Name day
Peter: Name Day and Patron Saint
Peter keeps the name day on 29 June, or 12 July on the Old Calendar: the feast of St Peter the Apostle.
- Patron saint
- St Peter the Apostle
- New Calendar
- 29 June
- Old Calendar
- 12 July
- Next name day
- 29 June 2027 (New Calendar) · 12 July 2027 (Old Calendar)
- In the feast calendar
- The feasts of June · The feasts of July
The patron saint: St Peter the Apostle
Kept on 29 June, or 12 July on the Old Calendar · Holy Apostles Peter and Paul
St Peter was born Simon, the son of Jonah and the brother of St Andrew the First-called. He was a fisherman of Bethsaida on the Sea of Galilee, a married man whose mother-in-law Christ healed in his house. The Lord gave him the name Cephas, or Peter, the rock, and with James and John he witnessed the Saviour’s greatest miracles. He was the first of the disciples to confess clearly, “Thou art the Christ, the Son of the living God.” Yet on the night of Christ’s trial he denied Him three times, and a single look from the Lord filled him with shame and bitter repentance. After the Resurrection Christ asked him three times, “Lovest thou Me?” and told him, “Feed My sheep,” so restoring him with a threefold confession of love. After the Holy Spirit descended at Pentecost, Peter became a fearless preacher: his first sermon in Jerusalem brought about three thousand souls to baptism. He healed the sick, raised the dead, baptized Cornelius, the first Gentile convert, and was freed from prison by an angel. He preached in Palestine, Asia Minor and Italy, and wrote two Epistles. Condemned under Nero in Rome, he asked to be crucified upside down, judging himself unworthy to die as his Lord had died. The Church keeps his feast together with St Paul on 29 June (12 July on the Old Calendar). The faithful turn to St Peter as the image of repentance after a fall and of love restored, and ask his prayers for a firm faith.
What the faithful pray for
- true repentance after a fall
- a firm and fearless confession of faith in Christ
- courage in times of weakness and fear
- the shepherds and the flock of the Church
- love for Christ that does not fail
Other saints named Peter
Sts Peter and Fevronia of Murom
Kept on 25 June, or 8 July on the Old Calendar · Repose (1228)
Prince Peter of Murom, struck with leprosy that no one could cure, learned in a dream that he would be healed by Fevronia, the pious and wise daughter of a beekeeper in a Ryazan village. She healed him, and he married her as he had vowed. The proud boyars would not accept a princess of humble birth and demanded that he send her away. Peter chose his wife over his throne and left the city with her. When disorder broke out in Murom, the people begged them to return, and the couple ruled with mercy and piety. In old age they took monastic vows as David and Euphrosyne. They reposed on the same day and at the same hour, 25 June 1228, and were laid in one coffin. The Church holds them up as the model of Christian marriage. Through their prayers, the grace of God comes down on those who enter into marriage.
What the faithful pray for
- a good Christian spouse
- the grace of God on those entering marriage
- love and faithfulness in marriage
- peace in the home
- the gift of children for childless couples
- raising children well
- healing of soul and body
- dying in peace together after a long life
Protection
- marriage from division and infidelity
- the family from discord
- the city of Murom
Miracles
- Prince Peter suffered from an incurable leprosy until Fevronia, a wise peasant girl, healed him; he married her as he had vowed. (source)
- They reposed on the same day and hour, 25 June 1228, as monastics David and Euphrosyne, and were laid in one coffin; the troparion says that, lying together, they grant healing unseen. (source)
St Peter the Aleut
Kept on 24 September, or 7 October on the Old Calendar · Holy Martyr Peter the Aleut
The young Aleut who would not deny the Orthodox faith and was martyred in California in 1815.
St Peter of Cetinje
Kept on 18 October, or 31 October on the Old Calendar · St Peter of Cetinje, the Wonderworker
The prince-bishop of Montenegro who made peace among the clans and defended his people.
Peter in other languages
| Language | The name | Short forms |
|---|---|---|
| English | Peter, Pedro, Pietro, Pierre, Petr, Pyotr, Petros, Piotr, Petar, Petru, Peder, Per, Piers | Pete, Petey |
| Greek | Πέτρος, Petros | Πετράκης, Petrakis |
| Russian | Пётр, Pyotr, Petr, Piotr | Петя, Петенька, Петруша, Petya, Petia, Petrusha |
| Ukrainian | Петро, Petro | Петрусь, Petrus |
| Bulgarian | Петър, Petar | Пешо, Pesho |
| Serbian | Петар, Petar | Пера, Pera, Pero |
| Romanian | Petru, Petre | Petrică, Petrișor |
| Georgian | პეტრე, Petre | |
| Arabic | بطرس, Boutros, Butros, Botros, Pierre | |
| Spanish | Pedro | |
| Italian | Pietro | |
| French | Pierre | |
| Polish | Piotr |
An icon for Peter
We don't carry an icon of St Peter the Apostle yet. Ask for it below, and we will write to you when it is in.
Closest to it
Folding diptychSt Mark the Apostle & Guardian Angel
Another apostle$99$69
Folding diptychSt Matthew the Apostle & Guardian Angel
Another apostle$99$69
Folding diptychChrist (Zvenigorod Saviour) & Vladimir Mother of God
Christ and the Mother of God keep every Christian home$99$69
For every name: the Guardian Angel, given at baptism
Have it consecrated by our priest before it reaches you: Consecration, $49.
A name-day gift for Peter
Name-Day Gift Set $213$149
A patron saint's folding diptych chosen by first name, a stainless steel crucifix and a prayer rope, in a gift box with a card giving the saint's life and feast day.
The St Nicholas the Wonderworker & Guardian Angel Folding Diptych is chosen, for the Guardian Angel every Orthodox Christian receives at baptism, and the name is filled in.
Other names with this saint
Questions
When is Peter’s name day?
Peter keeps the name day on 29 June on the New Calendar and on 12 July on the Old Calendar, the feast of St Peter the Apostle.
Who is the patron saint of Peter?
St Peter the Apostle. St Peter was born Simon, the son of Jonah and the brother of St Andrew the First-called.
How is Peter written in other languages?
Greek: Πέτρος (Petros), Russian: Пётр (Pyotr), Ukrainian: Петро (Petro), Bulgarian: Петър (Petar), Serbian: Петар (Petar) and Romanian: Petru. Every form of the name keeps the same saint.
What is a good name-day gift for Peter?
We don’t carry an icon of St Peter the Apostle yet, and you can ask for one on this page. Every Orthodox Christian has a Guardian Angel from baptism, so the Name-Day Gift Set ($149) with the Guardian Angel diptych is always fitting.
More about name days
- Name Days Explained: What They Are, How Families Keep Them, and Gifts
A name day is the feast of the saint whose name you carry. Here is how to find yours on either calendar, how Greek and Russian families keep it, and what to give.
- Orthodox Patron Saint: How to Find Yours (by Name, Day or Choice)
Your Orthodox patron saint is the saint whose name you were given at baptism. Here is how to find yours by name, by the day of your birth or baptism, or by choice, and how to keep the name day.
- Find another name
Sources
- OCA: The Holy Glorious and All-Praised Leader of the Apostles, Peter (Lives of all saints commemorated on June 29)
- Russian Orthodox Christian Menaion: The Holy Apostle Peter (June 29, from the Prologue of Ochrid)
- Благоверная княгиня Феврония Муромская (Азбука веры)
- Благоверный князь Петр Муромский (Азбука веры)
- Петр и Феврония, собор (Азбука веры)
- eortologio.net, Greek name-day calendar (Εορτολόγιο)
- azbyka.ru, Месяцеслов (the Russian Church's calendar of saints by name)