Saint Peter’s Baldachin in Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican City
On the central axis of Saint Peter’s Basilica is probably one of the most important places in the entire basilica. There is a large bronze pavilion which sits underneath the dome of the basilica. This pavilion is called a baldachin, and it is used to mark the place above the tomb of Saint Peter. I have heard that Saint Peter is supposedly buried here in Saint Peter’s Basilica but I always imagined it to be something like an outdoor cemetery or maybe an underground one like the I have seen elsewhere. This is probably, quite literally, building right on top of Saint Peter. It reminds us that Jesus said that Peter was the rock and upon that rock He will build His church. I don’t know if this was what Jesus had in mind but the biggest church in the world is really built above his tomb.
Saint Peter’s Baldachin In Saint Peter’s Basilica at the Vatican City
As usual with relics which are that old, it is doubtful that Saint Peter was actually buried here. There were excavations done but it is quite impossible to know whose bones they got when they dug up his supposed body. I didn’t get to see the actual tomb of Saint Peter though that would have been awesome. At least I know exactly where the tomb is through the baldachin. In contrast to the other decorations of the basilica, the baldachin is very dark. When I first saw photos of the baldachin I thought it was a rather creepy looking structure and I didn’t seem to belong in the basilica. The baldachin is where the high altar of the basilica is. It is claimed to be the largest bronze structure in the world. But I don’t know how it compares to the bronze Buddha in Hong Kong.
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