Seated on a simple oaken chair, St. Peter presided over the meetings of the early Church. Over the centuries, this precious relic has grown in value and significance.
Newsroom (11/03/2022 09:00, Gaudium Press) The history of the Chair of Peter has its beginnings in the early years of the Christian era. No one passing by seemed to pay any attention to this grave-looking Jew who walked with a steady step up a street on the Aventine Hill in Rome in the year 54.
However, a few centuries later, emperors, kings, princes, potentates, and, above all, countless crowds of the faithful would flock from all parts of the world to that city to kneel at the feet of a bronze image of this hitherto unknown and almost despised pagan Rome. For God Himself had said to him: “Whatever you bind on earth shall be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth shall be loosed in heaven” (Mt 16:19).
Yes, it was the Apostle Peter who was returning to the Capital of the Empire to establish there the supreme government of the Holy Church.
“Greet Prisca and Aquila”
Likely some Christians accompanied him, among whom were Aquila and his wife Prisca, baptized by him a few years before. In the Epistle to the Romans, St. Paul makes the following highly praiseworthy reference to this couple: “Greet Prisca and Aquila, my fellow-workers in Christ Jesus; for my life they have laid down their heads. And for this I thank them; not only I, but also all the churches of the Gentiles. Greet also the community that meets in their house” (Rom 16:3-5).
Irrigated by the blood of the first martyrs, evangelization took deep root in souls and spread rapidly throughout the world. But there were not yet any sacred buildings for the celebration of divine worship, and so it took place in private residences.
Thus Aquila and Prisca had the incomparable privilege of welcoming the Christian community into their home. There St. Peter preached, instructed, and celebrated the Eucharist. From this modest house he governed the Church, which flourished everywhere, despite the obstacles raised by the enemies of the Light.
It was a simple oaken chair
Filled with wonder and veneration for the Prince of the Apostles, Prisca reserved for his exclusive use the best chair in the house. The Saint would sit in it to preside over the meetings of the community.
For this reason, after the Apostle’s death, this chair became the object of special veneration among Christians, as a precious reminder of his teaching. They soon came to call it “cathedra“, the Greek word for the high chair of the teachers, the symbol of the regency.
It was originally a very simple piece of oak. Over time, some damaged parts were restored or reinforced with acacia wood. Finally, it was decorated with ivory reliefs representing different themes.
A reliquary-altar
There are sufficient testimonies and documents on the history of the Chair of St. Peter from the end of the second century to the present day.
Moreover, Tertullian and St. Cyprian affirm that in their time (late 2nd and early 3rd centuries) this Chair was preserved in Rome as a symbol of the Primacy of the Bishops of the imperial city.
Thus, around the fourth century, placed in the baptistery of St. Peter’s Basilica, it was exposed for the veneration of the faithful on 18 January and 22 February. However, throughout the Middle Ages it was in the Vatican Basilica, being used for the enthronement of the Sovereign Pontiff.
In 1657 Pope Alexander VII commissioned the sculptor and architect Bernini to create a monument to exalt this precious relic. Then, using all his genius, he built the magnificent Altar of the Chair of St. Peter, considered by many to be his masterpiece.
Symbol of Papal Infallibility
In ecclesiastical documents, the expression ‘Chair of Peter’ has the same meaning as Throne of St Peter, Pontifical Seat, Apostolic See. In a figurative sense, it is equated with the Papacy and ultimately with the Catholic Church.
Indeed, the Fathers of the Fourth Council of Constantinople (859) stated: “The Catholic religion has always remained inviolable in the Apostolic See … We hope to remain united to this Apostolic See, on which rests the true and perfect solidity of the Christian religion”.
In one of his letters, St. Bernard uses the expression “Holy Apostolic See” to affirm that infallibility is the privilege “of the Apostolic See”.
After the solemn definition of the dogma of papal infallibility by the First Vatican Council, all Catholics, ecclesiastical or lay, are unanimous in proclaiming that the Pope is and always will be free from error in matters of faith and morals, according to the words of Jesus to the Prince of the Apostles: “I have prayed for you that you may not faint; and you, in turn, strengthen your brethren” (Lk 22:32).
The Chair of Peter is the most eloquent symbol of this Infallibility, of the Papacy, of the person of the Pope and of Christ’s Holy Church Herself.
Therefore, to it we turn our enthusiastic admiration in a special way on the day of its liturgical feast, February 22.
By Victor Hugo Toniolo (Heralds of the Gospel Magazine, Feb/2005, n. 38, pp. 32-33)
Compiled by Sandra Chisholm
