Feast day: June 29

Some have called St. Paul as the second founder of Christianity!
The following bibliography celebrates the life of St. Paul.

Early Life
Prior to his conversion, the man we know as Paul was originally named Saul. He was born in Tarsus, (modern day Turkey). Given the wealth of information about Paul in the New Testament (Acts of the Apostles and the 13 letters attributed to him), we are offered much information about his life. For example, from St. Luke's account (Acts 9, 22, 26), we know that he was born into a well-to-do Jewish family, the son of a Roman citizen, and was sent to Jerusalem to be trained in the famous rabbinical school headed by Gamaliel. Here, in addition to studying the Law and the Prophets, he learned a trade, as was the custom. Young Saul chose the trade of tent-making.

Prosecution of Christians
In his own words, his journey to Damascus forever changed his life. While traveling to Damascus to arrest Christians, Paul describes his experience, “a great light from heaven, suddenly shone about me. I fell to the ground and heard a voice saying to me,

“Saul, Saul, why are you persecuting me? … I am Jesus of Nazareth whom you are persecuting.”
(Acts 22: 6-8)

St Paul's Service to Christ
From that moment he dedicated his life to the service of Jesus Christ and his Gospel. A tireless missionary and elegant writer, he led a dangerous and adventurous life on behalf of Christ. He traveled and worked in the ancient cities and countries: Jerusalem, Antioch, Cyprus, Asia Minor, Greece, Ephesus, Macedonia, and Achaia.

Upon a return visit to Jerusalem, he was attacked and imprisoned for his preaching. On his way to prison, he was shipwrecked in Malta. After reaching Rome, he was kept on house arrest awaiting trial and wrote four of his letters while in captivity, as an ambassador “in chains.” (Eph 6:20)
After his appeal, Paul was acquitted and continued on with the last of his missionary journeys. According to tradition, he was beheaded upon his return to Rome during the persecution of Nero and is buried where the basilica of St. Paul's "outside the walls" now stands. (Learn more about St. Paul's Journey @ the Year of St. Paul's Interactive Journey )

St. Paul's Death

The date of his death is thought to be June 29, 65 AD.

Videos

Year of St. Paul, Year of Ecumenism

2000 YEARS OF ST. PAUL'S TEACHINGS