christ without restraint with all boldness (Acts ΧΧΥΙΙΙ). From Rome, around the year 62, the chief Apostle wrote a letter to Philemon, a citizen of the city of Colossae (Philim. IX, 22); Colossians, without seeing their Church (Col.1:4,8–9); to the Philippians (Phil.1:7,4:22); to the Ephesians (Eph.6:20) and about 63 to the Hebrews (Heb.13:23–24,10:34) in Hebrew, from which it was translated into Greek by St. Luka. Released from his first bonds in Rome, Paul made his eighth and last Apostolic Journey (63–67), during which he spread and established the teaching of the Gospel in Asia, Crete (Titus 1:5), and, according to some, even in remote places of the West - in Spain (Rom. 15:24). Around the year 66, in Philippi, he wrote the first letter to Timothy, bishop of Ephesus (1 Tim. 1:3) and from Nicopolis, a city of Macedonia, to Titus, bishop of Crete (Tit. 3:12). Finally St. Paul, who labored to free the world from the spiritual bonds of sin, arrived a second time in Rome as a prisoner, and here, while in custody, he wrote his second letter to Timothy: for the word of God does not agree (2 Tim. 2:9,4:6–8). So the broadcast went out into the whole earth and to the ends of the universe the verbs (Rom. 10:18) of the Apostles and especially the Apostle. Pavel. The incessant travels of Ap. Paul to different countries of the pagans to spread the Gospel, accompanied by the unusual power of preaching, incessant miracles, tireless labors, inexhaustible patience and high holiness of life, do not they serve as clear, indisputable evidence of Divine grace, which in an extraordinary way called Saul to be the Apostle of the Gentiles and guided him until the end of his life? The power of his preaching was so great that the Jews could not resist the power of Paul's teaching (Acts 9:22). Pagans, wanting to listen to the Divine teaching of Ap. Paul themselves were asked to preach the word of God, and the whole city gathered to listen to him (Acts 13:42–44). The Word of God through Paul's preaching quickly spread everywhere and disarmed everyone (Acts 13:49,14:1,17:4,12,18:8). His sermons were believed not only by the simple, but also by the nobles and the learned (Acts 13:12,17:34,18:8). The power of the word was accompanied by the power of miracles; at his word the magician was blinded (Acts 13:11); the sick were healed (Acts 14:10,16:18); even the handkerchiefs and towels that were on Paul’s body were carried to the sick, and their illnesses stopped and evil spirits left them (Acts 19:12). By the power of Paul's inspired word the dead were raised (Acts 20:9-12). Works of the Apostolic Ministry of St. Paul were unparalleled. He says about himself: he labored more than anyone else (1 Cor. 15:10; see 2 Cor. 11:23). To the Pastors of the Ephesian Church Apostle. Paul said: watch, remembering that for three years night and day you did not cease teaching with tears one of you (Acts 20:31). The Apostle showed inexhaustible love and patience in his tireless labors. I am free barefoot from everyone, I have enslaved everyone to myself, so that I may acquire many. I would save everyone, that I might save everyone (1 Cor. 9:9–22). Who will separate us from the love of God: be it sorrow, or distress, or persecution, or famine, or loss, or misfortune, or sword, as it is written: For for Your sake we are slain all the day long: we are counted as sheep of the slaughter. But in all these we prevail for the sake of the One who loves us (Rom. 8:36–37). For his labors, the Apostle suffered innumerable sorrows: “I was, he says, in wounds, in prison, and many times at the point of death. Five times the Jews gave me forty stripes minus one; they beat me with sticks three times; once stoned; I was shipwrecked three times and spent a night and a day in the depths of the sea. Many times I was in danger from robbers, from fellow tribesmen and from other nations, in danger in the city, in the desert, in the sea, among false brothers; in labor and in exhaustion, often in vigil, in hunger and thirst, often in fasting, in cold and in the cold. In addition to extraneous adventures, there was a daily flow of people to me, concern lay with me about all the Churches. Who is weak, with whom I would not feel weak? Whoever is offended, for whose sake I would not burn” (2 Cor. 10:23-29). Converting Jews and pagans to Christianity with the powerful preaching of the Gospel, signs and wonders, which the Lord performed with the hands of the Apostle Paul as a testimony to the word of His grace, he, like the other Apostles, led a most holy life. The Supreme Apostle endured all his needs and bitterness with deep humility and with many tears amid temptations (Acts 20:19). “Chains and disasters await me, but I, he writes, do not look at anything and sacrifice my life, just to complete with joy my way and the ministry that I received from the Lord Jesus (Acts 20:23-24); I am always ready not only to be a prisoner, but also to die for the name of the Lord Jesus” (Acts 21:13). While serving others, the Apostle did not eat anyone’s bread for nothing, but labored and labored night and day, so as not to burden anyone and to be an example of virtue for believers (2 Thess. 3:8). “You yourselves know,” said the Apostle Paul, that these hands served my needs and those that were with me. In everything I showed you that it is necessary, while working, to support the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus: It is more blessed to give than to receive (Acts 20:34-35). Despite the constant grief and shame that the lamp of the world, the Apostle Paul, endured, he saw great respect for himself in all his contemporaries, even the unbelievers and their persecutors. Of course, the very uprisings and intrigues of numerous enemies against the innocent Apostle, St. preacher of truth, peace and salvation sufficiently testify to the power and glory of the Apostle Paul. The pagans, looking at his miracles, gave him great honor (Acts 28:10). In Lystra, for the miraculous healing of a lame man, they recognized Paul as god (Acts 14:11–18). Surprised that the viper, which struck the Apostle in the hand in Malta, did not harm him, the pagans said about him that he was a god (Acts 28:3–6). A certain young woman, having a prophetic spirit, following Paul and his companions, shouted: these men are the servants of the Most High God, who proclaim to us the way of salvation (Acts 16:16-17). The name Pavlovo was used by Jewish exorcists in their spells (Acts 19:13). During the last arrival of the Apostle Paul in Jerusalem, the elders, knowing from experience the great respect for the Apostle by all the inhabitants of Jerusalem, told him: a multitude of people will surely gather if they hear that you have come (Acts 21:22). Believers with the greatest zeal protected the Apostle Paul from enemies, so as not to lose such a great lamp (Acts 9:25,30,19:30,21:12). The sick were pleased and recovered if the handkerchiefs and towels that were on Paul’s body were placed on them (Acts 19:12). Saying goodbye to him, Christians shed tears, prayed for him, threw themselves on his neck, kissed him and saw him off (Acts 20:37-38). Out of jealousy for him, some of the Corinthian Christians called themselves Paul's (1 Cor. 1:12). They say that the Apostle Paul convinced Nero’s beloved wife to accept the teachings of the faith of Christ and leave an unclean life, and for this he allegedly suffered. St. Chrysostom considers this unfair. But it is certain that the Apostle Paul sealed his great, unparalleled works of the Apostleship with his martyrdom in Rome from Nero, according to Chrysostom, for the conversion of his cupbearer, in the year 67 after the Nativity of Christ on June 29, at the same time as the Apostle Peter, and according to some legends a year after the martyrdom of the Apostle Peter, 68 years from birth. Like the Apostle Peter, the Apostle Paul was foreshadowed by God about his imminent death (2 Tim. 4:6). Peter, as a foreigner in Rome, was condemned to crucifixion, the most reviled execution among the pagans; but Paul, as a Roman citizen, was beheaded by the sword. St. John Chrysostom beautifully depicts in one of his conversations the greatness of the relics of St. The apostles Peter and Paul, who made Rome important much more than all other circumstances. “Like some great body, St. talks. Chrysostom, Rome has two bright eyes - the bodies of St. Apostles Peter and Paul. It is not so much that the sky shines, illuminated by the rays of the sun, as this city shines with these two luminaries, illuminating all the ends of the universe. What two crowns adorn this city, what golden chains encircle it. what sources does he have! I am amazed in Rome not at the abundance of gold, not at the marble columns, not at its other decorations, but at these pillars of the Church. Oh, who would let me now touch Paul’s body, cling to the tomb and see the ashes of that body, which made up for the deprivation of the sorrows of Christ, bore the wounds of the Lord Jesus and sowed the preaching of the Gospel everywhere - the ashes of the body through which Christ spoke, the light shone brighter than any lightning, the voice, terrible for demons, thundered, through which Paul spoke these longed-for words: I myself prayed that I would be excommunicated from Christ according to my brethren (Rom. 9:3) - through which he spoke before kings and was not ashamed! Thunder is not so much terrible for us as Pavlova’s voice and clothes are terrible for demons. This voice bound demons, cleansed the universe, stopped illnesses, cast out vices, established truth; – Christ Himself rested in this voice! Oh, how I would like to see the dust of these lips, through which Christ spoke great and ineffable mysteries, which cast out demons, cleansed sins, stopped the mouths of persecutors, bound the tongue of philosophers, led the universe to God, taught even the most barbarians to be wise! I would like to see the ashes of this heart, which, without sin, can be called the heart of the universe, the source of countless blessings, the beginning and element of our life! For from this heart the spirit of life was poured out into everything and was transmitted to the members of Christ not through the veins, but through good desires. It was so vast that it contained entire cities, tribes and peoples, it burned with sorrow for each of those who were dying, it suffered from birth pains for imperfect children; - a heart higher than the heavens, more spacious than the universe, more brilliant than the rays of the sun, hotter than fire, harder than a diamond! In this heart there was a stream flowing and watering not the face of the earth, but the souls of men. It lived a new life, and not this life of ours - it was the heart of Christ, the tablet of the Holy Spirit, the book of grace! I would like to see the dust of these hands that bore bonds, sent down the Spirit by laying them on and wrote letters: you see, I wrote to you with number of books with my hand (Gal. 6:11); and the dust of these eyes, which at first suffered darkening, but received their sight for the salvation of the universe, who were still worthy to see Christ in the body, looked at earthly things, but did not see earthly things; - contemplated the invisible, did not know sleep, were awake at night! - and the dust of these feet, flowing around the universe, but not bothering, - which when they were driven into the stock, the prison shook; and who walked around the inhabited and uninhabited earth and measured it several times with their feet! Oh, how I would like to see the tomb in which all these instruments of light and truth rest - members who are alive now, but in the days of Paul's earthly life - dead, crucified to the world, truly Christ's members - clothed in Christ, the dwelling of the Spirit, the holy building - members nailed down by the fear of God, bearing the wounds of Christ! The body of Paul protects Rome more reliably than any fortifications and trenches, and with it the body of Peter, whom Paul deeply revered; why grace united them and made him worthy to rest even after death with Peter under the same roof!” “But, beloved, Paul was also a man subservient to us; and he had the same nature that we have. Only he showed the greatest love for Christ, and therefore ascended above the heavens and became equal to the angels. So, let us not only marvel at him and not be amazed only at his exploits, but let us try, according to his inspiration (1 Cor. 4:16), to imitate him, so that, after departing from this life, we too may be worthy to see him and participate with him in the ineffable glory, which may God vouchsafe us all to receive through the grace and love of our Lord Jesus Christ.” Supreme Ap. Peter and Paul won martyr's crowns in Rome, where St. the relics of these great pillars of the Church of Christ. Judging by the respect that Ap. enjoyed from his contemporaries. Peter and Paul were still alive, and in accordance with the teachings and decrees of the Apostles, which instruct Christians to remember their mentors and celebrate their days (Heb. 13:7), the beginning of the celebration of the Supreme Apostles dates back to the Apostolic times of the primacy of the Church. Indeed, their tombs from the time of their repose were known to everyone. At the place of their burial, as Eusebius narrates in his history, referring to the words of Tertullian and Bishop Gaius and Kai of the 3rd century, trophies were placed, which of course were sacred places of prayer for Christians, and where later, under Constantine the Great, a new magnificent church was built on the site of the ancient one. Jerome writes: “When I was a youth and studying in Rome, with my peers I usually went on Sundays to the tombs of the Apostles and Martyrs.” From the writers of the 4th century it is also clear that in this century in honor of Ap. Peter and Paul, a church was also erected in Constantinople, and it is equally true that the holiday in honor of them in this century was already widespread in the Christian Church. The spiritual teachers of the 4th century Ambrose, Chrysostom, Augustine, Maximus of Turin and many others left to posterity their teachings that they delivered on the day of St. Peter and Paul. St. Ambrose of Milan in the 4th century on the day of Peter and Paul said: “This day is known to all of you, brethren, and most famous to the whole world, because today is the memory of the most blessed Peter and Paul. Its celebration cannot be hidden in any part of the world.” St. Gregory the Theologian in the same century, in an accusatory word against Julian, said: “they (i.e. Apostle Peter, Paul and others) are glorified with great honors and festivities.” St. Chrysostom on the day of Peter and Paul among other things talked: “What is greater than Peter? What is the same thing between Paul in deed and word? They surpassed all nature, earthly and heavenly. Bound by body, they became superior to the Angels. So, what can we say about the teachers of the higher and lower nature? I do not have a worthy word to praise those who glorified our race, enlightened the land and sea, destroyed the root of sins in the hearts of unfaithful people and planted the seeds of piety. Peter is the leader of the Apostles, Paul is the teacher of the universe and a partaker of the heavenly Powers. Peter is the bridle of the lawless Jews, Paul calls the pagans; and see the highest wisdom of the Lord, Who chose Peter from among the fishermen, Paul from among the tabernaclers. Peter is the beginning of Orthodoxy, the great clergyman of the Church, an indispensable adviser to Christians, a treasury of heavenly gifts, the chosen Apostle of the Lord; Paul is the great preacher of truth, the glory of the universe, a man in heaven and an angel on earth, the glory of the Church, an eagle soaring on high, a spiritual lyre, the organ of the Lord, the watchful helmsman of Christ's Church. Peter, with his shadow, strengthened the paralytic and freed them from death; Paul drove away sickness and the devil with his clothes.” In another conversation, St. Chrysostom said: “Didn’t Paul and Peter pass away from this life, the first being beheaded, the second suffering on the cross in the opposite way to the Lord! And isn’t that why they are especially glorified and sung throughout the entire universe?” Blessed Augustine taught on the day of Peter and Paul: “Today the Church joyfully glorifies two builders of the Christian name. For these two were chosen for the salvation of two nations; Peter for the salvation of the Jews, Paul for the salvation of the Gentiles. Peter, cultivating an ancient and unsown field in Judea, barren under the shadow of the law and hidden from the warmth of the true Sun, fertilized it with saving faith and grace. Paul is sent to the pagans to a new land, completely barren and uncultivated, so that he, a tireless worker, will cut through it with the rake of the Lord’s cross and plant new grapes of Christ in the barren field.” In another of his words, Augustine spoke on the feast of St. Peter and Paul: “on this day a celebration is being held in honor of St. The Apostles Peter and Paul, because, according to the testimony of the Roman Church, they triumphed over the devil, today they received a victorious crown. Although it is known from legend that they did not suffer at the same time, however, the memory of both is celebrated on the same day because Ap. Paul suffered a year later on the same day on which Peter was translated from the bonds of the flesh into the light of the Angels. In my opinion, the last of the Apostles was crowned on the same day on which the first was awarded the crown, for the purpose of proving that, although they were called to the Apostolic ministry at different times (Peter long before the suffering of the Lord, and Paul after His ascension), both nevertheless enjoy the same bliss, and in relation to both, the grace of God was revealed in the same way. The first was chosen from among the weak of the world, so that he might put to shame the strong, for before his Apostleship he was a fisherman; and in another sin abounded, so that grace might abound, for he persecuted the Church of God before his calling. Thus, the Enlightener of every person coming into the world, kindled two lights in Rome, the capital of nations, for the enlightenment of the peoples. In the first of them the glory of humility shines, and in the second the glory of God's mercy over criminal wickedness. The first warns us against arrogance, and the second against despair. Let us remember this, and remembering, let us not be proud of worldly greatness, nor despair of God’s mercy when our wickedness comes to our memory.” In the 6th century, the feast of St. Peter and Paul in the Church of Constantinople began to be celebrated more solemnly. Theodore the reader writes: one Roman senator, Festus, who was sent to Tsar Anastasius (491–518) on some civil matters, arrived in the capital and urged that the memory of the Supreme Apostles Peter and Paul be celebrated with special honor and reverence. Therefore, although before Festus’ request this day was a holiday, now they began to celebrate it with much greater solemnity.” In the 7th century St. Andrew of Jerusalem or Crete, in the 8th century. John of Damascus and Cosmas of Maium and many others wrote songs of praise in honor of Peter and Paul, now sung by the Church on the day of their memory. Celebrating Peter and Paul, Right. The Church glorifies them as the first thrones and universal teachers who enlightened the Western darkness; Peter - the leader of the Apostles, Paul who labored more than others; glorifies Peter's firmness and Paul's mind, and contemplates in them the image of the conversion of those who sin and those who are corrected, in Ap. Peter - the image of one who rejected the Lord and repented, in Ap. Paul is an image of someone who resisted the preaching of the Lord and then believed. † Memory of St. Peter Tsarevich, Rostov St. Peter Tsarevich is a clear example of the fact that the stay of the shepherds of the Russian Church in the horde, difficult for them, did not remain without fruit for the saint. faith 298. Rostov Bishop Kirill went to the horde to Khan Bergai for the needs of the Church. When the new khan ascended the throne, our princes and shepherds usually went to bow to him. This was the case under Bergai - he ascended the throne after his brother in 1257 299. Kindly received by Bergai, blessed. Cyril, at his request, told him about St. faith, as St. spread it. Leonty in Rostov, what miracles are performed at his relics for the glory of the name of Christ and the power of Christ. Among the listeners of the bishop’s conversation with the khan was Bergai’s young nephew, the son of his brother. The word about the faith of Christ fell on good soil - on the heart of a good young man. He was greatly amazed by what he heard about St. faith, and began to become convinced of the emptiness of his pagan religion - the worship of the sun, stars, fire. In the same year, the khan’s son fell ill, and the khan, remembering the stories of the Rostov bishop about the healings taking place at the tomb of St. Leonty, demanded Kirill to come to him to heal his son. The saint, after a warm prayer to God and the Most Holy Mother of God, begged the wonderworker Leontius to justify the cause of St. faith before the lost. Arriving at the horde, he healed the sick prince with prayer and blessed water. Generously gifted by the khan, the Rostov bishop went to his fatherland. The khan’s young nephew, during the bishop’s second stay with the khan, decided to retire with him to Rostov in order to receive St. faith. Not daring to reveal his intentions to his mother, fearing the power of his uncle, he secretly left the horde and, catching up with the bishop on the road, with tears asked to take him with him. The saint agreed. In Rostov, the prince lived in the bishop's house, went to watch the service, listened to readings and singing, and everything delighted him. Then, in the bishop’s cathedral church, says the ancient narrator, “on the left choir they sang in Greek, and on the right in Russian.” The prince asked to be baptized. The bishop was afraid that he might bring the khan's wrath to Rostov for the prince. “But enough time passed, there was no search for the prince from the horde, and the bishop baptized him with the name Peter.” The new Christian learned the Russian language, read books diligently, prayed hard, attended church services, lived purely and abstinently - staying in the bishop's house. Blazh. Kirill died, and on September 19. 1261, from the Abrahamic monastery, St. ascended to the see of Rostov. Ignatius 300. Peter continued to live under St. Ignatius in the Cathedral House. – Continuing to diligently visit the church of God and live reverently, from time to time he amused himself with falconry on the shores of Lake Nero. Once, having slowed down until night on this hunt, he fell asleep by the lake. St. appeared to him in a dream, upon awakening and in reality. Ap. Peter and Paul; in horror he fell before them, and they, picking him up, gently said: “Do not be afraid, friend Peter, we were sent to you by God, in whom you believed, and we wish that here, where you fell asleep, a church would be created in our name; tomorrow you will exchange three icons, one of the Mother of God with the Eternal Child, the other of St. Nicholas, and the third St. Demetrius, take them to the bishop and say: The Apostles Peter and Paul command that a church be built in their name at the place they indicated.” Then they gave the prince two bags, one with gold, the other with silver, and they became invisible. Blessed Peter remained in prayer until the morning at the place where the Apostles appeared to him. Then I found the three indicated icons in the city from an icon painter, exchanged them and took them to the bishop. That same night St. The Apostles appeared to Ignatius and ordered him to build a church in their name. Frightened by the tone of the orders and the appearance of them, Ignatius in the morning invited the prince to himself - then the son of the martyr Vasilko Boris 301 was the prince - and, telling him about the vision, said: “I don’t know what to do? I’m perplexed, where to build the church?” At this time they saw Peter with icons in his hands; The bishop and prince were struck with amazement, where could Peter the foreigner get such beautiful icons, while there was no icon painter in the city at that time? After listening to Peter's story, they reverently bowed to St. icons, served a prayer service in the church in front of them, made a religious procession to the place of the appearance of St. Apostles - and here, in the quickly built chapel, wonderful icons were placed. After that, in one of the conversations, the Rostov prince said to Peter: “let the bishop build you a church; and if I don’t give you space, what will you do?” “By the will of the Apostles I will buy the land,” answered Peter. The prince announced: let him place nine silver coins and a tenth gold coin side by side along the line of land that Peter needs, and, as many coins as he can get, that plot will be his property. Does Peter agree to this? “As the lord commands, I will do so,” answered Peter and told the saint about the prince’s demand. - The saint inspired Peter with hope in the Lord: “It happened, the saint said, that through the prayer of the prophet, a handful of flour was enough to feed the prophet and the widow for a whole year - the prayer of the Apostles is stronger; even if you happen to use your parents’ property, you shouldn’t regret it for God.” Blazh. Peter chose a large area on the shore of the lake; at the will of the prince they stretched a rope around the square. Peter said: “Order, prince, to dig a ditch, as happens in a horde, so that the place does not go to waste.” Then Peter began to place coins in the dug ditch, taking them out of the bags given by the Apostles; This is how he laid it along the entire length of the ditches, and the coins, to the amazement and horror of the prince and others, did not deplete. A whole cartload of coins went to the prince, who accepted them as an Apostolic blessing, and for several days generously distributed alms to the poor. - On the designated site, the Church of St. Apostles and with him a monastery of monks was founded. The prince himself remained a layman, but was silent, always occupied in his soul either with prayer or thinking about eternity. St. Ignatius and the prince, fearing that the prince might retire to the horde, invited him to enter into marriage, and Peter agreed. He chose as his bride the daughter of a Horde nobleman who settled in Rostov. St. Ignatius himself crowned him; and the prince, who fell in love with him, fraternized with him, and the saint strengthened this spiritual brotherhood with their church prayer. On the lands donated to the church and the prince, Prince. Boris issued certificates. – Peter lived in marriage for many years, was the father of children, remaining the father of all the poor and unfortunate; survived both the prince-brother († 1278) and St. Ignatius († 1288); shortly before his death, having become a widow, he became a monk, in his old age he peacefully passed over to the Lord, whom he loved, and was buried in the monastery he founded in his tomb. This was probably in 1290 302. The children of the prince-brother were called St. Peter's uncle, but their children did not want to respect this spiritual relationship and began to take away the meadows from his son Lazarus. “We heard, they said, that our parents called him uncle; our grandfather took a lot of gold and silver from him and fraternized with him in the church; but the Tatar family is not our bone, and neither he nor our parents left us any silver.” Most of all, their hostility towards the children of Peter was aroused by envy; They were jealous that those “in the horde above them receive their honor.” This is what the princes did. Vasily and Alexander Konstantinovich. Lazar complained to the horde, and the Khan's ambassador, having measured the lands according to the prince's charter. Boris, forbade insulting Petrov’s son. Blessed grandson Peter Yuri especially tried to imitate his grandfather's piety: he decorated the icon of the Mother of God with a hryvnia in the cathedral, did charity to the cathedral clergy, solemnly celebrated the Feast of the Apostles; performed a memorial service for deceased relatives. The great-grandsons of Prince Boris began to deprive him of the right to fish in the lake, since his letters spoke only about land. The Horde ambassador ordered the princes to remove water from the land, if Yuri's land, and the water theirs. When they said that this was impossible, he awarded land and water to Yuri. Under Ignatius, the son of Yuri, who died in old age, the rumor about the approach of the formidable Tsar of the Horde to Rostov scattered the princes of Rostov. Ignatius forced the bishop to go with him to meet Akhmylu and bring gifts - falcons, fur coats and refreshments. The great-grandson explained his origins from the horde and said: “This village was the purchase of our great-grandfather.” The proud Tatar kindly accepted the “royal mother” - the falcons and pardoned the city 303. When Tsarevich Peter was canonized, it is not visible from the monuments. In all likelihood, his memory has been locally honored since the end of the 15th century. In 1563, Tsar John called for his prayer help, as well as other miracle workers 304. “Your sacred tomb, O Petre, creates healings; you drive away illnesses and evil spirits.” “A sincere performer of Christ’s love, alive and after death, you turn out to be a helper to people, a healer of incurable diseases and all kinds of suffering.” “According to your great work, St. Peter, you have been granted spiritual radiance: enlighten those who are in sinful darkness, as one who has boldness before God to pray for mercy on us” 305. Life of St. Peter Tsarevich is handed over to us: a) RKP. his life, written no later than the 15th century. (in the menea of ​​Makaria); b) an icon of the saint depicting the events of his life; c) service to him. Life published in Orthodoxy. Interview 1859 I, 360–476. Karamz. 4, 113 about St. Ignatius May 28. Rkp. Life: “The lord mailed him and commanded him to wait; thinking about the quest of the youth. And in a little time, King Berke died, and the horde was in revolt, and the youth had no search, and the baptism of the saint. lord and called his name Peter and continued in the church in the teaching of the Lord. And repose Saint. Bishop Kirill." There is an error here, Berka died in 1266, 5 years after Cyril and Nikon died. l. III, 41. 45. On the chronological errors of the prologue and the dictionary of the saints. Russian Church II, 30. After the martyrdom of St. Vasilka, at first under the tutelage of his mother, then alone was the prince in Rostov, Boris Vasilyevich; he died on September 16th. 1278 Nikon. l. 3, 33. 40. 63. “And having lived many peaceful years, Peter reposed in deep old age, departing to the Lord, loving Him, and laying him with St. Apostle Peter and Paul at his sleep." See Project 204. Great-grandchildren of Prince Boris - Theodore († 1331) and Constantine († 1365) and Vasilievich. The Khan who approached Rostov is called Akhmyl in his life. – It’s unlikely that Khan Akhmyl means x. Pulad-Temir, who plundered the Bulgarians and neighboring places in 1360, and in 1366 was part of the possession of the princes of Nizhny Novgorod and Suzdal (Nikon. l. III, 218. IV, 17. Lviv. years. III, 128–136). East. Act. I, 320. – In the calendar of the charter of the 16th century. (Tolstoy I, no. 100): June. 29 "repose of St. Peter Tsarevich, Rostov Wonderworker." In Ross's description. Saints: “Holy and Reverend Peter, Tsarevich of Horde and Rostov Wonderworker, reposed in L. 6771 m. June at 29 days.” On the icon of Russian saints of the 17th century. written in monastic attire by “Rev. Peter Tsarevich." Menaion for June 1646, also service in the RCP. 1592 at Tsarskoe No. 563.