Simon Peter or Cephas became the first Pope. Peter was a native of Bethsaida, near Lake Tiberias, the son of John, and worked, like his brother St. Andrew, as a fisherman on Lake Genesareth. Andrew introduced Peter to Jesus, and Christ called Peter to become adisciple. In Luke is recounted the story that Peter caught so large an amount of fish that he fell down before the feet of Jesus and was told by the Lord, “Do not be afraid; from now on you will be catching people”. Jesus also gave Simon a new name: Cephas, or the rock.
While Peter’s chief feast day is June 29, he is also honored on February 22 and November 18. In liturgical art, he is depicted as an elderly man holding a key and a book. His symbols include an inverted cross, a boat, and the cock.

Saint Paul, also called Paul the Apostle, the Apostle Paul or Paul of Tarsus was a Hellenistic Jew who called himself the “Apostle to the Gentiles” (Romans 11:13, Galatians 2:8) and was together with Saint Peter and James the most notable of early Christian missionaries. According to the Acts of the Apostles, his conversion (or metanoia) took place on the road to Damascus. Thirteen epistles in the New Testament are attributed to Paul. Paul’s influence on Christian thinking arguably has been more significant than any other New Testament author.