Home » Culture » The Cathedral of St. Peter – A Brief Guide

The Cathedral of St. Peter – A Brief Guide

Posted by Vinícius Guimarães on January 30, 2012 in Culture

The Cathedral of St. Peter, known more commonly as the St. Peter’s Basilica, is one of the world’s most significant churches in the whole world. Built in Late Renaissance in the Vatican City, the St. Pater’s Basilica has the largest interior in any Christian church in the whole world. However, the cathedral is not regarded as the cathedral of the Pope, nor is it regarded as being the official mother church of the Roman Catholics. However, the church holds special significance in the hearts of Christians as it is said that this church is built on top of the tomb of St. Peter, who was one of the twelve apostles of Jesus. He was also the first bishop of Rome, and hence is regarded as being the first in the queue of papal succession.

The Cathedral of St. Peter - A Brief Guide

The Cathedral of St. Peter - A Brief Guide

For many people, the Cathedral of St. Peter is a famous site for pilgrimage. Many people might call it a cathedral, and it is even referred in books as being a cathedral, but technically, it is a papal basilica because a cathedral is one in which there’s a seat of a bishop. The church itself is shaped like a cross, and the central dome is the highest in all of Rome. However, despite its significance, one of the main reasons for which the basilica attracts much attention is its interior, which features a wide range of marble works, paintings and reliefs that are installed on the walls. Some of the most prominent artists in the history of Italy have worked on the Cathedral of St. Peter, ranging from Michelangelo to Bernini to Giovanni Paolo Pannini. The location of this massive church has been present since the 4th century AD, where a smaller church used to be present before the Basilica was constructed in 1626.

Post Comment

© 2013 Articles Web. All rights reserved. - Privacy Policy