The face of the great Apostle Paul is displayed by this icon of Paul. The lay name of Saint Paul was Saul. He was born in the city of Tarsus, located in Asia Minor. Paul was a native of this city and, having come out of slavery, he had all the rights of a Roman citizen. It was in Tarsus that he got acquainted with pagan culture, because the knowledge of pagan writers is visible in his words. Saul received further education in Jerusalem at the academy from the teacher Gamaliel, who was considered an excellent judge of the Law and a lover of Greek wisdom, although he belonged to the Pharisee party. At the academy, Saul was taught how to make tents, which later became very useful to him in order to earn money for food. After graduating from the academy, the young Saul was clearly preparing for the position of rabbi. He showed himself to be a zealot of the Pharisaic traditions and persecutors of the Christian faith.
The face of the great Apostle Paul is displayed by this icon of Paul. The lay name of Saint Paul was Saul. He was born in the city of Tarsus, located in Asia Minor. Paul was a native of this city and, having come out of slavery, he had all the rights of a Roman citizen. It was in Tarsus that he got acquainted with pagan culture, because the knowledge of pagan writers is visible in his words. Saul received further education in Jerusalem at the academy from the teacher Gamaliel, who was considered an excellent judge of the Law and a lover of Greek wisdom, although he belonged to the Pharisee party. At the academy, Saul was taught how to make tents, which later became very useful to him in order to earn money for food. After graduating from the academy, the young Saul was clearly preparing for the position of rabbi. He showed himself to be a zealot of the Pharisaic traditions and persecutors of the Christian faith.