14-06-2022
Events
29th June: day of St. Peter and Paul
At the end of June, the city of Rome celebrates one of the most important events, which is also occasion of the blessing of an important sacred vestments: the archibishops' pallium.
A special occasion to visit the city of Rome is the feast of 29th June, the day on which Saints Peter and Paul, both patrons of the eternal city, are celebrated. On the occasion of the Solemnity of these two apostles, so similar and different at the same time, Pope Francis celebrates a Mass at St. Peter's and he blesses the Pallium of the Metropolitan Archbishops, who were appointed during the last year. The pallium is that liturgical vestment meant to recall the sheep that the Shepherd is called to carry on his shoulders, reminding him that he lives above all for his sheep.
The event of the 29th June occurs in memorial of the martyrdom of the two apostles (A.D. 67), during the persecution of the Emperor Nero. Historically, however, the dates of the death days of the two disciples do not coincide, i.e. they did not occur on 29 June. However, this day was chosen because of its special meaning, which is linked to the ancient Roman holiday of Quirinus. This was the day dedicated to the founders of the eternal city, Romulus and Remus, but it is also associated with Saints Peter and Paul, who, although they did not officially found the city, over the time they were also recognised as the founders of the new Rome.
According to history, St. Peter was previously a simple fisherman who later became the first Pope. St. Paul, on the other hand, was a learned Pharisee who converted to Christianity after a journey from Jerusalem to Damascus, a journey planned in order to repress the Christians themselves. During that travel, Paul was suddenly struck by the voice of Christ and a dazzling light that made him blind for three days, until he was cured by the leader of a small Christian community in the city of Damascus. That particular episode went down in history as Paul's conversion. It was from that very moment that Paul began his work of Christian evangelisation.
Today, the celebration of this patronal feast begins on the evening of 28 June, in St. Peter's Basilica, when the statue of the saint himself is dressed for the occasion, and culminates with the blessing of the pallium, on 29 June. (29 June 2022 - Special Saint Peter and Paul) (29 giugno 2022 - Speciale San Pietro e Paolo)
The event of the 29th June occurs in memorial of the martyrdom of the two apostles (A.D. 67), during the persecution of the Emperor Nero. Historically, however, the dates of the death days of the two disciples do not coincide, i.e. they did not occur on 29 June. However, this day was chosen because of its special meaning, which is linked to the ancient Roman holiday of Quirinus. This was the day dedicated to the founders of the eternal city, Romulus and Remus, but it is also associated with Saints Peter and Paul, who, although they did not officially found the city, over the time they were also recognised as the founders of the new Rome.
According to history, St. Peter was previously a simple fisherman who later became the first Pope. St. Paul, on the other hand, was a learned Pharisee who converted to Christianity after a journey from Jerusalem to Damascus, a journey planned in order to repress the Christians themselves. During that travel, Paul was suddenly struck by the voice of Christ and a dazzling light that made him blind for three days, until he was cured by the leader of a small Christian community in the city of Damascus. That particular episode went down in history as Paul's conversion. It was from that very moment that Paul began his work of Christian evangelisation.
Today, the celebration of this patronal feast begins on the evening of 28 June, in St. Peter's Basilica, when the statue of the saint himself is dressed for the occasion, and culminates with the blessing of the pallium, on 29 June. (29 June 2022 - Special Saint Peter and Paul) (29 giugno 2022 - Speciale San Pietro e Paolo)