The gospels speak of Saint Peter as the rock upon which Christ built his Church. Peter is considered the foundation of the Christian Church, which is now a symbol that his Chair represents. In honor of his service to the Church, a day of the Feast was celebrated, right from the earliest days of Christianity.
Originally, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter was celebrated on January 18 and February 22. January 18 was when the Saint gave his first sermon in Rome, while February 22 was when he gave his first sermon in Antioch.
Pope John XXIII in 1960 tried to initiate the celebration of a universal feast date which was met with a lot of disapproval. After much speculation, February 22 was made to be the official date of the Feast in the year 1969 and has been marked in the Roman Calendar since then.
St. Peter’s Basilica is free to enter for all, even during mass. To be a part of the mass on the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter, you can simply enter the Church after a security check. Keep in mind that there is bound to be large crowds of people waiting to get in, so it might take a few hours to bypass the security lines.
Standing as a jewel in the Papal Altar of St. Peter’s Basilica is the ancient Throne of the Apostle. With a beautiful grand enclosure designed by Bernini, the Chair is one of the most treasured highlights of the Basilica. Take a look at this ancient relic on your visit to St. Peter’s Basilica.
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Yes. St. Peter’s Basilica holds Mass for the public on all Holy Days including the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter.
The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter was celebrated on January 18 and February 22.
Originally, the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter was celebrated on January 18 and February 22. January 18 was when the Saint gave his first sermon in Rome, while February 22 was when he gave his first sermon in Antioch.
The first official date of the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter was added to the Roman calendar in 1969.
A. One of the main reasons for celebrating the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter is to celebrate the unity of the Christian Church. Another important reason is that the Chair symbolizes the authority of Saint Peter and his dedication towards building a strong foundation for the Church.
Legend has it that the Chair of St. Peter is the original chair that was used by the Apostle for his sermons.
Yes. The original chair is enclosed with a beautiful grand structure created by Bernini. It is definitely worth taking a look at.
