Saints Peter and Paul

Peter and Paul – Peter and Paul represent the spread of the gospel and, according to tradition, were martyred on the same date. The two keys  symbolize the giving of the keys to the kingdom to Peter by Jesus and is known as the donatio or traditio clavicum. Paul received the gift of the law, that is doctrine, which is represented by the open book. This is known as traditio legis. Christian tradition, and  therefore the iconography too, often thinks of these two apostles together as pillars supporting the church, Paul by his teaching and Peter by his assigned task of protecting the flock of the faithful.