What is the Old St Peter’s Basilica?
The Old St. Peter’s Basilica was the building that stood, from the 4th to 16th centuries, on the spot where the new St. Peter’s Basilica stands today in Vatican City. Originally built in the 4th century, it was one of the most iconic structures in Christian history and has been a center of pilgrimage and worship for centuries.
What is the significance of the chair of Saint Peter?
The " Chair of Saint Peter ", or cathedra, an ancient chair sometimes presumed to have been used by St. Peter himself, but which was a gift from Charles the Bald and used by many popes, symbolizes the continuing line of apostolic succession from St. Peter to the reigning Pope.
Who was the architect of St Peter's Basilica?
St. Peter's Basilica. On Sangallo’s death (1546) Paul III commissioned the aged Michelangelo as chief architect, a post he held under Julius III and Pius IV. At the time of Michelangelo’s death in 1564, the drum for the massive dome was practically complete. He was succeeded by Pirro Ligorio and Giacomo da Vignola.
Who is buried in the Basilica of St Peter's?
Catholic tradition holds that the basilica is the burial site of Saint Peter, chief among Jesus's apostles and also the first Bishop of Rome (Pope).
Who commissioned old St Peter's Basilica?
the Emperor Constantine the GreatOld St. Peter's Basilica was the fourth-century church begun by the Emperor Constantine the Great between 319 and 333 AD. It was of typical basilical form, a wide nave and two aisles on each side and an apsidal end, with the addition of a transept or bema, giving the building the shape of a tau cross.
Who had old Saint Peter's Basilica built?
the Roman emperor ConstantineOld Saint Peter's Basilica, first basilica of St. Peter's in Rome, a five-aisled basilican-plan church with apsed transept at the west end that was begun between 326 and 333 at the order of the Roman emperor Constantine and finished about 30 years later.
What was old St Peter's Basilica used for?
Old St. Peter's Basilica was a standard basilica in shape only, a classic Roman primarily rectangular shaped building, though cruciform in its entirety. It stood as an impressive and awe-inspiring place of worship for early Christians in post Constantine Rome where Christianity was made legal.
How old is Saint Peter's Basilica?
516St. Peter's Basilica / Age (c. 1506-1626)
Who is buried under St. Peter's basilica?
Tomb of St. PeterBuried under St. Peter's Basilica is the treasured Tomb of St. Peter, an important historical and religious burial site since the 1st century.
Why was it so shocking when Pope Julius 2 wanted to demolish St. Peter's basilica?
Why was it so shocking when Pope Julius II wanted to demolish St. Peter's Basilica? It was considered to be one of the holiest sights in Europe.
What was old St. Peter's based on?
Construction of the basilica, built over the historical site of the Circus of Nero, began during the reign of Emperor Constantine I. The name "old St. Peter's Basilica" has been used since the construction of the current basilica to distinguish the two buildings.
Who was the first pope?
PeterPeter, traditionally considered the first pope. Among these, 82 have been proclaimed saints, as have some antipopes (rival claimants to the papal throne who were appointed or elected in opposition to the legitimate pope).
What is the story behind St Peter's Basilica?
The history of the St. Peter's Basilica begins in the 4th century when the Emperor Constantine decides to build a basilica where the apostle had been buried. In 329 the construction of the basilica was completed. The church was used for the celebration of the cult, as a covered cemetery and as a funeral banquet room.
What's the largest church in the world?
St. Peter's Basilica inSt. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City, the largest church in the world.
How many popes are buried at the Vatican?
About 90 popes are buried in the papal tombs, including the first pope, St. Peter the Apostle; popes buried within the church itself are St. Leo I, St. Gregory the Great, Urban VIII, St.
Where is St. Peter buried?
St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican CitySaint Peter / Place of burialSaint Peter's tomb is a site under St. Peter's Basilica that includes several graves and a structure said by Vatican authorities to have been built to memorialize the location of Saint Peter's grave.
When was St Peter's Basilica first built?
November 18, 1626St. Peter's Basilica / Opened
When was Saint Peter's Basilica built?
April 18, 1506St. Peter's Basilica / Construction started
Who was the first pope?
PeterPeter, traditionally considered the first pope. Among these, 82 have been proclaimed saints, as have some antipopes (rival claimants to the papal throne who were appointed or elected in opposition to the legitimate pope).
How many popes are buried in St Peter's Basilica?
91 Popes91 Popes are Buried Under the Basilica 91 popes are buried in St. Peter's Basilica, including the beloved John Paul II who was buried here in 2005.
Who laid the first stone for the basilica?
On April 18, 1506, Julius II laid the first stone for the new basilica. It was to be erected in the form of a Greek cross according to the plan of Donato Bramante. On Bramante’s death (1514) Leo X commissioned as his successors Raphael, Fra Giovanni Giocondo, and Giuliano da Sangallo, who modified the original Greek cross plan to a Latin cross ...
Who designed the basilica?
Peter’s and added an extra bay on each end to support campaniles. Although Maderno left designs for these campaniles, only one was built, and that was of a different design executed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1637. Under the commission of Alexander VII (1655–67) Bernini designed the elliptical piazza, outlined by colonnades, that serves as the approach to the basilica.
Where is the Basilica of Yamoussoukro?
In that year its size was exceeded by that of the newly built basilica in Yamoussoukro, Côte d’Ivoire. The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica This article was most recently revised and updated by Adam Augustyn, Managing Editor, Reference Content.
Who erected the wall between the old and new basilica?
After the sack of Rome in 1527, Paul III (1534–49) entrusted the undertaking to Antonio da Sangallo the Younger, who returned to Bramante’s plan and erected a dividing wall between the area for the new basilica and the eastern part of the old one, which was still in use.
Who was the architect of the dome?
He was succeeded by Pirro Ligorio and Giacomo da Vignola. Gregory XIII (1572–85) placed Giacomo della Porta in charge of the work. The dome, modified from Michelangelo’s design, was finally completed at the insistence of Sixtus V (1585–90), and Gregory XIV (1590–91) ordered the erection of the lantern above it.
Who designed the elliptical piazza?
Under the commission of Alexander VII (1655–67) Bernini designed the elliptical piazza, outlined by colonnades, that serves as the approach to the basilica. St. Peter's, Vatican City, Rome, by Carlo Maderno, 1607. Interior of St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City.
St. Peter's Basilica
None of the city's magnificent cathedrals can compare to St Peter's Basilica, Italy's largest, richest, and most stunning basilica. It was consecrated in Rome in 1626 after 120 years of construction on top of a 4th-century church.
Timeline
64 CE: This was the year that Saint Peter was crucified and buried at Vatican Hill.
The Era of Construction
It took about 120 years to complete the construction of the new St. Peter's Basilica. The original design of the basilica was crafted by renowned architect Donato Bramante. Inspired by the Roman Pantheon, Bramante incorporated all the traditional aspects of a church.
Present Day
Vie of St. Peter’s Basilica from St. Peter’s Square, Vatican. Author’s Photograph.
Other Useful Resources
The story of the construction of St. Peter’s and the discovery of Peter’s own tomb is fascinating in every regard. Here are a couple of other sources which might be of interest to expand on the information presented in this article:
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Who commissioned Bramante to build a new basilica?
Pope Julius II commissioned Bramante to build a new basilica—this involved demolishing the Old St Peter’s Basilica that had been erected by Constantine in the fourth century. This ancient church was in disrepair.
Who designed the Pauline Chapel?
Architects and designers included: Donato Bramante (whose design won Julius II’s competition); Antonio da Sangallo, a student of Bramante (the Pauline Chapel); Fra Giocondo (strengthening of the foundation); Raphael and Fra Giocondo (whose redesigned building plan was not executed); Michelangelo (design of the dome, crossing, and exterior excluding the nave and facade); Giacomo della Porta (design of the cupola); Carlo Maderno (extension of Michelangelo’s plan, adding a nave and grand facade); Gian Lorenzo Bernini (addition of the piazza, the Cathedra Petri, and the Baldacchino).
Which tomb is believed to be in the Necropolis?
Vatican tour of the necropolis believed to contain the tomb of Saint Peter – Please note: to reach the interactive tour of the necropolis, proceed beyond the introduction and the brief lecture offered by Cardinal Comastri
Who designed the dome and the cupola?
Michelangelo designed the dome, crossing, and exterior excluding the nave and facade. Giacomo della Porta designed the cupola. Carlo Maderno, extended Michelangelo ’s plan adding a nave and grand facade.
What is the central plan of a church?
Numerous architects (see below), Nave, Saint Peter’s Basilica, begun 1506 completed 1626 (Vatican City) The other popular type of church plan is a central plan that is usually based either on the shape of a circle, or on a Greek cross (a cross with equal arms). These are called central plans because the measurements are all equidistant ...
How many popes are there in St Peter's Basilica?
A large marble tablet in St Peter's Basilica lists the names all the popes who have been interred in the church. Of a total of 266 popes, 148 are listed here.
What is the name of the tablet that St Peter is crowned with?
The tablet, which is entitled SVMMI PONTIFICES IN HAC BASILICA SEPVLTI, is crowned with a bronze image of St Peter, by tradition the first pope, with the the papal tiara and crossed keys.
Summary
The Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican (Italian: Basilica Papale di San Pietro in Vaticano), or simply Saint Peter's Basilica (Latin: Basilica Sancti Petri), is a church built in the Renaissance style located in Vatican City, the papal enclave that is within the city of Rome, Italy. It was initially planned by Pope Nicholas V and then Pope Julius II to replace the aging Old St. Peter's Basilica, which was built in the fourth century by Roman emperor Constantine the Great. Construction of t…
Overview
St. Peter's is a church built in the Renaissance style located in the Vatican City west of the River Tiber and near the Janiculum Hill and Hadrian's Mausoleum. Its central dome dominates the skyline of Rome. The basilica is approached via St. Peter's Square, a forecourt in two sections, both surrounded by tall colonnades. The first space is oval and the second trapezoidal. The façade of the basilica, with a giant order of columns, stretches across the end of the square and is approac…
Status
St. Peter's Basilica is one of the papal basilicas (previously styled "patriarchal basilicas") and one of the four Major Basilicas of Rome, the other Major Basilicas (all of which are also Papal Basilicas) being the Basilicas of St. John Lateran, St. Mary Major, and St. Paul outside the Walls. The rank of major basilica confers on St. Peter's Basilica precedence before all minor basilicas worldwide. However, unlike all the other Papal Major Basilicas, it is wholly within the territory, and thus the s…
History
After the crucifixion of Jesus, it is recorded in the Biblical book of the Acts of the Apostles that one of his twelve disciples, Simon known as Saint Peter, a fisherman from Galilee, took a leadership position among Jesus' followers and was of great importance in the founding of the Christian Church. The name Peter is "Petrus" in Latin and "Petros" in Greek, deriving from "petra" which means "stone" or "rock" in Greek, and is the literal translation of the Aramaic "Kepa", the name giv…
Architecture
Pope Julius' scheme for the grandest building in Christendom was the subject of a competition for which a number of entries remain intact in the Uffizi Gallery, Florence. It was the design of Donato Bramante that was selected, and for which the foundation stone was laid in 1506. This plan was in the form of an enormous Greek Cross with a dome inspired by that of the huge circular Roman temple, the Pantheon. The main difference between Bramante's design and that of the Pantheon …
Bernini's furnishings
As a young boy Gian Lorenzo Bernini (1598–1680) visited St. Peter's with the painter Annibale Carracci and stated his wish to build "a mighty throne for the apostle". His wish came true. As a young man, in 1626, he received the patronage of Pope Urban VIII and worked on the embellishment of the Basilica for 50 years. Appointed as Maderno's successor in 1629, he was to become regarded as the greatest architect and sculptor of the Baroque period. Bernini's works at …
St. Peter's Piazza
To the east of the basilica is the Piazza di San Pietro, (St. Peter's Square). The present arrangement, constructed between 1656 and 1667, is the Baroque inspiration of Bernini who inherited a location already occupied by an Egyptian obelisk which was centrally placed, (with some contrivance) to Maderno's facade. The obelisk, known as "The Witness", at 25.31 metres (83.0 ft) and a total height, including base and the cross on top, of 40 metres (130 ft), is the seco…
Clocks
The top of the facade of St. Peter's Basilica has two clocks and several sculptures. The clocks were created to replace Bernini's bell towers which had to be torn down due to insufficient support. The left clock shows Rome time, the one of the right shows European mean time. The statues are Christ the Redeemer, St. John the Baptist and 11 Apostles. From the left: St. Thadeus, St. Matthew, St. Philip, St. Thomas, St. James the Greater, St. John the Baptist, The Redeemer, S…