Steve's Genealogy Blog

The Arch of Constantine in Rome, Italy

Posted on October 11, 2011 by Steve

The Arch of Constantine stands between the Roman Forum and the Colosseum in Rome, Lazio, Italy. The Roman Senate erected this arch in the year 315 AD to commemorate the victory of Constantine over Maxentius at the Milvian Bridge in 312 AD.

The inscription on the attic panel reads the same on both sides of the monument:

To the Emperor Caesar Flavius Constantine, the Greatest, Pius, Felix, Augustus: inspired by (a) divinity, in the greatness of his mind, he used his army to save the state by the just force of arms from a tyrant on the one hand and every kind of factionalism on the other; therefore the Senate and the People of Rome have dedicated this exceptional arch to his triumphs.

SOURCE: Bill Thayer, A Monumental Inscription or: Read the Flattery as Relief… (http://penelope.uchicago.edu/Thayer/E/home.html : accessed 10 October 2011).

Most of the detail on the Arch of Constantine was appropriated from other monuments in Rome, notably those of Trajan, Hadrian, and Marcus Aurelius. In the attic story of the monument are reliefs celebrating Marcus Aurelius’ victory over the Germans. The standing figures of prisoners were removed from the Forum of Trajan and commemorate Trajan’s victory over the Dacians. The roundels on the north and south sides of the arch were made for Hadrian.

On the sides of the arch are roundels that actually originate from Constantine’s time, but the friezes above the roundels are from a monument to Trajan. On the east side, the roundel depicts the sun riding in a chariot.

On the inside of the central arch are friezes from the time of Trajan depicting a Roman on horseback and rearing over a fallen enemy.

South Face of the Arch of Constantine

SOURCE: South Face of the Arch of Constantine (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Sun Riding a Chariot

SOURCE: The Sun Riding a Chariot (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Battle Scene on the East Face of the Arch of Constantine

SOURCE: Battle Scene on the East Face of the Arch of Constantine (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

North Face of the Arch of Constantine

SOURCE: North Face of the Arch of Constantine (Rome, Lazio, Italy); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged Italy, Mediterranean Vacation, Rome | Comments Off

The Main Altars and the Floor of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter

Posted on October 10, 2011 by Steve

The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the State of the Vatican City holds many altars, but the two main altars are the Papal Altar and the Altar of the Chair of Saint Peter.

The Papal Altar is directly above Saint Peter’s tomb and is surmounted by a canopy – the Baldacchino – created by Bernini. The Pope is the only person who ever celebrates Mass at the Papal Altar.

The altarpiece of the Altar of the Chair of Saint Peter, also by Bernini, includes an oak throne in which fragments of acacia wood are embedded. These pieces of acacia wood are thought to have been part of the chair in which Saint Peter sat when he instructed the faithful in Rome. The chair is flanked by Saint Ambrose and Saint Anthanasius on the left, and by Saint John Chrysostom and St. Augustine on the right.

The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter is the largest Catholic Church in the world. On the floor of the basilica are markers to show the length of the next 31 largest churches, including:

St John Lateran, Rome, Italy at 121.84 meters
Our Lady of the Angels, Los Angeles, CA at 120.62 meters
La Plata Cathedral, La Plata, Argentina at 120 meters
Mexico City Cathedral, Mexico City, Mexico at 119.55 meters.

The Papal Altar

SOURCE: The Papal Altar (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Baldacchino

SOURCE: The Baldacchino (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Altar of the Chair of Saint Peter

SOURCE: The Altar of the Chair of Saint Peter (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Floor of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter

SOURCE: The Floor of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged Mediterranean Vacation, Vatican City | 1 Comment

Altars and Chapels in the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter

Posted on October 9, 2011 by Steve

The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the State of the Vatican City includes many chapels and altars. Many of the chapels and altars contain the bodies, remains, or relics of deceased popes.

The Chapel of Saint Sebastian is named after the altarpiece, a mosaic created by Pier Paulo Cristofari between 1730-1736. From 1743-1755, Christofari was the Director of the Vatican Mosaic Studio and was responsible for the production of many of the altarpieces in the basilica. The mosaic was designed after a painting created by Domenico Zampieri, better known as Domenichino, in 1628-1631. The remains of Pope Innocent XI lie beneath the altar.

The Altar of Saint Jerome is the final resting place of Pope John XXIII who died in 1963 and was beatified on September 3, 2000 by Pope John Paul II. In 2001, John XXIII’s tomb was opened so that his body could be transferred to the basilica. Witnesses reported that his body had remained incorrupt. The body, embalmed and covered in wax, can be viewed through a glass window under the Altar of Saint Jerome.

Below the Altar of Gregory the Great is a marble sarcophagus containing relics of Pope Gregory I. The altarpiece is a mosaic created in 1772 by Alessandro Cocchi and Vincenzo Castellini from an original by Andrea Sacchi. The mosaic shows Pope Gregory I cutting a linen cloth that had been on St. Peter’s tomb when it suddenly bled. Pope Gregory’s name is associated with the Gregorian Chants, which he promoted.

The Altar of the Transfiguration includes Monosilio’s mosaic copy of Raphael’s Transfiguration. The upper part of the mosaic shows the transfiguration itself while the lower part of the image shows a crowd surrounding a possessed boy. The original painting had been displayed at Raphael’s deathbed and headed the procession when Raphael’s body was brought to the Pantheon to be interred there.

The Chapel of Saint Sebastian

SOURCE: The Chapel of Saint Sebastian (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Pope John XXIII

SOURCE: Pope John XXIII (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Altar of Saint Gregory the Great

SOURCE: The Altar of Saint Gregory the Great (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Altar of the Transfiguration

SOURCE: The Altar of the Transfiguration (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged Mediterranean Vacation, Vatican City | Comments Off

Statues of Popes and Saints in the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter

Posted on October 8, 2011 by Steve

The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the State of the Vatican City is home to a large number of sculptures of Popes and Saints, many of which are the works of noted artists.

The statue of Pope Gregory XIII is an impressive work created in 1723, depicting the Pope flanked by allegorical representations of Religion (holding the tablets of law) and Magnificence. Gregory XIII was responsible for the institution of the Gregorian Calendar, the calendar which, for the most part, is still used today.

The statue of Pope Leo XII was created in 1836. It shows the Pope in the act of imparting the papal blessing during the Jubilee year of 1825. When elected to the papacy, Pope Leo XII tried to decline saying “You are electing a dead man.”

The statue of Saint Camillus de Lellis dates from 1753. Saint Camillus founded the Ministers of the Sick (the Camellians).

The statue of Saint Peter of Alcantara was created in 1713. Saint Peter of Alcantara preferred to preach to the poor. He was known for his gift of contemplation and his virtue of penance. He is the patron saint of Brazil and Extremadura, Spain.

Pope Gregory XIII

SOURCE: Pope Gregory XIII (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Pope Leo XII

SOURCE: Pope Leo XII (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Saint Camillus de Lellis

SOURCE: Saint Camillus de Lellis (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Saint Peter of Alcantara

SOURCE: Saint Peter of Alcantara (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged Mediterranean Vacation, Vatican City | Comments Off

Entering the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter

Posted on October 7, 2011 by Steve

Upon arriving at the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter, pilgrims enter the portico where there are five doors that open into the basilica itself. From the south (on the left, facing the doors) are the Door of Death, the Door of Good and Evil, the Filarete Door, the Door of the Sacraments, and the Holy Door. The ceiling of the portico is richly decorated in gold paint and the lunettes contain statues of the first 28 martyred Popes. Looking to the south in the portico, the coat of arms of Pope Paul V can be seen on the ceiling, surrounded by scenes from the life of Saint Peter. At the end of this view, in the lunette, are statues of Pope Callistus I and Pope Zephyrinus I.

Entering through the Door of the Sacraments and turning to the right, one can see the inside of the Holy Door, walled up and decorated with a golden cross. Above the Holy Door is a mosaic of Saint Peter, installed by Pope Clement X in 1675. Further to the right is Michelangelo’s Pieta, safely ensconced behind bulletproof glass after Laszlo Toth damaged the sculpture with a hammer in 1972.

Portico Ceiling

SOURCE: Portico Ceiling (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Pope Callistus I and Pope Zephyrinus I

SOURCE: Pope Callistus I and Pope Zephyrinus I (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Interior of the Holy Door

SOURCE: Interior of the Holy Door (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Mosaic of Saint Peter

SOURCE: Mosaic of Saint Peter (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Michelangelo’s Pieta

SOURCE: Michelangelo’s Pieta (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged Mediterranean Vacation, Vatican City | Comments Off

The Filarete Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter

Posted on October 6, 2011 by Steve

The Filarete door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the State of the Vatican City is the center door in the front of the basilica. The door is named after the creator of the door, Antonio Averuline known as Filarete. The door was originally part of the previous basilica and includes six large panels and several smaller images. The larger panels are:

Jesus Enthroned
Mary Enthroned
Saint Paul with the Sword
Saint Peter Giving the Keys to Pope Eugene IV
The Beheading of Saint Paul
The Crucifixion of Saint Peter

The Filarete Door

SOURCE: The Filarete Door (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Jesus Enthroned

SOURCE: Jesus Enthroned (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Mary Enthroned

SOURCE: Mary Enthroned (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Saint Paul with the Sword

SOURCE: Saint Paul with the Sword (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Saint Peter Giving the Keys to Pope Eugene IV

SOURCE: Saint Peter Giving the Keys to Pope Eugene IV (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Beheading of Saint Paul

SOURCE: The Beheading of Saint Paul (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Crucifixion of Saint Peter

SOURCE: The Crucifixion of Saint Peter (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged Mediterranean Vacation, Vatican City | Comments Off

The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 4 of 4

Posted on October 5, 2011 by Steve

In Jubilee years, the Pope offers a plenary indulgence to those of the faithful who fulfill certain conditions. While the Sacrament of Penance removes the guilt due to sin and the eternal punishment due to mortal sin, the Catholic Church teaches that sinners must still offer restitution to God for their sins. Indulgences allow believers to achieve that restitution. As a rule, those who wish to obtain the indulgence must offer their confession, receive Communion, pray for the Pope, renounce all attachment to sin, and visit the four basilicas in Rome.

In the Great Jubilee in the year 2000, Pope John Paul II liberalized the requirements to receive the plenary indulgence. While the requirements for confession, Communion, prayer for the Pope, and renunciation of all sin remained in place, Pope John Paul II required a single visit to just one designated church, entering through the Holy Door. In addition to the four basilicas in Rome, the faithful were allowed to visit the Sanctuary of Divine Love in Rome or a location (usually the cathedral) specified by each Catholic diocese throughout the world.

The final four panels in the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the State of the Vatican City are:

The Appearance to Thomas
Christ’s Appearance to the Disciples
The Conversion of Saul
Opening the Holy Door

The Appearance to Thomas

SOURCE: The Appearance to Thomas (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Christ’s Appearance to the Disciples

SOURCE: Christ’s Appearance to the Disciples (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Conversion of Saul

SOURCE: The Conversion of Saul (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Opening the Holy Door

SOURCE: Opening the Holy Door (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The posts in this series include:

The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 1 of 4
The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 2 of 4
The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 3 of 4
The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 4 of 4

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged Mediterranean Vacation, Vatican City | Comments Off

The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 3 of 4

Posted on October 4, 2011 by Steve

The first known Jubilee year was declared in 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII, but the first use of the Holy Door was probably not until the Jubilee year 1423 when Pope Martin V opened the Holy Door at the Basilica of Saint John Lateran.

Pope Boniface VII intended that the Jubilee year be celebrated only once every hundred years. Nonetheless, Jubilee years were declared in 1350, 1390, and 1400. Pope Urban VI proposed that a Jubilee year be celebrated every 33 years and Pope Nicholas V later proposed that a Jubilee be celebrated every 50 years.

Finally, Pope Paul II changed the frequency of the Jubilee year to every 25 years which is the general rule for celebrating Jubilees and opening the Holy Door today. In addition to the regular Jubilee years, two extraordinary Jubilee years were declared in the 20th century: 1933 for the 1900th anniversary of the Redemption, and in 1983 for the 1950th anniversary of the Redemption.

The third row of panels in the Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter depicts:

The Woman who was a Sinner
The Need for Forgiveness
Peter’s Denial
In Front of the Crucifix; The Good Thief

The Woman who was a Sinner

SOURCE: The Woman who was a Sinner (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Need for Forgiveness

SOURCE: The Need for Forgiveness (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

Peter’s Denial

SOURCE: Peter’s Denial (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

In Front of the Crucifix; The Good Thief

SOURCE: In Front of the Crucifix; The Good Thief (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The posts in this series include:

The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 1 of 4
The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 2 of 4
The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 3 of 4
The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 4 of 4

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged Mediterranean Vacation, Vatican City | Comments Off

The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 2 of 4

Posted on October 3, 2011 by Steve

The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the State of the Vatican City was at one time made of wood. The present door is made of bronze and 16 panels can be viewed from the exterior. The door is sealed on the inside and is not scheduled to be opened again until the year 2025. Traditionally, the plaster sealing the door on the interior was loosened so that it would fall when the Pope struck three blows on it. However, in the Jubilee year 2000, the plaster had been removed so that Pope John Paul II needed only to push the door open with his hands. This was presumably done for safety reasons. Debris had fallen on Pope Paul VI when he opened the Holy Door in 1975.

The second four panels of the Holy Door depict:

Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan
The Lost Sheep
The Merciful Father
The Cure of a Paralytic

Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan

SOURCE: Christ’s Baptism in the Jordan (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Lost Sheep

SOURCE: The Lost Sheep (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Merciful Father

SOURCE: The Merciful Father (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The Cure of a Paralytic

SOURCE: The Cure of a Paralytic (State of the Vatican City); photographed by Stephen J. Danko on 10 August 2011.

The posts in this series include:

The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 1 of 4
The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 2 of 4
The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 3 of 4
The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 4 of 4

Posted in Daily Journal | Tagged Mediterranean Vacation, Vatican City | 1 Comment

The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter – Part 1 of 4

Posted on October 2, 2011 by Steve

The Holy Door of the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the State of the Vatican City was created in bronze by Nivo Consorti in and donated by Bishop Francesco Von Streng of Switzerland in 1949 in the name of Swiss Catholics whose land was saved from war. The door is normally sealed on the inside and opened only during Jubilee years which, at the present time, are celebrated every 25 years or at the discretion of the Pope. In the last hundred years, the Holy Door has been opened 6 times, including 4 normal Jubilees and 2 special Jubilees. Jubilee years were celebrated in:

1925 by Pius XI
1933 by Pius XI (1900th anniversary of the Redemption)
1950 by Pius XII
1975 by Paul VI
1983 by John Paul II (1950th anniversary of the Redemption)
2000 by John Paul II

The 16 panels of the Holy Door include scenes from throughout biblical history and including a scene of opening the Holy Door. The top four panels show: