St. Peter’s Day is June 29
It’s always a good day to be in Italy, but June 29 is special. This is the celebration of St. Peter’s Day, a significant religious occasion in Rome and around the world celebrated with regattas, parades, and fireworks. Fishing communities have a feast with dancing, contests, and games; boats get a fresh coat of paint and receive a blessing from their local priest.
St. Peter’s Day is the traditional anniversary of Peter’s martyrdom at the hands of the emperor, Nero. According to historians, on this day around AD 64 and 68, Christians gathered near the shadow of a massive obelisk in ancient Rome and watched in horror as Peter stretched out his hands and was led where he did not want to go, just as Jesus had foretold.
“Truly I tell you, when you were younger, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow old, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go.” John 21:18
The site where Peter was carried was Nero’s Circus (from the Latin word for “circle”), a large open-air venue used for chariot races and other entertainment.
Nero was punishing Christians for a terrible fire that burned two-thirds of Rome in the summer of 64 AD. Nero blamed the Christians for the fire and retaliated with violence that would become his trademark. The historian Tacitus wrote:
Mockery of every sort was added to their deaths. Covered with the skins of beasts, they were torn by dogs and perished, or were nailed to crosses, or were doomed to the flames and burnt, to serve as a nightly illumination, when daylight had expired. Nero offered his gardens for the spectacle, and was exhibiting a show in the circus . . .
Peter’s death wasn’t recorded in the Bible, but historical writings from the first century tell us he was crucified. An early church historian named Eusebius referenced the traditional view that Peter and his wife were both martyred for their faith in Christ on the same day:
When the blessed Peter saw his own wife led out to die, he rejoiced because of her summons and her return home, and called to her very encouragingly and comfortingly, addressing her by name, and saying, “O thou, remember the Lord.” Such was the marriage of the blessed, and their perfect disposition toward those dearest to them.
These reports tell us that Peter didn’t think he was worthy of being killed in the same manner as Christ, so he asked to be crucified upside down. The obelisk Peter likely gazed upon as he was martyred was moved to the Vatican City, and St. Peter’s Basilica was erected over the spot where Peter is believed to have spoken these encouraging and comforting words.
Peter told early Christians not to be surprised by “fiery trials” that came to test them (1 Peter 4:12) and resist the enemy he described as “a roaring lion, seeking someone to devour” (1 Peter 5:8). These were vivid metaphors in his readers’ minds. Peter’s letters would have been shredded had he not shown the same courage and faith he exhorted his recipients to display—they would have called out his hypocrisy in a heartbeat. But the crowd of witnesses saw how Peter’s faith survived his head-on collision with real life.
Peter didn’t ask for the easy way out. True disciples don’t deny or minimize our suffering; they don’t help us plot and plan how to get out of it; they don’t tell us we deserve better or it’s going to be okay; and they don’t promise that “God won’t give you more than you can handle.” True disciples remind us to remember the Lord as we carry our cross, even to our death. As you celebrate St. Peter’s Day and St. Peter’s faith, oh friend –
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