Saint Peter, originally named Simon, lived in Capernaum, was married, and had children. According to the Synoptic Gospels, he worked as a fisherman with his brother Andrew when Jesus came and said, “Follow me, and I will make you fishers of men” (Matt. 4:18). However, the Gospel of John states that it was Andrew who brought his brother to Jesus. Jesus then named Simon Peter, saying, “You are Simon, son of Jonah; you will be called Cephas, which means rock” (John 1:41-42). The name “Peter” (from the Greek “Petros”) became the most commonly used for the apostle.

Peter became one of the three closest apostles of Jesus, along with James and John. They witnessed the Transfiguration and Jesus’ prayer in the Garden of Gethsemane. Peter is considered the foremost apostle, as attested by the Evangelist Matthew: “And Jesus answered and said to him, ‘Blessed are you, Simon Bar-Jonah, for flesh and blood has not revealed this to you, but My Father who is in heaven. And I also say to you that you are Peter, and on this rock, I will build My church, and the gates of Hades shall not prevail against it. And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven; and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven'” (Matt. 16:16-19). However, after Jesus spoke of His death and resurrection, Peter took Him aside and rebuked Him, saying that He should not speak of such things. Jesus responded, “Get behind Me, Satan! You are an offense to Me, for you are not mindful of the things of God, but the things of men!” Later, during the Last Supper, Peter vowed loyalty to Jesus even to death, to which Jesus replied, “Will you lay down your life for Me? Most assuredly, I say to you, the rooster shall not crow till you have denied Me three times” (John 13:37-38). When Judas Iscariot brought soldiers to arrest Jesus, Peter drew his sword and struck the ear of the high priest’s servant. He was ready to give his life to defend Jesus, but Jesus commanded him to allow God’s will to be done. After Jesus was taken to trial, Peter followed from a distance, waiting for the decision of the high priests. There, three people asked him if he was a disciple of Jesus, to which he denied knowing Jesus, and the rooster crowed. Peter then realized his sin and repented. It was to Peter that Jesus first appeared after His resurrection (Luke 24:34, 1 Cor. 15:5).

After the Ascension, Peter became the leader of the Twelve Apostles, openly preached in Jerusalem, for which he was imprisoned, but an angel freed him (Acts 2). After the martyrdom of Stephen, Peter, along with John, preached in Samaria, and later began baptizing Gentiles. Peter died a martyr’s death in Rome under the orders of Emperor Nero. They wanted to crucify him, but Peter felt unworthy to die as Christ had, so he requested to be crucified upside down. It is also noteworthy that in Rome, Peter lived with the Evangelist Mark, whom he referred to as his son. According to Christian tradition, the Gospel of Mark is considered to be the written preaching of the Apostle Peter.

Iconography of Saint Peter

The iconography of Saint Peter developed early in Christian art, dating back to the 3rd-4th centuries. Early depictions show clear, recognizable portrait features, which were maintained in later periods, including Ukrainian iconography. He is usually depicted as a gray-haired man with a small round beard and curly hair, often with a balding head. In one hand, Peter holds a scroll or a book as a symbol of his letters, and in the other, he holds the keys to the Kingdom of Heaven, referencing the Gospel words, “And I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven…” (Matt. 16:19).

Starting from the 18th century, Ukrainian iconography began depicting Peter with an inverted cross, symbolizing his crucifixion. He is typically dressed in a blue chiton and a yellow himation. These colors have symbolic meanings: since the Middle Ages, yellow began to be associated with betrayal, recalling Peter’s threefold denial of Christ (John 18:16-27). The blue chiton may symbolize his profession as a fisherman. Occasionally, Peter is depicted wearing papal vestments, as he is considered the first pope. Saint Peter, as the chief apostle, is always present in depictions of the Twelve Apostles. In some icons, such as those of the Last Judgment, Peter appears twice—once among the twelve apostles and once near the gates of Heaven, where he admits the righteous.

Among the most common thematic icons where Peter plays a central role are “The Giving of the Keys to Saint Peter,” “Walking on Water,” and the most frequently depicted, “The Crucifixion of Saint Peter.”

Mykhailo Skop

Icons of “The Delivery of the Keys to Saint Peter”