Why are the apostles Peter and Paul particularly honored? Explanation of the Orthodox Church.

Today, June 29, Orthodox Christians in Ukraine celebrate the feast day of the holy apostles Peter and Paul. These two apostles stand out for their diligence in spreading the Gospel.

«On June 29 according to the new Julian calendar, we honor two glorious apostles of Christ - Peter and Paul. They are distinguished among others, being called the chief and all-praised. But not because they had any special power over the other disciples of the Savior, but because they worked the hardest in preaching the Gospel,» the church explained.

The apostles Peter and Paul had different backgrounds, characters, and life paths. Peter was one of the twelve closest disciples of Jesus, while Paul, though he did not personally see Christ, radically changed his life and preached a large part of the Roman Empire.

«Both apostles completed their earthly lives martyrically, and today's day of honoring is a remembrance of their execution in Rome around 67 AD. The tradition of honoring these two apostles arose in the early centuries of Christianity,» the Orthodox Church of Ukraine noted.

This day also marks the end of Peter's Fast - a fast aimed at repentance and the purification of the soul. The feast of the apostles Peter and Paul is important for Orthodox Christians in Ukraine, as they commemorate and remember the figures of Christianity who made a significant contribution to spreading the Gospel and laid down their lives for the faith.

The feast of the holy apostles Peter and Paul is a significant event for Ukrainian Orthodox Christians, symbolizing faith, labor, and devotion in the name of Christ.