Brief History of St. Peter’s Basilica
The 4th century saw the beginning of the St. Peter's Basilica history when Emperor Constantine made the decision to construct a basilica over the apostle's burial site. The basilica's construction was finished in 329 AD. The church served as a covered cemetery, a banquet hall for funerals, and a location for the cult's celebrations. It served as the primary pilgrimage destination for the West during the High Middle Ages. We may get a sense of what the first Vatican basilica looked like from descriptions, sketches, and old paintings that were discovered during archaeological excavations that were conducted beneath the current basilica.
St. Peter’s Basilica History took a new turn when Julius II commissioned the architect Donato Bramante to build a new basilica to replace the current one in 1506. The project took on some of the best artists and architects of the generation, including but not limited to Michelangelo and Raphael. The final touch on the Basilica’s facade was supervised by the artist Bernini, who decorated its interiors and gave the Basilica the look that it has today.
St. Peter's Basilica History in Layers
St. Peter’s Basilica history dates back to when Rome was destroyed by a 6-day fire in the year 64 CE. Most of the city was in ruins when the fire died out; the then ruler Nero accused the Christians, who were then a largely unknown sect, of having started the fire. Since the majority of the fire victims had been moved nearby, it was easy for Nero to organize these executions in the Circus. By killing Christians in retaliation for their losses, he sought to placate them. In this environment, the apostle Peter was crucified. Christians believed Peter had been given the power to lead the Church from Jesus himself, and took murder as an act of Christian martyrdom.
Conveniently, the Vatican Necropolis was close to Nero's Circus; the Necropolis was an underground burial chamber used to bury important members of the community. During the Imperial era, it was illegal to bury the dead within city walls, so several cemeteries and burial sites arose along the roadways outside of the walls. The corpses of saints and martyrs were especially revered by Christians. It makes natural that Peter's followers would have wished to preserve his remains without drawing too much attention to it due to escalating persecution since he was such an important martyr. The Vatican Necropolis, which is close to the Circus, was an extremely sensible and practical location. The Apostle was buried here, marking the beginning of the long-winding St. Peter’s Basilica history.
As time passed, more and more Christians flocked to Peter's grave to worship. Church members made the decision to construct a more effective signpost to aid the travelers about the year 150 CE. This structure earned the moniker "The Trophy of Gaius." The Trophy of Gaius was purposefully constructed to imitate a pagan shrine, or aedicula, in ancient Rome. Aediculae were domestic temples for the Lares, the guardian gods of the home and family. In the instance of The Trophy of Gaius, the building was big enough to hold a platform that a man could stand on while preaching mass and looking out at the road. Rituals of baptism were held in the vicinity of the platform.
At the Battle of the Milvian Bridge in 312 CE, Constantine overcame his foe Maxentius. He became the only emperor of the Roman Empire at the end of 324 CE. Constantine credited the Christian God for helping him win. Tradition has it that in one of his expeditions, Constantine saw the Christian symbol Chi Rho and heard a voice telling him, "In this sign, conquer." As a sign of his dedication, Constantine started work on the Basilica Constantiniana, a church in Rome. However, when he saw that worshippers continued to gather at Peter's grave, he made the decision to start work on a new structure just where The Trophy of Gaius stood.
Initially, the Old Peter’s Basilica was constructed where Constatine’s Basilica stood. However, The medieval basilica had become dilapidated by the end of the 15th century, especially during the Avignon Papacy. St. Peter’s Basilica history took a fresh turn when Pope Julius II decided that St. Peter's called for a total makeover and the destruction of the historic basilica. To that goal, he sponsored a competition, the results of which are now on display in Florence's Uffizi Gallery. Donato Bramante was the designer behind the winning entry. After the new basilica's groundwork was placed in 1506, a series of popes and architects worked on the building for the following 120 years. Its construction featured individuals including Fra Giocondo, Raphael, Baldassare Peruzzi, and Michelangelo.
Gian Lorenzo Bernini started working on the Basilica's decorations in 1626 under the patronage of Pope Urban VIII, and he kept at it for the following 50 years. Numerous projects by Bernini were undertaken for St. Peter's Basilica. One of the most prominent was the Baldacchino, the bronze pavilion that is located over the altar and beneath the dome. Additionally, Bernini designed balconies and niches to showcase the Basilica's four most priceless artifacts: the Longinus spear, Veronica's veil,a portion of the True Cross discovered by Constantine’s mother, and a relic of St. Andrew, St. Peter's brother.
St. Peter’s Basilica in the Present Day
The Catholic Church is represented by St. Peter's Basilica before the rest of the world. The Basilica currently contains over 100 tombs, including those of 91 popes, an emperor, a musician, and even members of the British Royal family. The artwork, which includes mosaics, sculptures, bronzes, carvings, gold leaf, and objects, has immeasurable historical importance. From an archaeological standpoint, St. Peter's is already a live historical record due to the retention of structures from the Roman Empire beneath the church and all the following alterations.
Construction of the Old Peter’s Basilica
Construction of what is now known as Old St. Peter's Basilica began in 318 CE and continued for 40 years. With the addition of a transept, it was made into the shape of a Latin cross and was more than 350 feet long. It could hold three to four thousand worshipers. It is said that the altar of Old St. Peter's was built with Solomonic columns from the actual Temple of Solomon. The church's interior was lavishly decorated with mosaics and paintings, much of which were by Giotto. In the sixteenth century, the Old St. Peter's Basilica that Constantine erected was still in use.
FAQs
Why did they build St. Peter's Basilica?
The St. Peter’s Basilica history, as we know it today, dates back to the first century CE to commemorate the place where St. Peter the Apostle had perished in Nero’s fires.
What does St. Peter's Basilica represent?
The grandest church in the world, St. Peter’s Basilica is the representative seat of the Catholic Church.
What happened to old St. Peter's Basilica?
The Old St. Peter’s Basilica gradually fell into disrepair, and was decidedly rebuilt in the 15th century.
When was the new St. Peter's Basilica built?
The new Peter’s Basilica was rebuilt in the 15th century under the supervision of Pope Julius II.
Where did St. Peter die?
St. Peter the Apostle was wrongfully tried and executed under the rule of Nero, who blamed the sect of Christianity for the fires that had besieged Rome then. St. Peter was executed in Nero’s Circus at the St. Peter Square, and was buried in the Vatican Necropolis.
Who built Old St. Peter's Basilica?
The Old St. Peter’s Basilica was constructed by Constantine, the Emperor of Rome.
Where was St. Peter buried?
St. Peter was buried in the Vatican Necropolis, which now sprawls underneath the Basilica.