Orthodox View of St. Peter’s Role in the Early Church

The Orthodox Church recognizes St. Peter as a prominent and respected leader among the apostles, often referred to as primus inter pares (“first among equals”). He played a significant role in the early Church, boldly proclaiming the Gospel (Acts 2:14-41), acting as a spokesman for the apostles (Matthew 16:18-19), and shepherding Christ’s flock (John 21:15-17). However, Orthodox theology firmly rejects the idea of Peter’s supremacy or unilateral authority over the Church.

Instead, Peter’s leadership is understood within the context of shared apostolic authority. All apostles were equally entrusted by Christ with the power to “bind and loose” (Matthew 18:18) and to forgive sins (John 20:22-23), emphasizing collective governance. The Council of Jerusalem (Acts 15) exemplifies this conciliar model, where decisions were made collectively by apostles and elders, with James presiding as bishop of Jerusalem.

Orthodox tradition also highlights biblical incidents that challenge notions of Peter’s supremacy, such as Paul’s public rebuke of Peter in Antioch (Galatians 2:11-14) and instances where other apostles acted independently in their missionary work (Acts 14:23). Furthermore, Orthodox ecclesiology emphasizes that Christ alone is the head of the Church (Ephesians 5:23), with bishops serving as successors to all apostles—not just Peter.

In summary, St. Peter is honored for his leadership and contributions to the early Church but is seen as equal in authority to the other apostles. His role reflects a primacy of honor rather than jurisdiction, consistent with Orthodox theology’s emphasis on conciliarity and equality among bishops.