Lammas; Liberation, and Illumination: St Peter in Chains (Sancti Petri ad Vincula).

Today is a popular day to celebrate Lammas, the first Harvest; the astrological point of Lammas is on 7th August when the Sun is at 15° Leo. We are between the summer solstice and the autumn equinox. It is the time of year when the sun is said to be at its hottest.

Within the Catholic Church, today is also the feast of “Saint Peter in Chains”, a commemoration of the Apostle Peter’s imprisonment in Jerusalem by King Herod, and his miraculous liberation by an angel.

The story of St Peter in chains is found in the Bible in Acts chapter 12:3-19; it describes how King Herod has Peter imprisoned and plans to execute him, but an angel of the Lord intervenes, freeing Peter from his chains and leading him out of the prison. The liberation of Peter is a testament to the power of prayer, and the keeping of faith even under the most challenging conditions.

“Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared, and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. ‘Quick, get up!’ he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists.” (Acts 12:7)

Chains symbolise bondage, oppression, and suffering but we also see how God transforms this symbol of captivity into an emblem of deliverance. The physical chains that once restrained Peter become a reminder of his freedom.

From a psychological perspective the chains are those that bind the spirit, and imprison the mind, the body, and the soul.

Another text concerning Peter, (thought to be pseudepigraphal) The Apocalypse of Peter reveals the joys of heaven and the torments of hell. Written in the 2nd century the text is part of the New Testament apocrypha; it was deemed inauthentic and did not meet the criteria for the canon.

“And there will be others of those who are outside our number who name themselves “bishop” and also “deacons”, as if they have received their authority from God. They submit to the judgment of the leaders. Those people are dry canals.”

— Apocalypse of Peter 79, 22-30

The Gnostic Apocalypse of Peter (another text) found at Nag Hammadi, criticises proto-orthodox views and presents an altogether different understanding of Christ and salvation. The main concern is with the nature of true knowledge; we learn that evil cannot produce good fruit. Evil refers to the fallen age or aeon, where people are slaves to the desires of the material world and have forgotten the true nature of the immortal spirit.

According to the Gnostic Apocalypse of Peter the material world is illusionary and will dissolve into non-existence, while the truth of the immortal spirit will continue. Peter learns to listen to the priests and people of the time twice: first normally, and then with the “ears of his head”. Today we might recognise this as listening beyond and beneath what people say, instead attuning to the spiritual intention or vibration of their words.

Not to make this post a theological commentary, I find the symbolism of St Peter in chains, and the fact that the feast day coincides with Lammas an interesting synchronicity.

What evil deeds of ours have not come to fruition? Evil in this context could mean against the Christ, the God, or the Sophia within. Where have we elevated the falseness of the illusionary world above our inner knowing, and self-gnosis?

In the story of Peter and the chains from the bible, it is through Peter’s faith, his prayers, and the prayers of the other discipline that delivers him from impending execution.

In The Apocalypse of Peter, the message is to be wary of those who have assumed spiritual (or other) authority and who have not been appointed by God.

The Gnostic Apocalypse of Peter speaks to Christ within. The real Christ as a spiritual being who is filled with the Holy Spirit. The idea that he could be killed by those who do not understand him and who are misguided is absurd. Here, Jesus encourages Peter not to fear, to be courageous and know that his enemies cannot touch him. A deeper psychological reading might also include the possibility that the enemy is within as well as without.

How can the story of St Peter and the chains as an archetypal allegory guide us today?

At this time of year when the illumination and fire of the Sun is at its peak, our consciousness filled with the light of the holy spirit, may also be at its peak. Lammas is a time of celebration, of reaping what we have sown, of enjoying the fruits of our labour, and making sacrifices to the illumination within so that we may receive more.

What are the chains that bind you from realising the Christ within? What false prophets have you been listening to? Where have you given your power over to the illusionary world? What chains are you ready to break free from?

What if the “Angel of the Lord” that came down and performed a miracle is really another way of saying the illuminated aspect of our psyche- that we have not yet integrated- that is waiting in the wings to elevate us and free us from mental shackles so that we may free our soul, sow non evil seeds, and reap and a good harvest.

Lammas Blessings.