On June 29, the Catholic Church celebrates the feast of the martyrdoms of St Peter and St Paul. St Paul’s voyage to Rome is narrated in the Acts of the Apostles, chapters 27-28. On his way he was shipwrecked on our island. St Peter went to Rome as well. He wrote his two letters from Rome.

In 1 Peter 5, 13 we read: “The chosen Church which is in Babylon sends you greetings; and so does my son Mark.” Here, by ‘Babylon’, St Peter intends Rome because the latter was as full of iniquity as ancient Babylon.

We find Rome called Babylon also in Apocalypse.

From the historical point of view we have Pope St Clement of Rome (died 99 AD) mentioning the apostles Peter and Paul in connection with the sacrifices of Nero’s persecution (Cor. 6,1).

St Ignatius of Antioch (died 117 AD), taught by St Peter himself in Rome, wrote to the Christians of Rome and mentioned Peter and Paul’s stay in Rome (Rom. 4,3). St Dionysius, Gaius and Tertullian also mention the martyrdom of St Peter in Rome.

Eusebius tells us (Church History, ii. 25) that Gaius, a Roman presbyter who lived at the beginning of the third century, said: “I can show you the trophies of the apostles. If you go to the Vatican or to the Ostian Way, you will find the trophies of those who founded the Church.” Eusebius confirms this statement from his own observation by saying that the names of Peter and Paul remained in the cemeteries of Rome until his time. (Eusebius, H.e. II 25, 6 et seq.).

Peter’s tomb was discovered in 1965. It was found under the altar of St Peter’s Basilica in the Vatican.

The tomb is plainly marked with his name and there are human remains within it.

Those who visit St Peter’s can see the tomb for themselves.