Gospel in Art: Feast of Saints Peter and Paul

The Embrace of the Apostles Peter and Paul, Cretan school, Angelos Akotantos, 15th century © C Krimbas Collection, Athens

Source: Christian Art

Gospel of 29 June 2023
Matthew 16:13-19

When Jesus came to the region of Caesarea Philippi he put this question to his disciples, 'Who do people say the Son of Man is?' And they said, 'Some say he is John the Baptist, some Elijah, and others Jeremiah or one of the prophets.' 'But you,' he said 'who do you say I am?' Then Simon Peter spoke up, 'You are the Christ,' he said 'the Son of the living God.' Jesus replied, 'Simon son of Jonah, you are a happy man! Because it was not flesh and blood that revealed this to you but my Father in heaven. So I now say to you: You are Peter and on this rock I will build my Church. And the gates of the underworld can never hold out against it. I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven: whatever you bind on earth shall be considered bound in heaven; whatever you loose on earth shall be considered loosed in heaven.'

Reflection on the Byzantine Icon

Today we celebrate the feast of Saint Peter & Saint Paul. There is evidence of an already lengthy tradition of celebrating the solemnities of both saints on the 29th of June as early as the year 258 AD.

Our 15th-century icon painted in Crete depicts the embrace of the Apostles Peter and Paul. It is a rare theme in Byzantine art until the 1450s. But from then onwards paintings depicting the two saints together flourished. Why? It is quite probable that it had to do with the Council of Ferrara-Florence (1438-1439) and the efforts to bring about a reconciliation between the Western and Eastern churches. Last year on this solemnity we looked at a painting by Carlo Crivelli, also painted during this period (click here) and also depicting the two saints together. So in both Eastern and Western churches were the two saints portrayed together as part of wider reconciliation efforts.

In our icon we see St Peter on the left and St Paul on the right. Pope St Benedict XVI said: "Christian tradition has always considered Saint Peter and Saint Paul to be inseparable: indeed, together, they represent the whole Gospel of Christ."

Most of the apostles and many saints have their own feast day. But there is no separate Feast of St. Peter as such; there is also no Feast of St. Paul (apart from celebrating his conversion). The fact that the Catholic Church celebrates our two most important saints on the same day strengthens their groundbreaking work and draws attention to how they worked together, as one, to build God's kingdom on earth.

LINKS

Gospel in Art: https://christian.art/
Today's reflection: https://christian.art/daily-gospel-reading/matthew-16-13-19-2023/