Saint Paul

Paul, a Pharisee turned apostle, encountered the risen Christ on the road to Damascus and heard Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? … I am Jesus (Acts 9:4–5). After that, Paul would voluntarily put himself on the other end of persecution: He endured imprisonments, beatings, and shipwrecks and, by ancient tradition, was martyred in Rome by beheading, hence the sword in the icon.

Baptized and filled with the Spirit, he proclaimed Jesus as the Son of God and received the seal of apostleship for the Gentiles. He wrote doctrinal and pastoral letters—Romans, Corinthians, Galatians, Ephesians, and others—that form a major portion of the New Testament and guide the Church’s life. Paul stands as an architect of the Church’s mission among the nations. He taught salvation by grace received through faith and lived out in good works—faith working through love (Galatians 5:6). His witness still equips the Church and summons believers to endurance and mission.