St. John Lateran

Archbasilica of St. John Lateran

Cathedral church of the Diocese of Rome

Official ecclesiastical seat of the Bishop of Rome

Baroque facade by Alessandro Galilei, completed in 1735.

Cathedral dedicated to Christ the Savior, ranks above all other churches.

In the heavenly light.....

Omnium Ecclesiarum Urbis et Orbis Mater et Caput

The Mother and Head of all the churches in the city and in the world.

Cathedra, Bishop's Throne, symbol of Bishop's teaching authority (that little white chair). 

After the church suffered earthquakes and fires, was under the direction of multiple emperors, popes, and architects, and underwent many reconstructions, we have the church that stands today.  At the beginning of the 4th century it became the property of Constantine. In turn, Constantine gifted it to the Church as a residence for bishops. Constantine expressed that he desired all the churches built under his order to be greater in splendor and beauty than any secular buildings. To achieve this, many of the largest and best pillars from pagan Rome were incorporated into the new buildings.

Francesco Borromini designed 12 niches lining the nave to be filled with sculptures of the 12 Apostles.

St. Simon the Zealot, one of my favorites, by Francesco Moratti.

In the impressive baldacchino over the high alter is a reliquary containing the heads of St. Peter and St. Paul.

A beautiful sculpture of our Lord being taken down from the cross. 

We just happen to visit St. John Lateran on Saturday, Sept. 15 when the Gospel reading was from Luke:

"As the child's father and mother stood there wondering at the things that were being said about him, Simeon blessed them and said to Mary his mother, 'You see this child: he is destined for the fall and rising of many in Israel, destined to be a sign that is rejected..."