22 September/ 5 October

St. Peter, the former publican, was the principal tax collector in Africa during the reign of Emperor Justinian (527 - 565). He was a cruel and unkind person. Once he threw a piece of bread at an indigent person who was persistently begging alms. That night, Peter dreamed that he saw himself dead, and the Angels weighing his actions in the scales of God’s Judgment. There was nothing to put on the side of good deeds except the piece of bread thrown out of annoyance at the poor man; however, even that was able to stop the side holding his corrupt deeds from sinking down. Peter understood the meaning of his dream; he repented, and completely changed his way of life. He gave generously to the needy, and fed and clothed many.

Once, in a dream, Peter saw Jesus Christ. The Lord was clothed in garments that the saint had once given to a poor man. Then Peter gave away his property to the poor, and ordered his servant to sell him into slavery and give the proceeds to the poor. The servant obeyed his master’s orders. For many years, Peter labored for his master, earnestly and without complaint. Once, merchants who had known him earlier recognized him. They told the owner who his servant was. Overhearing the conversation, the Saint immediately fled from the city. At his departure, he worked a miracle: on obeying Peter’s orders in the name of Jesus Christ to open the gates, a deaf and dumb slave immediately received the gifts of hearing and speech. He hurried to tell everything to his lord, and added that as the saint was ordering him to open the gates, a flame came out of the saint’s mouth and touched his face, after which he was immediately able to hear and speak. Everyone went looking for Peter, but their searches were fruitless. The saint had gone into hiding, and nothing further was heard of him until his death.

The Life of St. Peter was recorded for posterity by Holy Hierarch St. John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria (commemorated 12 November), who in his turn had learned the story from someone who had personally known the saint.