St Peter
St Peter, (fl. 1st century AD). New Testament disciple of Christ, also known as Simon Peter. A fisherman, he was brought to Christ by his brother Andrew, and through his forceful and often impulsive character became a spokesman for the rest of the disciples. After the resurrection of Christ, Peter led the apostles in the early Church and was instrumental in opening the Church to Gentiles. According to ancient sources, Peter was martyred at Rome, probably during Nero’s persecution of the Christians (64-67 AD). Two New Testament letters are attributed to him. His symbol is two crossed keys — signs of the authority granted to him by Jesus in Matthew 16:16-19 (“I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven”).
