The Apostle Peter and Orthodox conscience
By Archbishop Stylianos of Australia
http://www.greekorthodox.net.au/pages/peter.htm

"Depart from me, for I am
a sinful man, O Lord" (Luke 5:8)

When we speak about the Apostle Peter, our mind usually goes to the plethoric and dynamic
Apostle, who stood out among the Twelve as 'the head Apostle'. For we remember how often
we see him from within the sacred texts, being the leader in various activities, acting
also on behalf of the rest of the Apostles, yet without separating himself from them.

For instance, Christ asks "Who do men say that the Son of man is?" and Peter immediately
hastens to speak out, on behalf of all, that blessed confession: "You are the Christ, the
Son of the Living God". For this reason it was only natural that he receive thereafter,
again on behalf of his fellow-Apostles, Christ's beatitude, which was addressed to the
believers of all times: "Blessed are you, Simon Bar Jona! For flesh and blood has not
revealed this to you, but my Father who is in heaven" (Mat. 16:17).

The disciples see Judas coming with the band of soldiers in order to arrest Jesus, and
again it is Peter who draws his knife and cuts the right ear of Malchus, who was the high
priest's slave (cf. John 18:10).