Sts Peter and Paul

A joint feast of the two great apostles, both martyred in Rome.

When: 29 June

Origin and history

The apostles Peter and Paul are both remembered by tradition as having died as martyrs in Rome. The feast honours them together on 29 June, a date of ancient Christian origin that marks either the anniversary of their deaths or the moving of their relics.

Customs

On this day newly appointed Catholic archbishops receive from the pope the pallium, a woollen band that is the symbol of their office.
In Eastern Orthodox churches it ends the Apostles' Fast, which begins after the Sunday of All Saints, and is often marked by an all-night vigil.

How traditions differ

Catholics keep it as a solemnity and a holy day of obligation. In the Eastern Orthodox Church it is not one of the twelve great feasts but is ranked as a great feast. The Church of England keeps 29 June as a festival, and Lutheran churches as a lesser festival.

In the library

Works: The Bible

More in After Pentecost

Trinity Sunday · Corpus Christi · Nativity of St John the Baptist · Michaelmas · All Hallows' Eve · Reformation Day · All Saints' Day · All Souls' Day · St Martin's Day (Martinmas) · Christ the King

Sources checked: Feast of Saints Peter and Paul (Wikipedia).