St Peter Church
IWe make these days the 500 years of extraordinary architectural folly. In case of a yellow archeology. For a huge theological edifice. The basilica of St. Peter is all three of these things. The architectural folly was already Constantine around 320 and even more so than architects sixteenth and seventeenth centuries (twelve were by Bramante, Raphael, the two Sangallo, Michelangelo, Maderno to under eighteen popes) to build the world's largest basilica in the place less suitable clay on the slope of a hill which is the Vatican, because the temple had to keep a humble grave. This is an intriguing archaeological ones that are the basis of history, with the "S" capitalized. The grave of an executed jew of the first century has upset a hill, where there were imperial residences, and diverted the story, much more than he had diverted the Tiber.
The Roma Caput Mundi owes its most enduring glory just a jew, then unknown, crucified under Nero put to death between 64 and 67. A miserable grave dug in the clay of the Vatican cemetery along the Via Cornelia at the circus of Gaius and Nero's covered with "a Capuchin" with six tiles in the shape of the roof, he covered the body of Peter of Galilee. The colossal theological edifice of 44 thousand square meters, 187 meters long with 219 becoming the porch and the walls and a dome that rises up to 136 meters, was to translate visually and architecturally faith in Christ's command: "Thou art Peter, and on this rock I will build my Church. " This basilica, which is celebrating half a millennium of life, with its dome is the "logo" modern-sacred Rome. Just as the Colosseum is the symbol of classical secular. On 18 April 1506, the decision-maker Julius II placed the first stone of the new temple in the foundations of a huge pillar (the one southwest of the four supporting the dome), then making it inevitable that something seemed sacrilege to many: the destruction of the old Constantinian basilica. To raise a temple which, according to Bramante had to "raise the dome of the Pantheon on the great vaults of the Basilica of Maxentius." In short, the best of antiquity than to the glory of the Apostle Peter. This year the Christmas of the Eternal City, April 21, is enhanced for half a millennium of the monument, which makes it more than any other city worldwide. After "the" on Monday, 17 with the memory of the anniversary made by Benedict XVI, were officially opened the celebrations that involve a number of initiatives: papal liturgical celebrations, exhibitions, international conferences, concerts, emissions of medals and stamps.
It will begin June 29 with a solemn Mass of thanksgiving to be celebrated by Pope Benedict XVI, during which he will impose the pallium to metropolitan archbishops elected in the last twelve months. Two major initiatives will be cultural. The first will be an exhibition (October 3, 2006 - March 8, 2007) with the significant title of a greek graffiti 'Petros eni "epigraphists that, starting with Margaret Guarducci discoverer, melt-in" Petros en extinction "or" Peter is here ". It is a graffiti etched in a small ossuary housed in a wall full of graffiti devotional prayers to Christ, Mary and Peter, to protect the original burial place of the Apostle. This writing is the archaeological evidence that quell'ossario were placed the remains of Peter. The purpose of the exhibition is to rediscover the reason before the huge basilica built in 110 years with the best of the artistic genius of the time: all in honor of the martyrdom of Peter, buried six feet below the portrait of the papal altar. The exhibition will include about seventy works to cover a wide range of products: such as the wooden model of Michelangelo's dome. You can also admire the new findings as a sarcophagus discovered in the Vatican in 2003 and dating from about 270. In January, an international study conference will be devoted to "Saint Peter in Holy Scripture, in devotion, in the iconography." On 19 November, in the basilica, will perform the Mass of the "Requiem" by Mozart, the 250th birth, and July 2 in the Hall of Blessings will run the Oratorio "Petros eni" of Anthony Pappalardo. On the borders of life and death were compared in the weekly "L'Espresso", Cardinal Carlo Maria Martini and the internationally renowned surgeon Ignazio Marino, from assisted reproduction, abortion, embryonic stem cells, to adoptions, to ' use of condoms in fighting AIDS, euthanasia and 'treatment. The illustrious cardinal expressed with his usual acumen and prudence typical of the good Jesuit-open, spread positions in the Church between the moralists and the clergy, but that can not be trivialized in the question: yes or no condom. The cardinal reiterated the classical doctrine of the Church against abortion and euthanasia, against a fee donation of organs. It has been demonstrated openness regarding the use of condoms as a 'lesser evil', of course, in the context of a conjugal act.