Massive Old Icon of Saint Apostle Peter. Saint Apostle Peter was one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ and a key figure in Christian history. His original name was Simon. He was a fisherman from Galilee, brother of the Apostle Andrew the First-Called. The name "Peter": Christ called him "Cephas" (in Aramaic) or "Peter" (in Greek), which means "rock". By this, Jesus emphasized that on his faith he would build His church. He is considered the leader of the apostles and is often their spokesman. In the Catholic Church he is revered as the first pope.