. The theme for this series of Discover & explore services is
. The series features as part of the
On Monday 9 October at 1.10pm our theme will be 'The Early Church in Rome'. All are most welcome.
At Monday's service I shared the following reflection:
St Peter is a key figure in the Gospels and in the first half of the Acts of the Apostles which documents the story of the Early Church. When we consider the prominence of St Peter in the first half of Acts of the Apostles, it seems remarkable that he then completely disappears from the narrative halfway through. So what happened to Peter, where did he go and where did he die? There are a few clues from Paul's letters which suggest that Peter did travel and he did so together with his wife. (
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/disciples_1.shtml)
In the greeting at the end of Peter’s first epistle we read: “The Church here in Babylon, united with you by God’s election, sends you her greeting, and so does my son, Mark” (1 Pet. 5:13, Knox). ‘Babylon is a code-word for Rome … Eusebius Pamphilius, in The Chronicle, composed about A.D. 303, noted that “It is said that Peter’s first epistle, in which he makes mention of Mark, was composed at Rome itself; and that he himself indicates this, referring to the city figuratively as Babylon.”’ (
https://www.catholic.com/tract/was-peter-in-rome)
‘However, the details of Peter's later life cannot be found in the Bible: one must look elsewhere.’ (
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/disciples_1.shtml)
‘
William A. Jurgens, in his three-volume set
The Faith of the Early Fathers, a masterly compendium that cites at length everything from the Didache to John Damascene, includes thirty references to this question, divided, in the index, about evenly between the statements that “Peter came to Rome and died there” and that “Peter established his See at Rome and made the bishop of Rome his successor in the primacy.”’ (
https://www.catholic.com/tract/was-peter-in-rome)
So what do these sources tell us? ‘The earliest testimony to … Peter’s presence in Rome is a letter from a Christian deacon named Gaius. Writing probably toward the end of the second century C.E.—so, around 170 or 180 C.E.—Gaius tells about the wondrous things in Rome, including something called a tropaion where Peter established a church—in fact, the Church, the Roman Catholic church at the site where St. Peter’s Basilica is today. But there are other traditions besides Peter’s tropaion. One early Christian text, the Apocryphal Acts of Peter, recounts many things that Peter did in the city. At one point in Acts of Peter, Peter is taunted by a flamboyant heretic, Simon Magus. Simon challenges Peter to a flying contest around the Roman Forum, but Peter’s prayers make Simon crash to the ground, proving that Simon’s powers are not as great as his own. At the end of this text, Peter, not wishing to be martyred for his faith, flees from Roman authorities on the Via Appia leading out of the city. Rather unexpectedly, Peter meets Jesus, who is traveling in the opposite direction. He asks Jesus, “Where are you going?” Jesus tells Peter that he is going to Rome “to be crucified again.” Peter realizes, from this, that he cannot flee from his fate. “Where are you going?” in Latin is “Quo Vadis?” and there’s a medieval church in Rome called the Church of Quo Vadis at the spot where Peter met Jesus. (
https://www.biblicalarchaeology.org/daily/people-cultures-in-the-bible/people-in-the-bible/the-apostle-peter-in-rome/)
‘The tradition that Peter was executed began with the reference to the form of his death in John chapter 21, in which Jesus told Peter, "I assure you: When you were young, you would tie your belt and walk wherever you wanted. But when you grow older, you will stretch out your hands and someone else will tie you and carry you where you don’t want to go." John reported, (probably after Peter died) "He said this to signify by what kind of death he would glorify God." So the idea that Peter was crucified (stretch out your hands) came from John, but this does not include the location or the physical position of his crucifixion …
The early church fathers are unanimous in claiming that Peter died in Rome, by crucifixion, during the persecution of Nero in AD 64.” It is traditionally held that he was crucified upside down at his own request, since he saw himself unworthy to be crucified in the same way as Jesus. That is also testified to by the early church fathers, but the evidence for this is weaker. ‘The apocryphal Acts of Peter is the earliest reference to crucifixion of Peter upside down. The earliest reference to the martyrdom of Peter comes from the letter of Clement of Rome (about AD 90). He said, in his Letter to the Corinthians, "Let us take the noble examples of our own generation. Through jealousy and envy the greatest and most just pillars of the Church were persecuted, and came even unto death… Peter, through unjust envy, endured not one or two but many labours, and at last, having delivered his testimony, departed unto the place of glory due to him." (
https://www.catholic.com/tract/was-peter-in-rome)
‘The magnificent basilica that now stands in the centre of Vatican City was built to replace the original structure built by Constantine, the first Christian emperor. Constantine's basilica was a remarkable engineering feat: his men moved a million tonnes of earth in order to create a platform for the structure and yet there was a flat plot just yards away. Constantine went to such lengths because he believed that this was the very spot where Peter was buried, on the side of the Vatican Hill …
In 1939 routine alterations under the floor of St Peter's unearthed an incredible find. Archaeologists discovered a whole street of Roman mausoleums, highly decorated family tombs of both pagans and Christians dating to the early centuries AD … towards the high altar … they found a simple, shallow grave … [and] … bones from a niche above the grave … These bones were then analysed and the tests showed they were the remains of a man in his 60s or 70s and of stocky build. Yet perhaps even more revealing was the fragment of graffiti-covered plaster discovered next to the bones. The words were incomplete but could read petros emi, which means 'Peter is within'. It could be that the remains of Peter the apostle had finally been found.’ (
http://www.bbc.co.uk/religion/religions/christianity/history/disciples_1.shtml)
How much of this is historical fact we don’t know for sure, but we can say, with Clement of Rome, that Peter endured many labours, and at last, having delivered his testimony, departed unto the place of glory due to him. Therefore, we can pray: Almighty Father, who inspired Simon Peter, first among the apostles, to confess Jesus as Messiah and Son of the living God: Keep the Church steadfast upon the rock of this faith, so that in unity and peace we may proclaim the one truth and follow the one Lord, our Saviour Jesus Christ; who lives and reigns with you and the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Amen.
Prayers
Almighty God, who inspired your apostle Saint Peter to confess Jesus as Christ and Son of the living God: build up your Church upon this rock, that in unity and peace it may proclaim one truth and follow one Lord, your Son our Saviour Christ. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, who by your Son Jesus Christ did give to your Apostle Saint Peter many excellent gifts, and commanded him earnestly to feed your flock: make, we beseech thee, all Bishops and Pastors diligently to preach your holy Word, and the people obediently to follow the same, that they may receive the crown of everlasting glory; through Jesus Christ our Lord. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, who on the day of Pentecost sent your Holy Spirit to Peter and the apostles with the wind from heaven and in tongues of flame, filling them with joy and boldness to preach the gospel: by the power of the same Spirit strengthen us to witness to your truth and to draw everyone to the fire of your love. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Almighty God, whose blessèd apostle Peter glorified you in his death as in his life: grant that your Church, inspired by his teaching and example, and made one by your Spirit, may ever stand firm upon the one foundation, Jesus Christ your Son our Lord, who is alive and reigns with you, in the unity of the Holy Spirit, one God, now and for ever. Lord, in your mercy, hear our prayer.
Blessing
May God, who kindled the fire of his love in the hearts of the saints, pour upon you the riches of his grace. May he give you joy in their fellowship and a share in their praises. May he strengthen you to follow them in the way of holiness and to come to the full radiance of glory. blessing of God almighty, the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit, be among you and remain with you always. Amen.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Giovanni Palestrina -
Tu Es Petrus.
