Righteous Peter the Publican — September 22 / October 5 (Julian Calendar)

On this day, September 22 according to the Julian Calendar (October 5 civil calendar), the Georgian Orthodox Church commemorates Righteous Peter the Publican.

The Righteous Peter, a former tax collector, was chief of the tax collectors in Africa during the reign of the Emperor Justinian (527–565). Once, he threw a piece of bread at a beggar who had wearied him with pleas for alms. That night Peter saw in a dream that he had died and that angels were weighing his deeds on the scales of judgment. There was nothing to place on the scale of good deeds except the piece of bread thrown at the beggar in anger, yet even this stayed the scale of evil deeds, which was already sinking down. Peter understood the meaning of the vision, repented, and completely changed his way of life. From then on he generously helped the poor.

Once, as he slept, Jesus Christ appeared to the blessed man, dressed in the very garment that Peter had once given to a beggar. Then Peter distributed all his wealth among the destitute and commanded a servant to sell him as a slave as well, and to give the money as alms. For many years the saint faithfully served his master, but one day acquaintances who were merchants recognized him and told the master who his slave was. Peter immediately left the city. Before departing he worked a miracle: a deaf-mute slave who kept the gate carried out Peter’s command, given in Christ’s name, and opened the doors, and received the gift of hearing and speech. The saint disappeared, and until his death no one heard anything more of him. The life of the blessed Peter was preserved by John the Merciful, Patriarch of Alexandria (commemorated November 12).