Among the disciples of Christ, the Orthodox Church gives special honor to the apostles Saint Peter and Saint Paul. They are called apostles. Holy Apostle Peter was the elder brother of Holy Apostle Andrew the First-Called. Before the call of the Lord, they were fishermen in the small town of Bethsaida near the Sea of ​​Galilee. Peter was called Simon. Because of his faith, the Lord called him Peter, which means the “rock”. St. Peter the Apostle was executed on the cross. At his request, he was hung upside down, so that he would not be nailed to the cross like Christ.

The Holy Apostle Paul was originally from the tribe of Benjamin. His name was Savle and he persecuted the Orthodox on the orders of the high priests. By God's providence, he suddenly became temporarily blind. His blindness was permitted so that “the works of God might be revealed in him”. The holy apostle was beheaded in Rome.