Troparion to Saints Peter and Paul. Troparion to Peter and Paul, the chief apostles

Before becoming an apostle, he was a fisherman, then, together with his brother, the Apostle Andrew, he was the first to be called by the Lord to become a disciple. When the high priests took Jesus into custody, he renounced the Lord, but atoned for his sin with tearful repentance and, having confessed his faith and love for Christ, was honored to become the foundation of the entire Christian Church. He had various grace-filled gifts - he healed the lame, the paralytic, raised the dead, and cast out demons in the name of Jesus. He suffered martyrdom in Rome. They pray to the Apostle Peter for the well-being of the church, for the increase of faith in the face of lack of faith, during temptations and persecutions, for the admonition and conversion of non-Christians and those of little faith, for the return to the fold of the Church of people who have fallen into sects, for help in studies, for healing from various ailments, for example, in case of fever ( flu), about assistance in fishing and fish farming.

Apostle Peter. Icon, 16th century

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Troparion to the Apostle Peter (and Paul), tone 4

The first throne of the apostles, and the universal teacher, pray to the Lord of all, to grant greater peace to the universe, and great mercy to our souls.

Kontakion to the Apostle Peter (and Paul), tone 2:

Firm and divinely preached preachers, the top of Thy apostles, O Lord, Thou hast accepted into the enjoyment of Thy good things and peace; You have suffered from illness and death even if you were the same as all barrenness. One knowledgeable heart.

Prayer to the Apostle Peter

O Saint Peter, great apostle, self-witness and co-secret of God, by the omnipotent right hand of your Teacher received from the troubled waters and freed from the final drowning! Don’t forget us poor ones too ( names), in the mud of the most sinful and overwhelmed by the waves of the sea of ​​\u200b\u200blife: give us your strong hand, help us and keep us from drowning in passions, lusts, lies and slander. Do with us the mercy shown to you by the Lord, so that we do not give in to doubt and lack of faith. Teach us, our teacher, to shed tears of repentance, so that we weep bitterly for our deeds in this world. And if your tears, poured out in repentance, are covered by His mercy, the Lord and your Teacher, ask for us, with apostolic boldness, forgiveness for our hourly sin. Let us live a quiet and silent life in this world until the hour when the Lord, our impartial Judge, may call us to the age. But you, O all-praised apostle, do not reject our cry and groaning to you, but intercede for us before Christ, your Teacher, so that we may continually glorify His mercy towards us, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

Personal petition to the Apostle Peter

O holy great Apostle Peter! Do not reject me, your servant (name) and my groaning towards you. Look at me, who am in sickness and sorrow, ask Christ, your Teacher, ( contents of the petition), may we continually glorify His mercy towards us, together with the Father and the Holy Spirit, forever and ever. Amen.

After the Lord’s visit, from a persecutor of Christians he became a fiery preacher of the Christian faith. Converted many pagans, healed many sick people, founded many churches throughout the Mediterranean. Fourteen of his epistles were included in the New Testament. In them, the Apostle Paul shows examples of truly pastoral care for his spiritual children, love for them and concern for their salvation. More than once he suffered torment for the Word of God and was imprisoned. He suffered martyrdom in Rome.

The Apostle Paul, like the Apostle Peter, worked hard in spreading the faith of Christ and is rightly revered along with him as a “pillar” of the Church of Christ and the supreme apostle. They both died as martyrs in Rome under Emperor Nero, and their memory is celebrated on the same day.

They pray to the Apostle Paul for standing firmly in the faith, for the conversion of unbelievers and the increase of faith, for good shepherding, for love between shepherds and their flock, for understanding the Word of God and the essence of faith, for help in studies. They pray to the Apostle Paul for the admonition and conversion to Christ of non-Christians and people of little faith, for the return to the fold of the Church of people who have fallen into sects.

They pray to the Apostle Paul in illness, demonic possession and demonic attacks: “God performed many miracles by the hands of Paul, so that handkerchiefs and aprons from his body were placed on the sick, and their illnesses ceased, and evil spirits came out of them” (Acts 19). :11-12), and also ask for help in healing from injuries: “During a long conversation with Pavlova, one young man named Eutychus, who was sitting on the window, became immersed in deep sleep and, staggering, sleepily fell down from the third dwelling, and was raised dead. Paul came down and fell on him and embraced him and said, “Do not be alarmed, for his soul is in him.” Having gone up and broken the bread and eaten, he talked quite a bit, even until dawn, and then went out. Meanwhile they brought the lad alive, and they were greatly comforted" (Acts 20:9-12).

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Troparion to the Holy Apostle Paul (and Apostle Peter), tone 4

The first throne of the apostles, and the universal teacher, pray to the Lord of all; grant greater peace to the universe, and great mercy to our souls.

Chief Apostles Peter and Paul

Kontakion to the Holy Apostle Paul (and the Apostle Peter), tone 2

Firm and divinely preached preachers, the top of Thy apostles, O Lord, Thou hast accepted into the enjoyment of Thy good things and peace; You have accepted illness and death more than any fruitfulness, the only one who knows the heart.

Prayer to Saint Apostle Paul

O holy supreme Apostle Paul, the chosen vessel of Christ, the teller of heavenly mysteries, the teacher of all languages, the church trumpet, the notorious orbit, who endured many troubles for the name of Christ, who measured the sea and walked the earth and turned us from the flattery of idols! I pray to you and cry to you: do not disdain my foul (name), raise up the one who has fallen through sinful laziness, just as you raised the temple in Lystra from your mother’s womb; and just as Eutychus, who was dead, was revived, raise me also from dead deeds; and just as with your prayer you once shook the foundation of the prison and you allowed the prisoners to do the will of God. For all you can do by the authority given to you from Christ God, to whom all glory, honor and worship is due, with His Beginning Father, and with His Most Holy and Good and Life-Giving Spirit, now and ever and unto the ages of ages. Amen.

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Akathist to the apostles Peter and Paul:

Hagiographic and scientific-historical literature about the Apostle Paul:

• Life and personality of the Apostle Paul- Archbishop Averky Taushev
• First Epistle to the Corinthians- Archbishop Averky Taushev
• Second Epistle to the Corinthians- Archbishop Averky Taushev
• Apostle Paul- Pravoslavie.Ru
• Apostles Peter and Paul: two dissimilar apostles- Andrey Desnitsky
• Sermon on the Feast of the Apostles Peter and Paul- Hieromonk Simeon Tomachinsky
• The first letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. Part 1- God's Law
• The first letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. Part 2- God's Law
• The first letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. Part 3- God's Law
• The first letter of the Apostle Paul to the Corinthians. Part 4- God's Law

The Apostles of the First Throne, / and the universal teacher, / Pray to the Lord of all /
grant peace to the universe / and great mercy to our souls.

Troparion to Peter (worship of the honorable chains of An. Peter)

Do not leave Rome, you came to us with the honorable chains that you wore, the apostles on the throne. /Whom we worship by faith, we pray: /with your prayers to God/
grant us great mercy.

Appendix to the article: holiday of the Kasperov Icon Mother of God.

The Kasperovskaya Icon of the Mother of God is a miraculous image revered by the entire south of Russia, the main shrine of the Assumption Cathedral in the city of Odessa.
As the legend tells, the icon was brought from Transylvania to Russia in the XYI century. In 1809, Juliania Kasperova, the owner of the village of Novaya Ivanovka, not far from Chersonesus, received it as a blessing from her parents. In February 1840, during prayer, Juliana saw that the greatly darkened icon had become light, that is, renewed in a supernatural way. A series of healings followed from the newly appeared miraculous face of the Mother of God, and she was placed in the St. Nicholas Church in the village of Kasperovka.

On September 26 / October 9, 1855, during the Crimean military campaign, enemy ships appeared off the coast of Odessa and intended to shell the city. At first glance, Odessa was doomed, however, at the request of the residents, prayers were tirelessly performed in front of the icon for a week, and on the day of the Feast of the Intercession of the Mother of God, the enemy fleet left Odessa without firing a single shot. It is also mentioned that there was a certain appearance of the Mother of God, who said that if you bring the icon to Sevastopol and perform a prayer service with it and religious procession, then the city will also be saved, but the authorities did not listen to these words. The result was a shameful defeat..... The commander-in-chief of all land and naval forces in Crimea, Prince Alexander Sergeevich Menshikov, was called “Treasoners” by the sailors, and knowledgeable people directly stated that “his Serene Highness is a Voltairian and an old Mason.” A participant in the defense of Sevastopol, P. Kislinsky, told “Seraphim’s servant” N. Motovilov after the war: “Once I was with His Serene Highness... The adjutant reports that a messenger has appeared from the Archbishop of Kherson Innocent...

The Bishop sent to report to your Lordship that he arrived at Sevastopol with Miraculous icon Kasperovskaya Mother of God and ordered to ask to meet her as it should be, at the gates of Sevastopol. The Lord ordered to say: behold, the Queen of Heaven is coming to save Sevastopol.

What, what? What did you say? Repeat!

Behold, the Queen of Heaven is coming to save Sevastopol!

A! So tell the archbishop that he bothered the Queen of Heaven in vain - we can manage without Her!”

Under Archbishop Innokenty (Borisov), it was decided “to make this event unforgettable as a lesson to posterity” and to celebrate October 1/14. The icon was recognized by the Holy Synod as miraculous after investigating a number of miracles that glorified it in 1840.

The celebration of the Kasperovskaya Icon of the Mother of God takes place on July 12 (June 29, old style), October 14 (October 1, old style) and on Wednesday of Bright Week.

Events of the day.

The day before I was on duty, that is, on all-night vigil I was only mentally listening to what was coming from the temple. It is interesting that although Father Victor was present in the church, he did not participate in the service. Unlike previous years, the all-night vigil was without litia. However, the proverbs were read, although one tried to look into the temple to listen to them. it turned out to be useless, because the local reader Sergius, who was reading them, read them literally under his breath, moreover, very quickly, in a tongue twister, rather to comply with the ritual, so that I did not understand a single word...

Proverbs

(Excerpts from the Council Epistle of the Apostle Peter).

1 Particularly interesting are the words “the temptations of your faith are better than the gold that perishes...”, “will turn into praise and honor and glory...”. And we lose heart at every tribulation).:Brotherhood, blessed is the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who, according to his many mercy, begat us into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, for an inheritance incorruptible and undefiled and unfading, reserved in heaven for your sake, who were kept by the power of God by faith, ready for salvation to appear at the last time. Rejoice in it, for it is little now, even though it is worthless, having been sorrowful in various adversities: Yes, the temptation of your faith, which is more honorable than gold, perishing, but tempted by fire, will be found in praise and honor and glory, in the revelation of Jesus Christ, even though you have not seen Him, you love him, and in the Unworthy Now, not seeing, but believing, you rejoice with unspeakable and glorified joy, accepting the end of your faith, the salvation of souls.

2.: Beloved, having your thoughts girded about your loins, sober, trust fully in the grace brought to you by the revelation of Jesus Christ. As children of obedience, you are not transformed first by ignorance of your lust, but according to the Holy One who called you, you yourself will be holy in all your life. It is written beforehand: Be holy, for I am Holy. And if you call the Father unfeignedly judging everyone according to their case, live with the fear of your life, knowing that the faithful fathers did not get rid of your vain life with corrupted silver or gold, but with the honest blood of a lamb, the immaculate and most pure Christ.

3(Very useful words about obedience to authorities, especially useful topics, who loves to fire at the authorities with or without reason, calling to “drive out such rulers”): Beloved, I pray as strangers and strangers, get rid of carnal lusts, even as they wage war on the soul; like evildoers, having seen good deeds, they will glorify God on the day of visitation. Submit yourselves therefore to every human creation of the Lord for the sake of: whether to a king, as if he is predominant; or else to a prince, as if sent from Him, for vengeance as a villain, or for praise as a doer of good. As it is the will of God, it is for those who do good to curb the ignorance of insane people: as if you are free, and not as a cover for those who have evil, freedom, but as servants of God. Honor everyone, love brotherhood, fear God, honor the king. Rabbi, obey your rulers in every way, not only the good and meek, but also the obstinate. This is what is pleasing before God, if for the sake of God’s conscience someone endures sorrow, suffering without righteousness. What kind of praise is there if you endure torment when you sin? But if you do good and endure suffering, this is pleasing in the sight of God, for this you are called quickly: Christ also suffered for us, leave us an image, so that we may follow His footsteps: He who committed no sin, lest flattery be found in His mouth: He who is reproached We did not reproach against the contrary, we did not forbear suffering, but we handed over to him who judges righteously: You Himself bore our sins in Your body on the tree, so that having passed away from sin, we may live in righteousness.

Gospel at the All-Night Vigil: 1 After this, Jesus again appeared to His disciples at the Sea of ​​Tiberias. And thus he appeared: 2 Simon Peter, and Thomas, who is called the Twin, and Nathanael of Cana of Galilee, and the sons of Zebedee, and two others of His disciples were together.

3 Simon Peter said to them, “I’m going fishing.” They say to him: you and I are going too. They went and immediately got into the boat, and did not catch anything that night.

4 And when morning had already come, Jesus stood on the shore; but the disciples did not know that it was Jesus.

5 Jesus says to them: Children! do you have any food? They answered Him: no.

6 He said to them, “Cast the net on the right side of the boat, and you will catch it.” They threw it in and couldn't get it out. networks from a lot of fish.

7 Then the disciple whom Jesus loved said to Peter, “This is the Lord.” Simon Peter, hearing that it was the Lord, girded himself with clothing - for he was naked - and threw himself into the sea.

8 And the other disciples came in a boat, for they were not far from the land, about two hundred cubits, dragging a net with fish.

9 When they came to the ground, they saw a fire laid out and fish and bread lying on it.

10 Jesus says to them, Bring the fish that you have now caught.

11 Simon Peter went and brought down to the ground a net filled with large fish, of which there were one hundred fifty three; and with such a multitude the network did not break through.

12 Jesus saith unto them, Come, dine. None of the disciples dared to ask Him: Who are you? knowing that it is the Lord.

13 Jesus comes and takes the bread and gives them fish also.

14 This was the third time Jesus appeared to His disciples after His resurrection from the dead.

15 While they were dining, Jesus said to Simon Peter: Simon the Jonah! Do you love Me more than they? Peter Jesus saith unto him, Feed my lambs.

16 Another time he said to him: Simon the Jonah! do you love me? Peter says to Him: Yes, Lord! You know that I love You. Jesus He says to him: Feed My sheep.

17 He said to him the third time: Simon the Jonah! do you love me? Peter was saddened that he asked him for the third time: Do you love Me? and said to Him: Lord! You know everything; You know that I love You. Jesus says to him: Feed My sheep.

18 Truly, truly, I say to you, when you were young, you girded yourself and went where you wanted; A

Troparion to Peter and Paul, Chief Apostles:

Troparion

Peter and Paul, the chief Apostles:

The Mother Apostles, / and the universal teacher, / pray to the Lord of all / to grant greater peace to the universe / and great mercy to our souls

Apostle Peter

The Apostle Peter, formerly called Simon, was the son of the fisherman Jonah from Bethsaida of Galilee and the brother of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called, who led him to Christ. Saint Peter was married and had a house in Capernaum. Called by Christ the Savior to fish on Lake Gennesaret, he always expressed special devotion and determination, for which he was awarded a special approach to the Lord along with the apostles James and John the Theologian.

Strong and fiery in spirit, he naturally took an influential place in the ranks of Christ's apostles. He was the first to decisively confess the Lord Jesus Christ as the Christ, that is, the Messiah, and for this he was awarded the name Stone (Peter). On this stone of Peter’s faith, the Lord promised to create His Church, which the gates of hell will not overcome.

The Apostle Peter washed his three-fold denial of the Lord on the eve of His crucifixion with bitter tears of repentance, as a result of which after His resurrection the Lord again restored him to apostolic dignity, three times, according to the number of denials, entrusting him with shepherding His lambs and sheep. According to legend, every morning at the sound of a rooster, the Apostle Peter remembered his cowardly renunciation of Christ and began to cry bitterly.

Apostle Peter the first contributed to the spread and establishment of the Church of Christ after the descent of the Holy Spirit, making a strong speech to the people on the day of Pentecost and converting 3,000 souls to Christ. Some time later, having healed a man lame from birth, with a second sermon he converted another 5,000 Jews to the faith. The spiritual power emanating from the Apostle Peter was so strong that even his shadow, overshadowing the sick lying on the street, healed them (Acts 5:15). The book of Acts 1 through 12 tells the story of his apostolic work.

The grandson of Herod the Great, Herod Agrippa the First, in 42 after R. X. launched a persecution against Christians. He killed the Apostle Joakov of Zebedee and imprisoned the Apostle Peter. Christians, foreseeing the execution of the Apostle Peter, fervently prayed for him. At night, a miracle happened: an Angel of God came to Peter in prison, the chains fell off Peter, and he left the prison unhindered, unnoticed by anyone. After this miraculous liberation, the book of Acts mentions it only once more when talking about the Apostolic Council.

Other information about him is preserved only in church traditions. It is known that he preached the Gospel along the shores of the Mediterranean Sea, in Antioch (where he ordained Apostle Euodia). The Apostle Peter preached in Asia Minor to Jews and proselytes (pagans converted to Judaism), then in Egypt, where he ordained Mark as the first bishop of the Alexandrian Church. From here he moved to Greece (Achaia) and preached in Corinth, then preached in Rome, Spain, Carthage and Britain. According to legend, the Apostle Mark wrote his Gospel for Roman Christians from the words of the Apostle Peter. Among the New Testament holy books there are two Council (district) epistles of the Apostle Peter. The First Council Epistle of the Apostle Peter is addressed to “the aliens scattered in Pontus, Galatia, Cappadocia, Asia and Bethany” - the provinces of Asia Minor. The reason for writing was the desire of the Apostle Peter to confirm his brothers when troubles arose in these communities and persecutions that befell them from the enemies of the Cross of Christ. Internal enemies also appeared among Christians in the form of false teachers. Taking advantage of the absence of the Apostle Paul, they began to distort his teaching about Christian freedom and patronize all moral laxity.

The Second Council Epistle was written to the same Christians of Asia Minor. In this second letter, the Apostle Peter warns believers with particular force against depraved false teachers. These false teachings are similar to those denounced by the Apostle Paul in his epistles to Timothy and Titus, as well as by the Apostle Jude in his Council Epistle. The false teachings of heretics threatened the faith and morals of Christians. At that time, Gnostic heresies began to spread rapidly, absorbing elements of Judaism, Christianity and various pagan teachings. This message was written shortly before the martyrdom of the Apostle Peter: “I know that I must soon leave my temple (body), just as our Lord Jesus Christ revealed to me.”

Towards the end of his life, the Apostle Peter again arrived in Rome, where he suffered martyrdom in 67 by crucifixion upside down. This event is artistically described by Henryk Sienkiewicz in the book “You Are Coming, O Lord.”

Apostle Paul

Saint Paul, who originally bore the Hebrew name Saul, belonged to the tribe of Benjamin and was born in the Cilician city of Tarsus (in Asia Minor), which was then famous for its Greek academy and the education of its inhabitants. As a native of this city, descended from Jews, who came out of slavery to Roman citizens, Paul had the rights of a Roman citizen. In Tarsus, Paul received his first education and probably became acquainted with pagan culture there, for traces of acquaintance with pagan writers are clearly visible in his speeches and letters.

He received his subsequent education in Jerusalem, at the then famous rabbinical academy from the famous teacher Gamaliel, who was considered an expert in the Law and, despite belonging to the Pharisees, was a free-thinker and lover of Greek wisdom. Here, according to the custom among the Jews, young Saul learned the art of making tents, which later helped him earn money to live by his own labor.

Young Saul, apparently, was preparing for the position of rabbi (religious mentor), and therefore, immediately after completing his upbringing and education, he showed himself to be a strong zealot for the Pharisaic traditions and persecutors of the faith of Christ. Perhaps by appointment of the Sanhedrin, he witnessed the death of the first martyr Stephen, and then received the power to officially persecute Christians even outside Palestine in Damascus.

The Lord, who saw in him “a chosen vessel for Himself,” miraculously called him to apostolic service on the way to Damascus. While traveling, Saul was struck by a bright light that caused him to fall blind to the ground. A voice came from the light: “Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting Me?” To Saul’s question: “Who are you?” - The Lord answered: “I am Jesus, whom you are persecuting.” The Lord commanded Saul to go to Damascus, where he would be told what to do next. Saul's companions heard the voice of Christ, but did not see the light. Brought by the hand to Damascus, the blind Saul was taught faith and on the third day baptized by Ananias. At the moment of immersion in the water, Saul received his sight. From that time on, he became a zealous preacher of the previously persecuted teaching. He went to Arabia for a while, and then returned to Damascus again to preach about Christ.

The rage of the Jews, outraged by his conversion to Christ, forced him to flee to Jerusalem, where he joined the community of believers and met the apostles. Due to an attempt by the Hellenists to kill him, he went to his hometown of Tarsus. From here, around the year 43, he was called by Barnabas to Antioch to preach, and then traveled with him to Jerusalem, where he brought help to those in need.

Soon after returning from Jerusalem - at the command of the Holy Spirit - Saul, together with Barnabas, set off on his first apostolic journey, which lasted from 45 to 51 years. The apostles traversed the entire island of Cyprus, and from that time on, Saul, who converted the proconsul Sergius Paulus to the faith, was already called Paul. During this time of the missionary journey of Paul and Barnabas, Christian communities were founded in the cities of Asia Minor: Antioch of Pisidia, Iconium, Lystra and Derbe. In the year 51, Saint Paul took part in the Apostolic Council in Jerusalem, where he ardently rebelled against the need for pagans who became Christians to observe the rites of the Mosaic Law.

Returning to Antioch, the Apostle Paul, accompanied by Silas, undertook his second apostolic journey. He first visited the churches he had previously founded in Asia Minor, and then moved to Macedonia, where he founded communities in Philippi, Thessaloniki and Beria. In Lystra, Saint Paul acquired his beloved disciple Timothy, and from Troas he continued his journey with the Evangelist Luke, who joined them. From Macedonia, Saint Paul moved to Greece, where he preached in Athens and Corinth, staying in the latter for a year and a half. From here he sent two messages to Thessalonians. The second journey lasted from 51 to 54. Then Saint Paul went to Jerusalem, visiting Ephesus and Caesarea along the way, and from Jerusalem he arrived in Antioch.

After a short stay in Antioch, the Apostle Paul undertook his third apostolic journey (56-58), visiting first, according to his custom, the previously founded churches of Asia Minor, and then stopped in Ephesus, where for two years he preached daily at the school of Tyrannus. From here he wrote his letter to the Galatians (regarding the strengthening of the Judaizing party there) and his first letter to the Corinthians (regarding the unrest that arose there and in response to the Corinthians' letter to him). The popular uprising raised by the silversmith Demetrius against Paul forced the apostle to leave Ephesus, and he went to Macedonia and then to Jerusalem.

In Jerusalem, due to a popular revolt against him, the Apostle Paul was taken into custody by the Roman authorities and found himself in captivity, first under the proconsul Felix, and then under the proconsul Festus, who replaced him. This happened in 59, and two years later the Apostle Paul, as a Roman citizen, at his request, was sent to Rome to be judged by Caesar. Having been shipwrecked near Fr. Malta, the apostle only reached Rome in the summer of 62, where he enjoyed great leniency from the Roman authorities and preached freely. From Rome, the Apostle Paul wrote his epistles to the Philippians (with gratitude for the monetary allowance sent to him with Epaphroditus), to the Colossians, to the Ephesians and to Philemon, a resident of Colossae (regarding the slave Onesimus who fled from him). All three of these messages were written in 63 and sent with Tychicus. A letter to the Palestinian Jews was soon written from Rome.

The further fate of the Apostle Paul is not exactly known. Some believe that he remained in Rome and, by order of Nero, was martyred in 64. But there is reason to believe that after two years of imprisonment and defending his case before the Senate and the Emperor, the Apostle Paul was released and again traveled to the East. Indications of this can be found in his “pastoral letters” - to Timothy and Titus. Having stayed for a long time on the island of Crete, he left his disciple Titus there to ordain elders in all cities, which testifies to his ordination of Titus as bishop of the Cretan Church. Later in his letter to Titus, the Apostle Paul instructs him on how to carry out the duties of a bishop. From the same message it is clear that he intended to spend that winter in Nikopol, near his native Tarsus.

In the spring of 65, he visited the rest of the churches of Asia Minor and left the sick Trophimus in Miletus, because of whom there was an indignation against the apostle in Jerusalem, which led to his first imprisonment. It is unknown whether the Apostle Paul passed through Ephesus, since he said that the elders of Ephesus would no longer see his face, but he apparently at that time ordained Timothy as a bishop for Ephesus. Then the apostle passed through Troas and reached Macedonia. There he heard about the rise of false teachings in Ephesus and wrote his first letter to Timothy. After spending some time in Corinth and meeting the Apostle Peter on the way, Paul continued with him through Dalmatia and Italy, reached Rome, where he left the Apostle Peter, and in 66 he himself went further to the west, probably reaching Spain.

After returning to Rome, he was again imprisoned, where he remained until his death. There is a legend that after returning to Rome, he even preached at the court of Emperor Nero and converted his beloved concubine to faith in Christ. For this he was put on trial, and although by the grace of God he was delivered, in his own words, from the jaws of lions, that is, from being eaten by animals in the circus, he was nevertheless imprisoned.

After a nine-month imprisonment, he was beheaded with the sword, as a Roman citizen, near Rome in 67 after R. X., in the 12th year of the reign of Nero.

Taking a general look at the life of the Apostle Paul, it is clear that it is sharply divided into two halves. Before his conversion to Christ, Saint Paul, then Saul, was a strict Pharisee, a fulfiller of the law of Moses and the traditions of his fathers, who thought to be justified by the works of the law and by zeal for the faith of the fathers, reaching the point of fanaticism. After his conversion, he became an apostle of Christ, completely devoted to the work of the gospel gospel, happy in his calling, but aware of his own powerlessness in the performance of this high ministry and attributing all his deeds and merits to the grace of God. The entire life of the apostle before his conversion, according to his deep conviction, was an error, a sin and led him to condemnation. Only the grace of God rescued him from this destructive error. From that time on, the Apostle Paul tries only to be worthy of this grace of God and not to deviate from his calling. He realizes that there is no and cannot be any talk of any merit before God: everything is a matter of His mercy.

The Apostle Paul wrote 14 epistles, representing a systematization of Christian teaching. These messages, thanks to his wide education and insight, are distinguished by great originality.

The Apostle Paul, like the Apostle Peter, worked hard to spread the faith of Christ and are rightly revered together with him as a “pillar” of the Church of Christ and the supreme apostle. They both died as martyrs in Rome under Emperor Nero, and their memory is celebrated on the same day.