== Life ==[[Image:Apostle Paul.JPG|right|frame|St. Paul]]The holy, glorious, all-laudible laudable '''Apostle Paul''' was born in Tarsus not one of the tribe of Benjamin and was given the name Saul. He, like the original Twelve [[Apostle BarnabasApostles]], studied under Gamaliel. He but was a Pharisee and percecutor of Christians. Miraculously converted chosen by God to take the True Faith by place of [[JesusJudas]] Himself on the road to Damascus, St. Paul was named and numbered among the [[Apostles|Twelve Great Apostles]]. After his baptism as evidenced by the [[Apostle Ananias]], St. Paul preached the [[Gospel]] from Arabia to Spain and to both Jews and Gentiles. He was called the 'Aposlte to the Gentiles'. Paul spent his new life in suffering and labor for Christ, establishing Orthodox hymnography and organzing churches everywhereiconography. He reached such a state of perfection that he was able to say to the Church at Galatia: 'not I, but Christ lives in me' ([[Galatians]] 2:20)

== Martyrdom Life ==Named Saul at his birth in the city of Tarsus, the holy apostle was a son of the tribe of Benjamin. Saul became a [[Pharisee]] under Gamaliel, one of the chief Jewish Rabbis (Masters/Teachers) of the day. After his study under the great Rabbi, Saul became one of the chief persecutors of Christians. Present at the stoning of St[[Apostle Stephen the Protomartyr|Stephen]] ([[Acts of the Apostles|Acts]] 7: 58), Saul later found himself blinded by [[Jesus]] Himself on the road to Damascus (Acts 9:1-22). Sought out by the [[Apostle Ananias]], Saul immediately repented and Ananias baptized him. Saul, soon after his apostolic camping was called Paul , was martyred later named and numbered among the [[Apostles]]. He worked closely with the Evangelist [[Apostle Luke|Luke]].The extent of Paul's preaching as he spread the [[Gospel]] went far and wide from Arabia to Spain, to both Jews and Gentiles. He was called the "Apostle to the Gentiles." Paul spent his new life in suffering and labor for Christ, establishing and organizing churches everywhere. He reached such a state of perfection that he was able to say to the Church at Galatia: "not I, but Christ lives in me" ([[Galatians]] 2:20). Like the [[Apostle PeterBarnabas]] , Paul studied under Nero by beheadingGamaliel.

The Church has [[Holy Scripture|canonized ]] several of his epistles [[epistle]]s to the churches, including:

*[[I Corinthians|I ]] & II [[II Corinithians|II]]Corinthians

*[[I Thessalonians|I ]] & II [[II Thessalonians|II]]Thessalonians*[[I Timothy|I]] & II [[II Timothy|II]]Timothy*[[Book of Titus|Titus]]*[[Book of Philemon|Philemon]]*[[Book of Hebrews|Hebrews]] Modern scholarship has contested the authenticity of several of these letters. Hebrews in particular, whose authorship was disputed even in the early church, was most likely not written by St. Paul. However, the Church lectionary introduces readings from each of these epistles as "from the epistle of St. Paul to..." as the lessons and commentary by the Church Fathers edify the Faithful towards [[Salvation]]. == Feasts & Fasts ==The life of St. Paul, his letters in particular, are celebrated in the Orthodox Church with annual feasts and fasts. Being one of the four seasonal [[fast]]s, the fast of Sts. Peter & Paul is the summer fast that begins nine days after [[Pentecost]], and continues until their joint [[feast day]] of June 29. == Intercessions ==St. Paul is the intercessor for, among others, voyagers by sea and homilists. ==Hymns==[[Troparion]] ([[Tone]] 4) :First-enthroned of the apostles,:teachers of the universe::Entreat the Master of all:to grant peace to the world,:and to our souls great mercy! [[Kontakion]] (Tone 2) :O Lord, You have taken up to eternal rest:and to the enjoyment of Your blessings:the two divinely-inspired preachers, the leaders of the Apostles,:for You have accepted their labors and deaths as a sweet-smelling sacrifice,:for You alone know what lies in the hearts of men. [[Kontakion]] (Tone 2) :Today Christ the Rock glorifies with highest honor:The rock of Faith and leader of the Apostles,:Together with Paul and the company of the twelve,:Whose memory we celebrate with eagerness of faith,:Giving glory to the one who gave glory to them! ==Source==*St. [[Nikolai Velimirovic]], ''The [[Prologue of Ohrid]]''

== Feast Day External links==*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=101842 The Church remembers StHoly Glorious and All-Praised Leader of the Apostles, Paul] ([[OCA]])*[http://goarch. org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=103 Peter and Paul on , the Holy Apostles] ([[June 29GOARCH]])*[https://www.prayer-bracelet.com/blog/apostle-paul-introduction/ Apostle Paul Introduction] (Series of Articles about Apostle Paul)

== Source ==[[Category:Biblical Saints|Paul]][[Category:Martyrs|Paul]]St. [[Nikolai VelimirovicCategory:Saints|Paul]], ''The [[Prologue of OhridCategory:1st-century saints]]''

[[Categoryar:Biblical Saintsبولس الرسول]][[Categoryel:MartyrsΑπόστολος Παύλος]][[Categoryfr:SaintsApôtre Paul]][[ro:Apostolul Pavel]]