Feasts of Sts. Peter and Paul

"Thou shalt make them princes over all the earth:
they shall remember Thy name, O Lord."
​- Graudal (Ps. 44:17)

"The Apostles Peter and Paul are the two Princes of the Apostles, the foundations of the Church, on which She is firmly established as on a rock. This Feast is almost entirely devoted to St. Peter, Bishop of Rome, the great Apostle of the Gentiles being more specifically honoured on June 30 .. After the Descent of the Holy Ghost, St. Peter preached the Gospel in Judea and was cast into prison by Herod Agrippa. He was miracuousy delivered by an Angel and established his see first at Antioch, and then finally at Rome, where the first Pope exercised for twenty-five years the Supreme Authority vested in him by Christ Himself. Then he was arrested, and like St. Paul suffered martyrdom A.D. 65. This Feast marks the day of the translation of their relics. - The Daily Roman Missal, 1962

O God who hast made this day holy by the martyrdom of Thine Apostles Peter and Paul: grant that Thy Church may in all things follow the precepts of those through whom she received the beginnings of the Faith. - Collect from the Mass of Sts. Peter and Paul

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Ancient Hymn from First Vespers of Sts. Peter and Paul

Lo! beauteous Light Eternal floods,
with sacred fires, this golden day
which crowns the Princes of Apostles
and opens out unto the guilty a free path to Heaven.

The Teacher of the whole earth, as well as the Door-keeper of Heaven,
both of them Fathers of Rome, and Judges of nations, each a victor of death, the one by the sword, the other by the cross,
—laurel-crowned, both take their seats in the Senate of Eternal Life.

O happy Rome, by noble gore of Princes
twain art thou now consecrated;
empurpled by the blood of such as these,
thou alone in beauty dost surpass all the rest of the earth.

To the Trinity in Unity that governeth all things through ages of ages, may there be eternal glory, ​ honor, power, and jubilation.