The Chair of Saint Peter (Latin: Cathedra Petri), also known as the Throne of Saint Peter, is a relic conserved in St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the sovereign enclave of the Pope inside Rome, Italy. The relic is a wooden throne that tradition claims belonged to the Apostle Saint Peter, the leader of the Early Christians in Rome and first Pope, and which he used as Bishop of Rome.[1] The relic is enclosed in a sculpted giltbronze casing designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and constructed between 1647 and 1653.[1] In 2012, Pope Benedict XVI described the chair as "a symbol of the special mission of Peter and his Successors to tend Christ's flock, keeping it united in faith and in charity."[2]
The Pope's throne in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, last publicly exposed in 1867. (From Wood Carvings in English Churches, 1910)
The wooden throne was a gift from Emperor of the RomansCharles the Bald to Pope John VIII in 875.[1] It has been studied many times over the years, most recently between 1968 and 1974, when it was last removed from the Bernini altar.[3] The study concluded that it was not a double, but a single chair, with a covering, and that no part of the chair dated earlier than the sixth century.[3]
The relic itself is described as an oaken chair damaged by cuts and worms. The chair has metal rings attached to each side, allowing use as a sedia gestatoria. The back and front of the chair are trimmed with carved ivory. This description comes from 1867, when the relic was photographed and displayed for veneration.[4]
The reliquary, like many of the medieval period, takes the form of the relic it protects, i.e. the form of a chair. Symbolically, the chair Bernini designed had no earthly counterpart in actual contemporary furnishings. It is formed entirely of scrolling members, enclosing a coved panel where the upholstery pattern is rendered as a low relief of Christ instructing Peter to tend to his sheep.[5] Large angelic figures flank an openwork panel beneath a highly realistic bronze seat cushion, vividly empty: the relic is encased within.[a]
The cathedra is lofted on splayed scrolling bars that appear to be effortlessly supported by four over-lifesize bronze Doctors of the Church: Western doctors Saint Ambrose and Saint Augustine of Hippo on the outsides, wearing miters, and Eastern doctors Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Athanasius on the insides, both bare-headed. The cathedra appears to hover over the altar in the basilica's apse, lit by a central tinted window through which light streams, illuminating the gilded glory of sunrays and sculpted clouds that surrounds the window. Like Bernini's Ecstasy of Saint Theresa, this is a definitive fusion[6] of the Baroque arts, unifying sculpture and richly polychrome architecture and manipulating effects of light.
Above, on the golden background of the frieze, is the Latin inscription: "O Pastor Ecclesiae, tu omnes Christi pascis agnos et oves" ('O Shepherd of the Church, you feed all Christ's lambs and sheep'). On the right is the same writing in Greek, "ΣΥ ΒΟΣΚΕΙΣ ΤΑ ΑΡΝΙΑ, ΣΥ ΠΟΙΜΑΙΝΕΙΣ ΤΑ ΠΡΟΒΑΤΙΑ ΧΡΙΣΤΟΥ".[7] Behind the altar is placed Bernini's monument enclosing the wooden chair, both of which are seen as symbolic of the authority of the Bishop of Rome as Vicar of Christ and successor of Saint Peter.
Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter
Early martyrologies indicate that two liturgical feasts were celebrated in Rome, centuries before the time of Charles the Bald, in honour of earlier chairs associated with Saint Peter, one of which was kept in the baptismal chapel of Old St. Peter's Basilica, the other at the catacomb of Priscilla.[4] The dates of these celebrations were January 18 and February 22. No surviving chair has been identified with either of these chairs. The feasts thus became associated with an abstract understanding of the "Chair of Peter", which by synecdoche signifies the episcopal office of the Pope as Bishop of Rome, an office considered to have been first held by Saint Peter, and thus extended to the diocese, the See of Rome.[8]
According to historian Anton de Waal, although both feasts were originally associated with Saint Peter's stay in Rome, the ninth-century form of the Martyrologium Hieronymianum associated the January 18 feast with his stay in Rome, and the February 22 feast with his stay at Antioch.[4] The two feasts were included in the Tridentine Calendar with the rank of Double, which Pope Clement VIII raised in 1604 to the newly invented rank of Greater Double.
^In late 17th-century Venice, Andrea Brustolon constructed a few grandiose armchairs that employ similar sculptural figures doing duty as front legs and armrest supports.
References
^ abc. Vatican State. Archived from the original on 16 May 2017. Retrieved 20 March 2013.
^Akin, Jimmy (February 20, 2013). "9 things you need to know about the "Chair of St. Peter"". National Catholic Register. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
^ ab"The Chair of Peter". Catholic Exchange. Sophia Institute Press. February 22, 2016. Retrieved 23 March 2016.
^ abcWaal, Anton de. "Chair of Peter." The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol. 3. New York: Robert Appleton Company, 1908 This article incorporates text from this source, which is in the public domain.
This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain: Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Chair of Peter". Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.
External links
External video
Smarthistory: Bernini's Cathedra Petri (Chair of St. Peter)
Media related to Cathedra Petri at Wikimedia Commons
Altar of the Chair of St. Peter
Catholic Encyclopedia: "Chair of St. Peter" — article contains photograph of the chair of Charles the Bald
Encyclopædia Britannica Online: Gian Lorenzo Bernini
"Masaryk University"
February 19, 2023
chair, saint, peter, personal, ordinariate, catholic, church, personal, ordinariate, latin, cathedra, petri, also, known, throne, saint, peter, relic, conserved, peter, basilica, vatican, city, sovereign, enclave, pope, inside, rome, italy, relic, wooden, thro. For the personal ordinariate of the Catholic Church see Personal Ordinariate of the Chair of Saint Peter The Chair of Saint Peter Latin Cathedra Petri also known as the Throne of Saint Peter is a relic conserved in St Peter s Basilica in Vatican City the sovereign enclave of the Pope inside Rome Italy The relic is a wooden throne that tradition claims belonged to the Apostle Saint Peter the leader of the Early Christians in Rome and first Pope and which he used as Bishop of Rome 1 The relic is enclosed in a sculpted gilt bronze casing designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini and constructed between 1647 and 1653 1 In 2012 Pope Benedict XVI described the chair as a symbol of the special mission of Peter and his Successors to tend Christ s flock keeping it united in faith and in charity 2 Chair of Saint PeterLatin Cathedra PetriArtistGian Lorenzo BerniniYear1657 1666 1657 1666 Catalogue61TypeSculptureMediumGilt bronzeLocationSt Peter s Basilica Vatican CityCoordinates41 54 8 N 12 27 12 E 41 90222 N 12 45333 E 41 90222 12 45333 Coordinates 41 54 8 N 12 27 12 E 41 90222 N 12 45333 E 41 90222 12 45333Preceded byHabakkuk and the Angel Bernini Followed bySaints Jerome and Mary Magdalen Bernini The Pope s throne in St Peter s Basilica Vatican City last publicly exposed in 1867 From Wood Carvings in English Churches 1910 The wooden throne was a gift from Emperor of the Romans Charles the Bald to Pope John VIII in 875 1 It has been studied many times over the years most recently between 1968 and 1974 when it was last removed from the Bernini altar 3 The study concluded that it was not a double but a single chair with a covering and that no part of the chair dated earlier than the sixth century 3 Contents 1 Description 2 Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter 3 See also 4 Notes 5 References 6 External linksDescription EditThe relic itself is described as an oaken chair damaged by cuts and worms The chair has metal rings attached to each side allowing use as a sedia gestatoria The back and front of the chair are trimmed with carved ivory This description comes from 1867 when the relic was photographed and displayed for veneration 4 The reliquary like many of the medieval period takes the form of the relic it protects i e the form of a chair Symbolically the chair Bernini designed had no earthly counterpart in actual contemporary furnishings It is formed entirely of scrolling members enclosing a coved panel where the upholstery pattern is rendered as a low relief of Christ instructing Peter to tend to his sheep 5 Large angelic figures flank an openwork panel beneath a highly realistic bronze seat cushion vividly empty the relic is encased within a The cathedra is lofted on splayed scrolling bars that appear to be effortlessly supported by four over lifesize bronze Doctors of the Church Western doctors Saint Ambrose and Saint Augustine of Hippo on the outsides wearing miters and Eastern doctors Saint John Chrysostom and Saint Athanasius on the insides both bare headed The cathedra appears to hover over the altar in the basilica s apse lit by a central tinted window through which light streams illuminating the gilded glory of sunrays and sculpted clouds that surrounds the window Like Bernini s Ecstasy of Saint Theresa this is a definitive fusion 6 of the Baroque arts unifying sculpture and richly polychrome architecture and manipulating effects of light Above on the golden background of the frieze is the Latin inscription O Pastor Ecclesiae tu omnes Christi pascis agnos et oves O Shepherd of the Church you feed all Christ s lambs and sheep On the right is the same writing in Greek SY BOSKEIS TA ARNIA SY POIMAINEIS TA PROBATIA XRISTOY 7 Behind the altar is placed Bernini s monument enclosing the wooden chair both of which are seen as symbolic of the authority of the Bishop of Rome as Vicar of Christ and successor of Saint Peter Feast of the Chair of Saint Peter EditEarly martyrologies indicate that two liturgical feasts were celebrated in Rome centuries before the time of Charles the Bald in honour of earlier chairs associated with Saint Peter one of which was kept in the baptismal chapel of Old St Peter s Basilica the other at the catacomb of Priscilla 4 The dates of these celebrations were January 18 and February 22 No surviving chair has been identified with either of these chairs The feasts thus became associated with an abstract understanding of the Chair of Peter which by synecdoche signifies the episcopal office of the Pope as Bishop of Rome an office considered to have been first held by Saint Peter and thus extended to the diocese the See of Rome 8 According to historian Anton de Waal although both feasts were originally associated with Saint Peter s stay in Rome the ninth century form of the Martyrologium Hieronymianum associated the January 18 feast with his stay in Rome and the February 22 feast with his stay at Antioch 4 The two feasts were included in the Tridentine Calendar with the rank of Double which Pope Clement VIII raised in 1604 to the newly invented rank of Greater Double In 1960 Pope John XXIII deleted the January 18 feast from the General Roman Calendar along with seven other feast days that were duplicate feasts of a single saint or mystery The February 22 celebration became a Second Class Feast This calendar was incorporated in the 1962 Roman Missal of Pope John XXIII whose continued use Pope Benedict XVI authorized under the conditions indicated in his motu proprio Summorum Pontificum Traditionalist Catholics who use older calendars continue to celebrate both feast days Saint Peter s Chair at Rome on January 18 and the Chair of Saint Peter at Antioch on February 22 In the new classification of holy days introduced in 1969 the February 22 celebration has the rank of Feast See also EditList of works by Gian Lorenzo Bernini Index of Vatican City related articlesNotes Edit In late 17th century Venice Andrea Brustolon constructed a few grandiose armchairs that employ similar sculptural figures doing duty as front legs and armrest supports References Edit a b c Interior of the Basilica Vatican State Archived from the original on 16 May 2017 Retrieved 20 March 2013 Akin Jimmy February 20 2013 9 things you need to know about the Chair of St Peter National Catholic Register Retrieved 23 March 2016 a b The Chair of Peter Catholic Exchange Sophia Institute Press February 22 2016 Retrieved 23 March 2016 a b c Waal Anton de Chair of Peter The Catholic Encyclopedia Vol 3 New York Robert Appleton Company 1908 This article incorporates text from this source which is in the public domain John 21 17 See Gesamtkunstwerk The Tribune Altar of the Chair of St Peter Retrieved 14 September 2014 Chair of Saint Peter Franciscan Media This article incorporates text from a publication now in the public domain Herbermann Charles ed 1913 Chair of Peter Catholic Encyclopedia New York Robert Appleton Company External links EditExternal video Smarthistory Bernini s Cathedra Petri Chair of St Peter Media related to Cathedra Petri at Wikimedia Commons Altar of the Chair of St Peter Catholic Encyclopedia Chair of St Peter article contains photograph of the chair of Charles the Bald Encyclopaedia Britannica Online Gian Lorenzo Bernini Masaryk University Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title Chair of Saint Peter amp oldid 1131725950, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
