Confession of Saint Peter the Apostle, The

The confession of Peter is recorded in the Gospel According to Matthew (16:16), “You are the Christ, the Son of the living God.” The liturgical celebration of Peter's confession is celebrated on Jan. 18. It is a major feast in the Prayer Book calendar. This observance was first included in the 1979 BCP. The date is that of an ancient Gallican feast called “the Chair of Saint Peter.” It honored Peter as the head of the Roman Catholic Church as well as his chair of episcopal authority. Contemporary observance of the Confession of Saint Peter the Apostle marks the beginning of the Week of Prayer for Christian Unity. The martyrdom of St. Peter and St. Paul is commemorated on June 29.