SAINT PETER

One of the twelve Apostles, traditionally considered the first Pope of Rome. He was born to a family of fishermen. He was married. When Jesus saw Peter and his brother Andrew who fished together, he called them to follow Him. They became his first two disciples and followed Him till the end. When Jesus was arrested, Peter, afraid of persecution and torture, denied Jesus three times before the rooster crowed. Later he repented and was pardoned. He preached in different countries, performed miracles, raised from the dead, healed the sick and the infirm. Under the Emperor Nero, during a persecution of Christians, he was arrested and crucified head downwards on his own demand: he thought himself unworthy to die the same death as his Lord.

Attributes: cross upside down, keys of Heaven, stone, fish, rooster.