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== In art and literature ==

== In art and literature ==

[[Image:Gesupietrochiave.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Jesus presenting St Peter with the keys to Heaven (painting by Pietro Perugino).]]

[[Image:Gesupietrochiave.jpg|thumb|200px|right|Jesus presenting St Peter with the keys to Heaven (painting by Pietro Perugino).]]

In [[art]], St Peter is usually depicted as a white-haired, bearded man in a blue robe, often holding a key or keys, which refer to Matthew 16:19. Following on from this, many paintings and literary accounts of [[Heaven]] show him stationed at the gate. There are traditionally two keys, one gold and one silver, representing the two conditions necessary for [[salvation]]: the silver key represents repentance, which comes from the person concerned; and the gold key represents forgiveness, which comes from God<ref>http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2964/homily-21sunday-a.html Two keys gold and silver</ref>.

In [[art]], St Peter is usually depicted as a white-haired, bearded man in a blue robe, often holding a key or keys, which refer to Matthew 16:19. Following on from this, many paintings and literary accounts of [[Heaven]] show him stationed at the gate. There are traditionally two keys, one gold and one silver, representing the two conditions necessary for [[salvation]]: the silver key represents repentance, which comes from the person concerned; and the gold key represents forgiveness, which comes from God<ref>[http://www.geocities.com/Heartland/2964/homily-21sunday-a.html Two keys gold and silver]</ref>.

In the ''[[Divine Comedy]]'', St Peter appears twice, playing two different symbolic roles. He first appears at the gate of [[Purgatory]], in his traditional capacity as gatekeeper of Heaven (since all who enter Purgatory will eventually make it to Paradise). His second appearance is in the eighth sphere of the [[Paradiso]], where he examines [[Dante]] on the [[virtue]] of [[faith]].

In the ''[[Divine Comedy]]'', St Peter appears twice, playing two different symbolic roles. He first appears at the gate of [[Purgatory]], in his traditional capacity as gatekeeper of Heaven (since all who enter Purgatory will eventually make it to Paradise). His second appearance is in the eighth sphere of the [[Paradiso]], where he examines [[Dante]] on the [[virtue]] of [[faith]].

St Peter's feast day is the 29 June, which he shares with [[St Paul]]. These two saints are often depicted together, as the two foremost figures in the church immediately after Jesus' [[Ascension]]<ref>For example, the two sculptures at the end of the main aisle of the Basilica of St Paul Without the Walls in Rome</ref>.

St Peter's feast day is the 29 June, which he shares with [[St Paul]]. These two saints are often depicted together, as the two foremost figures in the church immediately after Jesus' [[Ascension]]<ref>For example, the two sculptures at the end of the main aisle of the Basilica of St Paul Without the Walls in Rome.</ref>.

{{DEFAULTSORT:Peter, Saint}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Peter, Saint}}