Apostles Peter and Paul – two poles of human life – vice-rector of Kiev-Pechersk Lavra

Vice-rector of the Holy Dormition Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, Metropolitan of Vyshgorod and Chernobyl Pavel told what a Christian should learn as exemplified by preeminent Apostles Peter and Paul. Vladyka laid down his thoughts in the column of newspaper “Segodnia”.

"Peter had no education for preaching work. His task was to support the family,” says Metropolitan Pavel. “But the Lord does not look at whether a person educated or not. The Lord looks into the heart and gives knowledge as much as the heart can hold. The heart of the apostle Peter was great and contained many pagans and Jews. There are moments in Peter's image that are somewhat embarrassing. For example, that he denied Christ three times. What did the Lord want to show by it? We should not rely solely on our own strengths, only on our own minds, because at any time of testing our human forces, our firmness of spirit can betray us. After all, we remember how Peter secretly assured Christ that "even if you need me to die for you – I will not deny," and that same night he denied the Lord three times. By this God wanted to bring our self-confidence to shame."

The vice-rector of the Lavra draws attention to the fact that before he became a saint of God, Peter cultivated great repentance in his heart.

"According to the legend, every morning, as soon as the roosters began to sing (and in Bethlehem roosters begin to sing after two in the morning), he rose to prayer," says Bishop Pavel. “On his face there were scars from tears! So Peter the apostle is an example not so much of primacy as of repentance and humility."

The vice-rector of the Kiev-Pechersk Lavra, referring to the apostle Paul, recalls how this learned man initially persecuted Christians.

"And in the end, the Lord on his way to Damascus appeared before Saul and said, "Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me?,” writes Vladyka Pavel. After that, Saul was blind for three days, but he his sight recovered by the grace of God and Saul became the greatest preacher of Christ. The example of Saul-Paul shows us that without the will of God you are nobody."

The Metropolitan described the role of the apostles in his life: "Before the tonsure, I was Peter, after I became Paul. Of course, I want to be like my heavenly patrons. I often feel jealousy and self-confidence of Peter the apostle and ask God for help to deal with this. When asked, who is dearer to my heart – Peter or Paul, I answer: who do you love more – your mom or your dad? Both? So do I, in a childlike way, love and honor these two greatest Apostles."