Icon of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul – Orthodox & Catholic Christian wall art

Icon of the Holy Apostles Peter and Paul - Icon of the Two Pillars of the Church, Founders of the See of Rome & Supreme Chiefs of the Apostles

The original icon is from the 19th century.

Venerate the sacred image of the Holy, Glorious and All-Praiseworthy Chief Apostles Peter and Paul — the two supreme pillars of the Christian Church, co-founders of the See of Rome, and the most celebrated of all the Apostles of Jesus Christ. The Orthodox Church beautifully presents the importance of these two Apostles in the icon that shows them standing together holding an image of the Church. The Apostle Paul holds a Gospel book, while the Apostle Peter offers a blessing with his right hand — at the top, a semicircle representing the divine realm, with rays extending downward as a sign of God's blessings and presence upon His two chosen heralds of the True Faith.

As Pope Benedict XVI proclaimed: "Christian tradition has always considered Sts. Peter and Paul to be inseparable: indeed, together, they represent the whole Gospel of Christ."

Saint Peter — The Rock of the Church

Simon Peter was born in Bethsaida, near the Sea of Galilee. He was a fisherman by trade, along with his brother Andrew. After Jesus was baptized by John the Baptist and completed His forty days in the desert, He went to the Sea of Galilee, saw Simon and Andrew fishing and called to them: "Come after me, and I will make you fishers of men."

Jesus gave him the name Cephas (Petrus in Latin), which means "Rock," because he was to become the rock upon which Christ would build His Church. Peter was a bold follower of the Lord. He was the first to recognize that Jesus was "the Messiah, the Son of the living God." In his boldness, he also made many mistakes, such as losing faith when walking on water and betraying the Lord on the night of His Passion.

Yet despite his human weaknesses, Peter was chosen to shepherd God's flock. The Acts of the Apostles illustrates his role as head of the Church after the Resurrection and Ascension of Christ. Peter led the Apostles as the first Pope and ensured that the disciples kept the true faith.

St. Peter spent his last years in Rome, leading the Church through persecution and eventually being martyred in the year 64. He was crucified upside-down at his own request, because he claimed he was not worthy to die as his Lord. He was buried on Vatican Hill, and St. Peter's Basilica is built over his tomb.

Saint Paul — The Apostle of the Nations

Paul, the chosen vessel of Christ, the glory of the Church, the Apostle of the Nations and teacher of the whole world, was a Jew by race, of the tribe of Benjamin, with Tarsus as his homeland. He was known first as Saul — a zealous Pharisee and fierce persecutor of the early Christians.

As he was approaching Damascus, a light from Heaven suddenly shone upon him. Falling to the earth, he heard a voice saying: "Saul, Saul, why persecutest thou Me?" He asked, "Who art Thou, Lord?" And the Lord said, "I am Jesus Whom thou persecutest." That heavenly voice and brilliance made him tremble, and he was blinded for a time. He was led by the hand into the city, was baptized, and both his bodily and spiritual eyes were opened to the knowledge of the Son of God.

From that extraordinary moment, Saul became Paul — and the world was never the same. He went on to evangelize throughout the Mediterranean world, from the Holy Land to Rome to Spain, becoming the Apostle to the Gentiles and the Church's first great theologian through his letters in the New Testament.

According to tradition, Paul was beheaded just outside the city of Rome. When his head fell, it bounced three times, giving rise to three springs of water, marked today by the Abbey of the Three Fountains.

The Two Pillars: What They Represent Together

Saints Peter and Paul are the Church's foundational pillars. Peter represents the Church's stability and the office of the Vicar of Christ. Paul represents the Church's mission of evangelization and is the Church's first theologian through his epistles that expound upon the Gospels.

Saint Augustine of Hippo said of them in 395 AD: "Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, and Paul followed. And so we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles' blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith."

What Do Christians Pray to Saints Peter and Paul For?

The faithful have turned to these two supreme Apostles in prayer since the earliest days of the Church. They are invoked for:

• ⛪ Unity and strength of the Church — as its foundational pillars, they are asked to intercede for the Church in times of crisis, division, and persecution
• 🎣 Fishermen, sailors, and seafarers — St. Peter is the patron saint of fishermen, net makers, and shipbuilders
• ✍️ Missionaries, writers, and evangelists — St. Paul is the patron saint of missionaries, evangelists, writers, and public workers
• 🗝️ Guidance at the hour of death — Peter, holder of the keys of the Kingdom, has been venerated since the tenth century as the heavenly gatekeeper who guides souls into eternity
• 🔄 Conversion and new beginnings — Paul's dramatic transformation on the road to Damascus makes him the supreme patron of all who seek conversion, repentance, and a new start
• 🩺 Healing from fever and illness — St. Peter was invoked against fever, because Christ cured his mother-in-law from fever
• 🐍 Protection from snakebite and poison — both Apostles have been invoked from ancient times against the bite of poisonous snakes
• 💪 Courage in the face of weakness and failure — Peter's denial and restoration, Paul's dramatic fall and rise, give hope to all who have stumbled and seek God's mercy
• 🌍 Protection of Rome and all Catholic nations — together they are honored as the patron saints of Rome, considered a counterbalance to Romulus and Remus, the mythical founders of the city

Feast Day & the Apostles' Fast

The Feast of Saints Peter and Paul is observed on June 29 — one of the most ancient feasts in all of Christianity, the date selected as the anniversary of either their martyrdom or the translation of their relics.

For Eastern Orthodox and Eastern Catholic Christians, this feast also marks the end of the Apostles' Fast — a period of fasting and prayer that begins on the Monday following All Saints' Sunday, the second Monday after Pentecost. While not counted among the twelve great feasts, it is one of five additional feasts ranked as a great feast in the Eastern Orthodox tradition and is often celebrated with an all-night vigil starting the evening before.

In the Catholic Church the feast is celebrated as a Solemnity — the highest rank of feast day — and is a public holiday in many Catholic-majority countries around the world.

🖼 Product Features

Each icon in our workshop is made to last a lifetime and beyond. The image is printed with rich, fade-resistant pigment inks on a premium solid-core wood panel — then hand-finished with a natural beeswax coating that deepens the colors, protects the surface, and gives each piece the warm, reverent quality of a traditionally crafted sacred object. A metal hanging hook is included on the back, so your icon is ready to display the moment it arrives.

• Crafted on a premium wood panel — 1.6 cm (0.6") thick, sturdy yet lightweight
• Fade-resistant pigment print — rich, true-to-life colors that last for generations
• Natural beeswax finish — hand-applied for depth, protection, and a traditional feel
• Ready to hang — metal hook pre-attached on the reverse
• Hand-finished by Orthodox Christian artisans in Portugal

📏 Available Sizes

• Small – 12 x 15 cm (5” x 6”)
• Medium – 23 x 30 cm (9” x 12”)
• Large – 30 x 39 cm (12” x 15”)

🎁 Perfect For

• Meaningful Orthodox Christian gifts
• Housewarming and family blessings
• Prayer corners and devotional spaces
• Baptisms, name days, weddings, and feast days

🌍 Worldwide Delivery

Securely packed and shipped worldwide from Portugal with tracking.

✨ Crafted with Tradition

Each icon is carefully made by Orthodox Christian artisans in Portugal — created to become a lasting blessing for your home or a treasured gift for someone you love.