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[[Image:Apostle Paul.JPG|right|frame|St. Paul]]The holy, glorious, all-laudable '''Apostle Paul''' was not one of the Twelve [[Apostles]]. Paul was the "Apostle to the Gentiles" (Romans 11:13, Galatians 2:8, but became an apostle after the [[AscensionFirst Epistle of Paul to Timothy|1 Timothy]] of 2:7), being [[Jesus Christconvert]], being converted by him directly ed while on the road to Damascusby [[Jesus]] Himself. The Church remembers St. Paul together with St. Peter on [[June 29]].

St. Paul was born Named Saul at his birth in the city of Tarsus , the holy apostle was a son of the tribe of Benjamin and was given the name . Saul. He, like the became a [[Apostle BarnabasPharisee]], studied under Gamaliel, one of the chief Jewish Rabbis (Masters/Teachers) of the day. He was a Pharisee and percecutor After his study under the great Rabbi, Saul became one of the chief persecutors of Christians. Miraculously converted to Present at the stoning of St [[Apostle Stephen the Protomartyr|Stephen]] ([[Acts of the True Faith 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]], StSaul immediately repented and Ananias baptized him. Saul, soon after his conversion called Paul , was later named and numbered among the [[Apostles|Twelve Great Apostles]]. After his baptism by the [[Apostle Ananias]], St. The extent of Paul preached 's preaching as he spread the [[Gospel]] went far and wide from Arabia to Spain and , 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 organzing 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 Barnabas]], Paul studied under Gamaliel.

The account of Paul's [[missionary]] journeys and the letters he wrote to the Churches he founded form an important part of the [[New Testament]]. St. Paul was martyred [[martyr]]ed with the [[Apostle Peter]] under [[Nero]] by beheading.

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

*[[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 ==

==External links==*[http://ocafs.oca.org/FeastSaintsViewer.asp?FSID=101842 The Holy Glorious and All-Praised Leader of the Apostles, Paul] ([[OCA]])*[http://goarch.org/en/chapel/saints.asp?contentid=103 Peter and Paul, the Holy Apostles] ([[GOARCH]]) [[Category:Biblical Saints|Paul]][[Category:Martyrs|Paul]][[Category:Saints|Paul]][[Category:1st-century saints]] [[ar:بولس الرسول]][[el:Απόστολος Παύλος]][[fr:Apôtre Paul]][[ro:Apostolul Pavel]]