Peter

In the Christian tradition

Peter is the chief of the apostles, originally Simon son of Jonas, renamed by Jesus as Kepha (Aramaic, "rock"), Petros in Greek, on whom Christ said he would build his Church (Matthew 16:18). Catholic tradition holds him as the first bishop of Rome, making him the first pope. The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29 is among the major feasts of the Christian calendar.

Peter is the most prominent of the twelve apostles in the gospel narratives, the figure of both deep faith (his confession of Christ in Matthew 16:16) and human failure (his denial in Matthew 26:69-75). Christ's threefold "do you love me?" at the post-resurrection meal in John 21 is read in Christian tradition as the restoration of Peter to his apostolic role. Catholic tradition holds Peter as the first bishop of Rome and thus the first pope; the office of the papacy is understood in Catholic theology as the continuing Petrine ministry. Orthodox and Anglican traditions hold Peter in apostolic honor without the specifically papal interpretation; Protestant traditions vary on the question of the Petrine office while honoring the apostle. The Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul on June 29 and the Chair of Saint Peter on February 22 are among the major feasts in the Catholic calendar. The name Peter has been in continuous Christian use across all the traditions, in its many vernacular forms.