Concordia Apostolorum

Solemnity of St Peter and St Paul

People who know me would know that I have an obsession with what seems to be Catholic trivia – small tiny details with regards to Catholic architecture, art, music and history all excite me, to say the least. One of the most exciting things which I have discovered over the years is this little publicised or known fact about the major basilicas in Rome dedicated to the two great apostolic princes, patron saints of Rome, we fete today. Now, you may have heard me mention that churches were traditionally built with a certain orientation, facing East, the position of the rising sun and the direction Christ ascended to heaven and is expected to return. Interestingly, the word “orientation” comes from the Latin “Orient,” which means “East”.

The two basilicas, the Basilica of St Peter in Vatican City and the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, however, were not built with the above orientation in mind. Their architects, or at least those responsible for the rebuilding, enlargement of these two great churches, built them with a deliberate intention of making them face each other – both stood on opposite banks of the River Tiber facing the direction of the river which divides the city of Rome into East and West (or north and south), standing as emblems and guardians of Rome – one to its north and the other to its south. The symbolism of this configuration witnesses to the fraternal camaraderie of these two great apostles. It was St Augustine who spoke of their twinning in this fashion: “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 labours, their sufferings, their preaching, and their confession of faith.”

According to early Christian traditions, Peter and Paul met one last time in Rome under the persecution of Nero.  They were imprisoned together in the Tullianum, Rome’s oldest prison reserved for the greatest enemies of the state.  For nine months, Peter and Paul “pray, preach, and prepare” for their birth into eternal life.  Little is known about this period of their lives but it must have been a time of grace for the friends to spend so much time together discussing the things of God.  Artists have rightfully been captivated by the final embrace between the Christian brothers as each goes off to give the ultimate testimony of their earthly life.  Peter was crucified upside down on the western side of the Tiber River and Paul was beheaded on the eastern side, perhaps in God’s Providence so that from both sides of the river, the whole city, might be sanctified by their blood. And finally, the two basilicas, which stand as living testimonies of their martyrdom, mark the spots where their remains were said to be buried.

Both in art as well as in architecture (the orientation of the two basilicas facing and reaching out to each other), Saint Peter and Saint Paul, once rivals, are now depicted as embracing each other in symmetric unity with their arms intertwined, a form of image known as the Concordia Apostolorum - “The Apostolic Harmony.”  Two men, from such different backgrounds, made brothers in Christ and apostles to the whole world.  It is hard for us to imagine the love that they had and now have for one another, the depth of their friendship brought about through their shared faith in Jesus Christ. 

The early Fathers saw the harmony of these two apostles as a historical allusion that recalls the legend of the founding of the city of Rome by the twin brothers, Romulus and Remus, both sons of a wolf mother.  Their city matured into an Empire that was one of the most powerful civilisations in human history.  Yet over 800 years from the founding of the city of Rome, another set of brothers, Peter and Paul, not natural brothers, but united by the bonds of the Spirit in Christ, laid a foundation of a new civilisation which would outlast and outshine the Roman Empire.

The contrast between these two sets of “brothers” is remarkable.  According to the ancient Roman myth, Rome was violently established when Romulus killed his brother as they laid the city’s walls.  In comparison, Peter and Paul built up the civilisation of love found in the Church with brotherly affection by tearing down the walls between nations and tribes.  The Roman Empire, would rule the world through fear and violence under the shroud of the pax romana.  Peter and Paul would set the example for the Church to serve the world through faith and charity under the mantle of the pax Christi.  The spiritual kingdom of the Church would far surpass the boundaries of time and space to which the Roman Empire had aspired. 

As noted by Pope St. Leo the Great, the Roman Empire which was the great teacher of error became the disciple of Truth under the guidance of the two great apostles, Saint Peter and Saint Paul. Through preaching truth in word and practicing charity in deed, Saint Peter and Saint Paul re-founded the city of Rome for Christ. Even though Peter and Paul were to continue in their mission to preach the good news to both Jews and Gentiles, Paul was confirmed in his special mission to the Gentiles as Peter was confirmed in his preaching to the Jews. 

Since the first Rome was founded on fratricide, Rome needed to be re-founded as a Christian city in fraternal love.  The blood of the brothers united in Christ serves as the seed of the Church which will grow in time.  We sing their praises together, according to Tertullian, because they “poured forth all their teaching along with their blood.”  Their witness in teaching and their blood is what truly makes Rome the urbs sacra and urbs aeterna, the Holy and Eternal City.  It was their martyrdom in Rome that at last led to the unending reunion between Peter and Paul in the true Holy and Eternal City, the Heavenly Jerusalem.  For eternity, they are united with one another and with their Redeemer who called them both to the great mission of bringing the gospel to the entire world.

Since their bond and mission was based on Truth and Love, it should not be surprising that it should also be marked by fraternal correction for fraternal correction flows from love. Saint Paul publicly admonishes Peter for his actions in backtracking in an earlier decision (cf. Gal 2:11).  Often this scene is over emphasised by those pitting Peter and Paul against one another.  Rather, it should be read as a passage demonstrating true fraternal correction, the fruit of fraternal love.  Because of the bonds of friendship forged in the love of Christ, Paul objects to Peter’s actions.  Paul is concerned with Peter’s deeds not his doctrine. An admonishment like this could rupture any friendship but not for these two.  In fact, it led to its growth between these two men.

Today as we contemplate these two pillars of the Church, our prayer should be to re-commit ourselves to the Church’s unity and mission in all aspects of our lives. It is a mission not just to confirm and encourage our brothers and sisters, but a mission which also demands fraternal correction. For without Truth, love would be a lie. With the grace that comes through that prayer, together we can all be the sign of unity in Christ that God intends for the healing of our often fragmented Church and disordered world.