St. John's Vision of Heavenly Worship (Rome, Italy)
Pope Pascal had the church of Santa Prassede constructed in the ninth century. It replaced an earlier construction from the fifth century. According to tradition, St. Praxedis was the daughter the Roman senator Pudens who hosted St. Peter in his home when he was in Rome.
The mosaic program of the arch and apse are based on a similar program found in the church of Saints Cosmas and Damian also in Rome.
The theme depicts the scene of heavenly worship in the book of Revelation chapters 4 & 5. The prophet John has a vision of heaven in which he sees a jeweled throne and upon it sitting a lamb as if slain. Here the lamb, who represents Christ, is seen in the medallion at the top center. On either side of the lamb are seven lamp stands, which John describes in his first vision of Christ in chapter 1. The winged creatures are symbols of the evangelists, based on descriptions of the cherubim in the Hebrew Bible.
John describes a group of 24 elders who hymn and worship the lamb. These can be seen divided into groups of twelve. They hold aloft wreaths as offerings. These are often understood to be representations of the 12 patriarchs of Israel and the 12 apostles.
In the apse, Christ descends on the clouds of heaven on the last day where he is met by saints Peter and Paul who present to him St. Praxedis and her sister St. Pudenziana. St Zenon is also present (right), while Pope Pascal stands on the left. He is the only figure with a square halo, which indicates that he was alive when the mosaic was set. Above Christ, the hand of the Father emerges from heaven ready to bestow the crown of victory.
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St. John's Vision of Heavenly Worship (Rome, Italy)
Pope Pascal had the church of Santa Prassede constructed in the ninth century. It replaced an earlier construction from the fifth century. According to tradition, St. Praxedis was the daughter the Roman senator Pudens who hosted St. Peter in his home when he was in Rome.
The mosaic program of the arch and apse are based on a similar program found in the church of Saints Cosmas and Damian also in Rome.
The theme depicts the scene of heavenly worship in the book of Revelation chapters 4 & 5. The prophet John has a vision of heaven in which he sees a jeweled throne and upon it sitting a lamb as if slain. Here the lamb, who represents Christ, is seen in the medallion at the top center. On either side of the lamb are seven lamp stands, which John describes in his first vision of Christ in chapter 1. The winged creatures are symbols of the evangelists, based on descriptions of the cherubim in the Hebrew Bible.
John describes a group of 24 elders who hymn and worship the lamb. These can be seen divided into groups of twelve. They hold aloft wreaths as offerings. These are often understood to be representations of the 12 patriarchs of Israel and the 12 apostles.
In the apse, Christ descends on the clouds of heaven on the last day where he is met by saints Peter and Paul who present to him St. Praxedis and her sister St. Pudenziana. St Zenon is also present (right), while Pope Pascal stands on the left. He is the only figure with a square halo, which indicates that he was alive when the mosaic was set. Above Christ, the hand of the Father emerges from heaven ready to bestow the crown of victory.
Follow me on Twitter @arturoviaggia