medieval-religion: Scholarly discussions of medieval religion and culture
> Today (22. February) is the feast day of:
>
> The Chair of St. Peter. Can anyone supply details of when this became a feast?
>
> Respondeo:
> I don't know when it became a feast, but the Chair was incorporated by Bernini into the
> magnificent throne in St Peter's, on top of the canopy - I have a picture of it, as no doubt
> anyone does who has a guide book to Rome. This would suggest that by this time there
> was an established devotion to this piece of furniture.
Dear Bill,
The wood and ivory Chair enclosed in Bernini's splendid bronze installation was
very probably among the gifts brought to Rome on the occasion of Charles the
Bald's imperial coronation in 875 and was probably made in Metz. How it became
identified with St Peter, I don't know. In any case, it was hidden under an
embroidered cover in 1481 and then enclosed by Bernini in 1689. It underwent a
thorough investigation and restoration in 1968-74 before being returned to its bronze
shrine. Peter Lasko, in his Ars Sacra, gives the following references: "La cattedra
Lignea di S. Pietro in Vaticano," Atti della Pontificia Accademia Romana di
Archeologia, Serie III. Memorie X (Vatican, 1971) and, for a full bibliography, P.E.
Schramm and F. Mutherich, Denkmale der deutschen Konige und Kaiser. Ein
Beitrag zur Herrschergeschichte von Karl dem Grossen bis Friederich II. 768-1250,
2nd edn (Munich, 1981), p. 475, no. V.
Cheers,
Jim Bugslag
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