StSt. Paul, Our Patron
Paul was probably the greatest missionary the Christian Church has known. He journeyed through most of the vast Roman Empire, planting the seeds of Christian thought.
The date of his birth is generally placed between 5 and 10 A.D. at Tarsus in Cilicia. Born of Jewish parents, he was well educated in Jewish and non - Jewish studies. Like many Jewish children living outside Palestine, Saul (his Jewish name) was given a second name, (Paul). Paul is the name by which he is best remembered. Because of his father's status with the Roman government, he enjoyed the privileges of Roman citizenship. He was bilingual (Hebrew and Greek). He studied under the great Jewish rabbi, Gamaliel and eventually became an ardent Pharisee. Because of his zealousness for the strict observance of Jewish laws and traditions, he became a persecutor of the followers of Jesus Christ.
After some years, he experienced a conversion on the road to Damascus. He became a Christian. From a persecutor of Christians, Paul was transformed into an ardent and zealous apostle of Christ.