Feast of the Chair of St. Peter

 

A feast day for a piece of furniture? What's that all about?

A hint - it's not about the chair. It's about the person who filled the chair, St. Peter - the first pope and Prince of the Apostles. Christ told him, "You are Peter; and upon this rock I will build my church" and "I will give you the keys of the kingdom of heaven. Whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven; and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven."

After the Ascension, Peter was unquestionably the leader of the Apostles. He chose the replacement for Judas Iscariot, was the first to preach to the crowds after the Holy Spirit descended at Pentacost, and was the first of the Apostles to perform miracles in God's name. He encouraged others to preach to the Gentiles, leading to the "universal" church.

Peter has two other feast days - June 29th and November 18th.