June 29th - Feast of Saints Peter & Paul

A feast to honor the deaths of both Saints Peter & Paul. This is  not a sad occasion, rather it is the celebration of the day which the two met Christ in heaven and began their eternal life together.  It also celebrates the martyrdom of both of them.  Martyr is derived from a Greek word meaning witness. 

St. Peter was martyred by Romans ca. 66 A..D. duringEmperor Nero's reign.  He was said to have been crucified upside down at his own request.  Peter felt unworthy to be crucified in the exact manner as Christ.  His remains are buried beneath St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. 

St. Paul's manner of death is not known.  Tradition says that he was beheaded by Romans ca. 64 A.D. also during Nero's reign.  The date is based upon the time when Nero had Rome burned in order to persecute the Christians or because he was mad as a hatter.