St. Peter

St. Peter, originally named Simon, was born in Bethsaida, a fishing village on the Sea of Galilee, in the first century. He was a fisherman by trade, working alongside his brother Andrew, who also became one of Jesus" disciples. Peter"s life changed dramatically when Jesus called him to be a "fisher of men" (Matthew 4:19). He became one of Jesus" closest disciples and is often depicted as a leader among the Twelve Apostles. Peter"s journey with Jesus was marked by moments of profound faith and human frailty. He was the first to declare Jesus as the Messiah (Matthew 16:16) and was given the name "Peter" (meaning "rock") by Jesus, who said, "Upon this rock, I will build my Church" (Matthew 16:18). Despite his boldness, Peter famously denied Jesus three times during the Passion, an act he deeply regretted and later repented for. After Jesus" resurrection, Peter played a pivotal role in the early Church. He preached at Pentecost, leading to the conversion of thousands, and became a central figure in spreading Christianity. Tradition holds that Peter traveled to Rome, where he served as the first bishop and was martyred during the persecution under Emperor Nero.