In search of the footprints of the Savior: Part 9

by Jose Kurian Puliyeril

Primacy of St. Peter

From the Church of Eight beatitudes, we moved to the famous Church, which is well known as the Church of the Primacy of St. Peter. Our Lord appeared to the Apostles, as we read in the Gospel of St. John chapter 21. Our Lord asked St. Peter, the blessed Apostle and chief among the twelve ‘Do you love me’ and He repeated the question three times so that St. Peter might get a quick memory of the denial of his own Master. When our Lord asked the question to His beloved Apostle, St. Peter, our Lord stood on a rock and the same rock is inside the Church of these days. This Church remains very close to the Galilee Sea. The surroundings of the Church are well maintained with attractive landscaping and green pastures. Under the shade of the very old and very big trees, concrete benches are arranged for the pilgrims to take rest and meditate meaningfully after learning the circumstances that led to the instances mentioned in the Holy Scriptures. Most of the pilgrims are making use of the facilities also. 

The Holy Gospel and the traditions claim that St. Peter had repented nicely and dedicated himself completely and with awe feeling and sound faith to the mighty alms of our Lord God. And Lord Jesus also accepted him in the right way he was supposed to be. St. Peter was the leader (Reesh) of the Apostles and the senior most among the twelve. Our Savior and Redeemer, Lord Jesus only changed his name ‘Simon’ as Kefa. (St. John 1:42) Our Lord’s call for ‘Simon Peter’ could be seen in St. Matthew 4:18-19, St. Mark 1:16, St. Luke 5: 1-11, St. John 1: 35. Our Lord entrusted the task of Apostleship to St. Peter and the other 11. (St. Matthew 10:2, St. Mark 3:16, St. Luke 6:14) St. Peter only declared the marvelous faith in our Lord and confessed, “You are Christ, Son of the living God”. (St. Matthew 16: 16-18, St. Mark 8:28, St. Luke 9:20) In St. Luke 4: 38 we read about the visit of our Lord to the residence of St. Peter. 

In accordance with teachings of our blessed Church Fathers, there is no other Christian who has spent long period (years and years together) in true and genuine repentance like St. Peter. When it was decided to crucify St. Peter, he requested the concerned to crucify him upside down, by keeping his head down, so that he could kiss the feet of Lord God and breath the last. It is understood that the ones who crucified him for death honored the wish of St. Peter. Let the intercession of the great Saint be a fort of protection for each and every one of us. 

In St. John 21:1 we read about the appearance of our Lord to the blessed Apostles. At that time also our Lord stood on a rock and the same could be seen near the Galilee Sea. The rock is earmarked as a holy place and maintained with due honor and respect. Our Lord had kept the fried fish and the loaves of bread for his beloved Apostles, almost near this rock. This place is like a riverbed of our native place. Visitors could get into the sea from here. Pilgrims take water in the palms and wash their faces. The water of the sea is good enough for oral consumption too. At this point the pilgrims get a rare chance to stand in the seashore, in the calm and pure water of the famous Galilee Sea.