St. Peter’s Chair is an elaborate and symbolic monument housed in the apse of St. Peter’s Basilica in Vatican City.

At first glance, it appears to be a beautiful sculpture from the Italian Renaissance, but it’s much more than that. This grand structure was created to enshrine a wooden chair traditionally believed to have belonged to St. Peter, the first Pope and one of Jesus’s apostles. Over centuries, it has come to represent the spiritual authority passed down from St. Peter to his successors, the Popes.

Encased in bronze by the artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini, the Chair symbolizes the Church’s continuity and leadership.

Where is St. Peter's Chair located?

The Chair of St. Peter's is located in the apse of St. Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. As you enter the Papal Altar of the Basilica, you will notice the massive Baldacchino at its center with the dome right above it. Behind this structure is the Altar of the Chair which consists of a grand bronze structure which encloses St. Peter's Chair.

Did you know?

St. Peter's Chair in St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, surrounded by ornate architecture.

👑 The wooden throne, known as the Chair of St. Peter, was a gift from Emperor Charles the Bald (the Holy Roman Emperor) to Pope John VIII (the head of the Catholic Church) in the year 875, showing the strong ties between the empire and the church.

St. Peter's Basilica Tours

Visitors exploring the interior of St. Peter's Basilica, Vatican City, with ornate architecture and religious art.

🪑 During the Middle Ages, it became a tradition to display St. Peter’s Chair once every year, allowing the faithful to see this important symbol of the pope’s authority and the church’s long history.

Crowd gathered at St. Peter's Basilica for new pope announcement, Vatican City.

🕊️ When a new pope was elected, part of the ceremony included seating him on this ancient chair, marking the beginning of his role as the spiritual leader of the Catholic Church.

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The story behind St. Peter’s Chair

A sacred relic from the early Church

For the Catholic Church, the Chair of St. Peter is a deeply sacred relic. According to tradition, St. Peter himself once sat on this chair while preaching to early Christians. Whether or not the chair is truly from his time is debated by archaeologists, but it has been treated as a major symbol of Peter’s legacy since the first century, after his death.

Moving to St. Peter’s Basilica

Originally, the chair was kept safe in the monastery of St. Martin. It stayed there for centuries until it was finally brought to its new home in St. Peter’s Basilica. Over time, the chair was carefully studied and preserved, with the last detailed examination happening in 1968. To protect and honor it, Pope Alexander VII asked the artist Bernini in 1647 to create a grand setting for the chair — a project that would later become one of the Basilica’s most famous features.

Bernini’s masterpiece

Bernini finished his stunning design in 1653, and the completed St. Peter’s Chair was installed in the Basilica’s apse by 1666. He encased the wooden throne in a rich gilded bronze structure, supported by towering statues of four Doctors of the Church, the great early theologians (Ambrose, Augustine, Athanasius, and John Chrysostom) whose writings shaped Christian doctrine. Above it, an alabaster window pours soft light onto the chair, while angels hover nearby holding the Papal Tiara and the Keys of St. Peter. Bernini’s clever design even makes the entire chair seem as if it’s floating in midair, adding to its sense of mystery and awe.

The Feast of the Chair of St. Peter

Every year on February 22, the Catholic Church celebrates the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter. This special day honors Peter’s authority as the first pope and his role in building the Church. Originally, two different dates were observed, connected to Peter’s early preaching in Rome. But in 1962, Pope John XXIII officially set February 22 as the single day to celebrate this historic and spiritual symbol.

When is the Feast of the Chair of St. Peter celebrated?

Who built the Chair of St. Peter?

The Chair of St. Peter at St. Peter’s Basilica was designed by enveloping the original oak chair of the Bishop with a bronze covering. Italian artist Bernini, who also created the Baldacchino, Apollo and Daphne and more, was the mastermind behind St. Peter's Chair.

The ornate design of Bernini matches with the baroque-style architecture famed in Rome. It took Bernini six years to complete the grand sculpture.

What makes the Chair of St. Peter a masterpiece?

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Gilded bronze covering

Bernini was tasked with preserving the sacred chair and chose gilded bronze for its covering, a material that adds both strength and beauty. His design was intricately detailed, following the Baroque style of the time, and included symbolic elements from the Bible as well as references to the Papacy. The golden glow of the bronze frame makes the chair feel even more divine and significant.

Life-size statues of the Doctors of the Church

At the base of the chair, four towering statues — each over 5 meters tall — represent four Doctors of the Catholic Church: Saint Ambrose, Saint Augustine of Hippo, Saint John Chrysostom, and Saint Athanasius. These figures seem to float in the air, symbolically supporting the Chair of St. Peter with their divine wisdom and strength.

Angels holding the Papal symbols

On both sides of the throne, angels act as guardians to the chair. At the top, cherubic angels hold the Keys of St. Peter in one hand while supporting the Papal Tiara with the other, placing it directly above the chair. This highlights the connection between the papacy and divine authority, giving the entire structure a sense of sacred power.

Golden alabaster glass window

Behind the chair, a stunning golden alabaster glass window bathes the chair in warm, ethereal light. The window features playful angel statues amidst clouds, with a dove — the symbol of the Holy Spirit — at the center. The twelve sections of the window represent the Twelve Apostles, further tying the chair to the founding of the Church and its heavenly mission.

An intricate blend of Baroque art and spiritual meaning

Bernini’s design for the Chair of St. Peter is a brilliant example of Baroque art, where every element serves both an aesthetic and spiritual purpose. The gilded bronze frame’s ornate details, the dramatic statues of the Doctors of the Church, and the dynamic arrangement of angels all work together to create a sense of divine elevation.

How to view it best?

Best time to view

Early morning when the Basilica opens, especially on weekdays, offers a quieter, more peaceful experience before the crowds arrive.

Best angle for viewing

Stand facing the apse for the best view of the Chair, where you can appreciate Bernini’s design, the statues, and the light streaming through the alabaster window.