MURAL OF JESUS CHRIST AND THE APOSTLES
Apostles on the left

photo - St. Peter Cathedral collection
click on the pictures for details

AMES THE LESS is holding a Bible and a club, which was the instrument of his death.

SIMON holds a saw called a falchion. According to legend, heathen priests hewed Simon to death with such a saw.

JAMES THE GREATER, like his brother John, has been described by the word Boanerges, which means "sons of thunder," indicating fiery tempers. James was the first Apostle to die for the Christian faith, having been beheaded by King Herod Agrippa. The pilgrim saint of soldiers, laborers, and pharmacists, he carries a wallet hanging on a staff.

ANDREW, a fisherman, was also a disciple of John the Baptist. The saltire cross, commonly called St. Andrew's Cross, represents Scotland on the Union Jack. It became associated with St. Andrew in the 10th century at Autun.

Before Christ called him, MATTHEW was a tax collector for the Romans. The writer of the gospel which most emphasizes the human family ties of Christ, Matthew holds his book and a money bag, in memory of his former profession.

PAUL, referred to as The Apostle to the Gentiles, is not one of the original twelve Apostles. In many of the artistic renditions of the Apostles, Paul takes the place of St. Matthias who replaced Judas. In this mural, Paul is holding a sword and a scroll containing his symbolic phrase, "Spiritus GIadius," which means "Sword of the Spirit."