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Why does the Church celebrate Sts. Peter and Paul together?

The Church celebrates the feast day of Sts. Peter and Paul on June 29.

"As early as the year 258, there is evidence of an already lengthy tradition of celebrating the solemnities of both St. Peter and St. Paul on the same day. Together, the two saints are the founders of the see of Rome, through their preaching, ministry and martyrdom there," Catholic News Agency states in its saint archive online at CatholicNewsAgency.com.

The article also shares a homily quote by St. Augustine from 395 about Sts. Peter and Paul:

"Both apostles share the same feast day, for these two were one; and even though they suffered on different days, they were as one. Peter went first, and Paul followed. And so we celebrate this day made holy for us by the apostles’ blood. Let us embrace what they believed, their life, their labors, their sufferings, their preaching and their confession of faith."

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