Apron Saints: St. Andrew and St. Peter, Apostles

Fish was a staple of the diet in the Holy Land in antiquity. It still is. At least four of the Twelve Apostles—Andrew, James (the Greater), John, and Peter—earned their pre-Apostolic livelihood as fishermen. SS. Andrew and Peter were living and working at Capernaum when they first met Jesus. According to the Gospel of John, Andrew was initially a follower of John the Baptist. He was exhorted by the Baptist to follow Christ. Andrew did, and subsequently introduced his brother to Jesus as the long-promised Messiah. For this reason, Andrew is known as the “Protokletos” or “First-Called” Apostle. + Today, the Galilean tilapia is known as “St. Peter’s fish.” Scholars opine that it was from the mouth of a tilapia that St. Peter once withdrew a coin from a fish that he caught at Christ’s behest in order to pay the Temple tax for himself and for Jesus (Matthew 17:23-26). + Though St. Peter was married (or widowed) and undoubtedly enjoyed many a home-cooked meal prepared by his wife or mother-in-law as an adult, he himself probably knew his way around a kitchen and certainly around an open campfire. Even Jesus cooked. After the Resurrection, He fed the Apostles fish (probably tilapia) for breakfast on the shore of the Sea of Galilee. + In this collection, Saints_Aplenty has depicted the brothers Andrew and Peter both together having a seaside cookout or singly bringing in today's catch or frying fish over an open campfire. In addition, St. Peter is depicted cooking indoors over a stone, wood-burning "stove." + Saints-Aplenty exclusives, the images are pastiches of elements extracted from 19th-century devotional prints, and public domain resources, and Pixabay pic. SS. Andrew and Peter are the first two figures to be featured in a projected series of genially humorous “Apron Saints,” saints who knew their way around the kitchen, saints associated with food and drink. + St. Andrew and St. Peter are patrons of fishermen. + Feasts: June 29 (Peter) and November 30 (Andrew)