Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral
Encyclopedia
Saint Peter in Chains Cathedral is the cathedral
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
. It is a Greek revival structure located at 8th and Plum Streets in downtown Cincinnati. Saint Peter
in Chains was begun with the laying of its cornerstone on 20 May 1841, under the direction of then-bishop
—later archbishop
—John Baptist Purcell
, and formally dedicated on 2 November 1845. Its striking single spire
, which soars to two-hundred and twenty feet above street level, was the tallest man-made structure in the city for many decades, and is constructed of pure white limestone
.
The first Saint Peter's was located at Sixth and Sycamore Street, in Cincinnati, Ohio
. It was dedicated on December 17, 1826, which is now the site of St. Francis Xavier Church
and became the seat of the First Bishop. The large stone angels that were on each side of the main altar
were created by Odoardo Fantacchiotti in the late 1840s. They now grace the Cincinnati Art Museum
. They were among the first Europe
an sculpture
s to come to Cincinnati.
The interior of Saint Peter in Chains is distinctly unique among Roman Catholic cathedrals in America
, with its Greek
-themed mosaics depicting the Stations of the Cross
, its ornate Corinthian columns and its massive bronze
doors. The crucifix
was made by Benvenuto Cellini
, the murals by Carl Zimmerman and the mosaic
in the apse
is by Anton Wendling.
Saint Peter in Chains was, from 1938 until 1957, replaced as Archdiocesan cathedral in favor of the more modern Saint Monica
's in Clifton Heights neighborhood, north of downtown, under Archbishop Karl Joseph Alter's urban-renewal program, the church underwent significant restoration
and expansion in the mid-1950s, and on 3 November 1957, amid much celebration and fanfare, was re-dedicated a cathedral.
In 1977 the cathedral hosted a visit from Polish
Archbishop
Karol Wojtyla, who the following year became Pope John Paul II
. To date more than two-dozen Roman Catholic bishops have been consecrated within its walls, and the cathedral is a popular venue for weddings, as well as the annual ordination
of the Archdiocese's priests and deacons.
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
of the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati
The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Cincinnati covers the southwest region of the U.S. state of Ohio, including the greater Cincinnati and Dayton metropolitan areas. The Archbishop of Cincinnati is Most Rev...
. It is a Greek revival structure located at 8th and Plum Streets in downtown Cincinnati. Saint Peter
Saint Peter
Saint Peter or Simon Peter was an early Christian leader, who is featured prominently in the New Testament Gospels and the Acts of the Apostles. The son of John or of Jonah and from the village of Bethsaida in the province of Galilee, his brother Andrew was also an apostle...
in Chains was begun with the laying of its cornerstone on 20 May 1841, under the direction of then-bishop
Bishop
A bishop is an ordained or consecrated member of the Christian clergy who is generally entrusted with a position of authority and oversight. Within the Catholic Church, Eastern Orthodox, Oriental Orthodox Churches, in the Assyrian Church of the East, in the Independent Catholic Churches, and in the...
—later archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
—John Baptist Purcell
John Baptist Purcell
John Baptist Purcell was an Irish-born prelate of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Cincinnati from 1833 until his death in 1883, and was elevated to the rank of Archbishop in 1850.-Biography:...
, and formally dedicated on 2 November 1845. Its striking single spire
Spire
A spire is a tapering conical or pyramidal structure on the top of a building, particularly a church tower. Etymologically, the word is derived from the Old English word spir, meaning a sprout, shoot, or stalk of grass....
, which soars to two-hundred and twenty feet above street level, was the tallest man-made structure in the city for many decades, and is constructed of pure white limestone
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock composed largely of the minerals calcite and aragonite, which are different crystal forms of calcium carbonate . Many limestones are composed from skeletal fragments of marine organisms such as coral or foraminifera....
.
The first Saint Peter's was located at Sixth and Sycamore Street, in Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati, Ohio
Cincinnati is a city in the U.S. state of Ohio. Cincinnati is the county seat of Hamilton County. Settled in 1788, the city is located to north of the Ohio River at the Ohio-Kentucky border, near Indiana. The population within city limits is 296,943 according to the 2010 census, making it Ohio's...
. It was dedicated on December 17, 1826, which is now the site of St. Francis Xavier Church
St. Francis Xavier Church
St. Francis Xavier Church is located at 607 Sycamore Street, Cincinnati, Ohio. This was the location of the first diocesan cathedral and the center of early Roman Catholic life in Cincinnati. It was dedicated to St. Peter on December 17, 1826. "Christ Church" , the city's first Catholic church...
and became the seat of the First Bishop. The large stone angels that were on each side of the main altar
Altar
An altar is any structure upon which offerings such as sacrifices are made for religious purposes. Altars are usually found at shrines, and they can be located in temples, churches and other places of worship...
were created by Odoardo Fantacchiotti in the late 1840s. They now grace the Cincinnati Art Museum
Cincinnati Art Museum
The Cincinnati Art Museum is one of the oldest art museums in the United States. Founded in 1881, it was the first purpose-built art museum west of the Alleghenies. Its collection of over 60,000 works make it one of the most comprehensive collections in the Midwest.Museum founders debated locating...
. They were among the first Europe
Europe
Europe is, by convention, one of the world's seven continents. Comprising the westernmost peninsula of Eurasia, Europe is generally 'divided' from Asia to its east by the watershed divides of the Ural and Caucasus Mountains, the Ural River, the Caspian and Black Seas, and the waterways connecting...
an sculpture
Sculpture
Sculpture is three-dimensional artwork created by shaping or combining hard materials—typically stone such as marble—or metal, glass, or wood. Softer materials can also be used, such as clay, textiles, plastics, polymers and softer metals...
s to come to Cincinnati.
The interior of Saint Peter in Chains is distinctly unique among Roman Catholic cathedrals in America
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
, with its Greek
Greece
Greece , officially the Hellenic Republic , and historically Hellas or the Republic of Greece in English, is a country in southeastern Europe....
-themed mosaics depicting the Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross
Stations of the Cross refers to the depiction of the final hours of Jesus, and the devotion commemorating the Passion. The tradition as chapel devotion began with St...
, its ornate Corinthian columns and its massive bronze
Bronze
Bronze is a metal alloy consisting primarily of copper, usually with tin as the main additive. It is hard and brittle, and it was particularly significant in antiquity, so much so that the Bronze Age was named after the metal...
doors. The crucifix
Crucifix
A crucifix is an independent image of Jesus on the cross with a representation of Jesus' body, referred to in English as the corpus , as distinct from a cross with no body....
was made by Benvenuto Cellini
Benvenuto Cellini
Benvenuto Cellini was an Italian goldsmith, sculptor, painter, soldier and musician, who also wrote a famous autobiography. He was one of the most important artists of Mannerism.-Youth:...
, the murals by Carl Zimmerman and the mosaic
Mosaic
Mosaic is the art of creating images with an assemblage of small pieces of colored glass, stone, or other materials. It may be a technique of decorative art, an aspect of interior decoration, or of cultural and spiritual significance as in a cathedral...
in the apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
is by Anton Wendling.
Monica of Hippo
Saint Monica is a Christian saint and the mother of Augustine of Hippo, who wrote extensively of her virtues and his life with her in his Confessions.-Life:...
's in Clifton Heights neighborhood, north of downtown, under Archbishop Karl Joseph Alter's urban-renewal program, the church underwent significant restoration
Building restoration
Building restoration describes a particular treatment approach and philosophy within the field of architectural conservation. According the U.S...
and expansion in the mid-1950s, and on 3 November 1957, amid much celebration and fanfare, was re-dedicated a cathedral.
In 1977 the cathedral hosted a visit from Polish
Poland
Poland , officially the Republic of Poland , is a country in Central Europe bordered by Germany to the west; the Czech Republic and Slovakia to the south; Ukraine, Belarus and Lithuania to the east; and the Baltic Sea and Kaliningrad Oblast, a Russian exclave, to the north...
Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
Karol Wojtyla, who the following year became Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
. To date more than two-dozen Roman Catholic bishops have been consecrated within its walls, and the cathedral is a popular venue for weddings, as well as the annual ordination
Ordination
In general religious use, ordination is the process by which individuals are consecrated, that is, set apart as clergy to perform various religious rites and ceremonies. The process and ceremonies of ordination itself varies by religion and denomination. One who is in preparation for, or who is...
of the Archdiocese's priests and deacons.
