The Hidden History of St Peter's Basilica

[@toldinstone]

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[@dakota5739]

Have you done a video about Michelangelo

[@bobwilson7684]

it is very curious all the info that one can find about that obelisk, and yet so little, when nothing at all about the construction of dozens of cathedrals....and starforts..and pyramids and dolmens.... ..... hhmmhh ... someone got away with it.....

[@Robespierre-lI]

There's really nothing "hidden" about St Peters

[@OverlySarcasticProductions]

I knew I admired St Peter's Basilica before, but even in the first 40 seconds, the majesty with which you describe it really takes the church a level beyond. Excellently done. -Blue

[@toldinstone]

I'm very glad you enjoyed it!

[@conorbaker7684]

Happy to see you here Blue. You’re amazing.

[@samiam619]

@@toldinstone Enjoyed it…Too short!

[@dougmartin7129]

Every time I’m in Rome I visit the Vatican. Although I’m not remotely religious it’s an amazing place . In my youth I lost a flip flop from the top of the dome. I watched it slowly slide down the face of the dome and out of sight……..aha good times. Walked back down barefoot. I still remember the cold marble under my feet.

[@terminationshock1356]

Nice story! The flip flop was probably made of plastic and still exists somewhere

[@michaireneuszjakubowski5289]

"In my youth I lost a flip flop from the top of the dome. I watched it slowly slide down the face of the dome and out of sight" Hah!. When I was 11, I got lost in the Vatican Museum. Not surprising, the place really is easy to get lost in. Anyways, I walked up to several flavors of authorities, only to find out that they couldn't understand anything I was saying, and I was just wandering around the place when a security worker grabbed me. Turns out, he spoke perfect English, so he helped me out, found the rest of my group, let them know where I am, and offered to catch up with them, giving me a tour of the place in the process (!). We talked along the way too, turned out he was Iranian (!). Fantastic guy, though I wonder how the hell he ended up as a security guard with his language skills and knowledge (the tour he gave me was fantastic, frankly, he was much better than the tour guide!). *edit - typos, my keyboard is giving up the ghost

[@CleverMonster101]

I am anti religious and absolutely love going to the Vatican. I went last year and it was completely empty. Such a cool experience

[@jimc.goodfellas]

Just goes to show, you don't have to be religious to appreciate history and historical places etc

[@joeexotic7768]

I remember climbing up the dome on a warm day and seeing people collapsed on the stairs on the way up. They didn’t understand what the 550 steps meant.

[@rustyshackleford2007]

This is my new favorite history channel. Love that you treat the subject seriously in your script but still throw little jokes in the subtext. - I definitely heard what you said.

[@alexandrosstavrou4224]

It`s hard to believe this building is real. It looks so fantastical and awe inspiring, i still get goosebumps just from seeing it on photos. So much detail to get yourelf lost into

[@aka99]

True, but there are similar looking buildings in the world and Not all of them are cathedrals

[@augustinefaithdefender]

@@aka99 Ugh, no, St.Peter Basilica is the most beautiful, opulence and magnificent building in the world, nothing could compared to it.

[@aka99]

@@augustinefaithdefender sistine chapel as direct neighbor to St. Peter Basilica? Museum of Art History in VIenna?

[@augustinefaithdefender]

@@aka99 sistine chapel is not that grandeur. Vienna where, not on the same level darling 💁🏻‍♂️

[@jcs3330]

Visited Rome for the first time in the early 2000's When I entered St. Peter's Basilica, I was struck by total awe!. Absolutely breathtaking!.

[@markstrainstation]

My daughter was baptized at St Peter’s in 2002 so thanks for making this video. It was nice to see and learn about the baptismal font.

[@robertewalt7789]

I watched several families have their babies baptized there. What a story to tell the children!

[@Judge_Jon]

Heck of a place to be baptized!

[@RichO1701e]

children shouldn't be baptized.

[@TetsuShima]

Wonder what Nero would have thought if he saw how the poor and old man named Peter that he horribly murdered became one of the most important persons in Ancient History (until the point of having uncountable honors and monuments to him around the entire world) and also how christianity turned into the last remaining institution of the Roman Empire and now its dominion reaches every civilization, not mentioning the fact he and the pagan gods of Rome fell into oblivion and infamy thousands of years ago

[@xXSprMgaAwsmFxyHtXx]

Not to mention his palace being literally covered over by the emperors that came after him

[@TetsuShima]

@@xXSprMgaAwsmFxyHtXx I think the fact someone who wasn't a Julio-Claudian became Emperor was more than enough for him

[@miggypeso909]

Well the pagan gods of the Roman’s are still known,well known at that. Matter of fact the planets are named after them.

[@Blackadder75]

@@xXSprMgaAwsmFxyHtXx There are still parts of Nero's house standing, you can visit it. That can't be said of anything of anybody in the bible, except some remains of buildings by King Herod

[@starcapture3040]

That if really peter died there and that was his tomb

[@MrGaborseres]

Been there first in 1977 as a fresh refugee from Eastern Europe..... I was amazed.......

[@Icandoitifiwant]

Totally agree! AWE INSPIRING! Jaw dropping from the moment you enter. I thought Westminster Abbey and St. Paul's Cathedral in London blew me away and then I walked into St. Peter's and I just couldn't believe my eyes!

[@isabelleaboud2486]

On a trip with The Order of Malta we attended mass at St Peters. To have the opportunity to attend a mass in such a historic and holy place was a once in a lifetime experience. I could stop looking around and the interior the whole mass! 💕

[@stephenlight647]

Thanks!

[@toldinstone]

That's very generous - thank you!

[@jeffw8218]

Could you recommend a video that discusses how the St. Peter’s Bascillia was built? Seems like a phenomenal engineering/architecture challenge.

[@toldinstone]

I think you'll enjoy my next video...

[@PurpleDragonSpike]

@@toldinstone historydad why must u tease us

[@unknown81360]

@@PurpleDragonSpike bruh hahahahahah

[@DanielMcVey]

Ild like to know more about Michelangelo’s dome. How did they know how to build the dome if Brunelleschi was secretive on his dome? @toldinstone

[@augustinefaithdefender]

Every artist worked on the project said God inspired them to work on the whole new level.

[@TR3A]

This episode is one of my favourites. I'd welcome additional episodes about St Peter's.

[@sebastianpottackal9706]

I visited the eternal city in 2016. It was a long-cherished dream come real. I stood before the majestic St.Peter's Basilica spellbound. Its really an angelic work, amazingly wonderful.

[@automaticmattywhack1470]

A beautiful building that couldn't/wouldn't be built today. Great video again. To me, it was the pictures that made this video so interesting.

[@margaretr5701]

Beautiful!

[@dylanreynolds4334]

One of the few channels that I’ll watch the ad out of respect. Always a joy to watch one of ToldinStone’s videos!

[@polemeros]

I studied in Rome in 1973. I was no fan of Baroque architecture. I headed off to see St Peters but stopped on the way to visit the Pantheon, whose dome I found, to my suprise, felt oppressive, made me feel small. But when I walked thru the doors of St Peters an hour later, the whole place felt like a magnet drawing me upwards. I almost wanted to dance, it was so beautiful. Massive, but unlike the Pantheon, welcoming, inviting.

[@antoniousai1989]

Saint Peter's is not baroque though. It's rinascimental and manneristic

[@Robespierre-lI]

​​​@@antoniousai1989portions of St Peters are Baroque, specially the additions and revisions made by Bernini in the wake of the Council of Trent. "rinascimento" is not used in English. Only Italian But yes, Michaelangelo's St Peters is a high Renalssance building with some mannerist elements on the exterior. But you can't see it without going through a lot of Bernini first.

[@Robespierre-lI]

No idea how anyone could find the Pantheon oppressive. But okay ... It is true that Roman architecture is interested to make individuals feel small, I suppose. But why should that be oppressive? Your response is unusual, but that's interesting in itself.

[@TheHylianBatman]

I kinda wish that modern buildings had this sense of congealing history that ancient buildings had. It feels like so often these days, we go for all or nothing. I'm not a fan. I like hearing about re-use and historical parts. I think it's really cool.

[@AnBarbarossa]

Exactly. Modern buildings are made to be practical and nothing more. Just giant shoeboxes of concrete and glass.

[@AsiandOOd]

it would cost more to design and work around a historical part than to demolish and built from scratch. today is where materials are low cost and manpower is high value. it would be a lot cheaper to circumvent regulations, engineers, skilled laborers, and the whole package of inherent difficulty of reusing something old makes it unsuitable for construction

[@maxis5427]

Re-use is a really light word and a really optimistic view of the church's actions tbh, "spoiling" is a better term to use most of the times! In order to cut down cost, they spoiled the remaining marble coverage of the colosseum, stolen the statues there were still there and "re-used" them in order to reinforce the fucking foundations when they couldn't cut them down into blocks and "re-use" them. The same thing happened to a lot of other still standing temples and roman basilicas. I'm totally fine with the concept using marble from ruins or really old structure that they needed get demolished or rebuilt anyway but they didn't do that. Btw I'm from rome.

[@andrewprahst2529]

@@maxis5427 Well, I imagine a Christian emperor wouldn't want pagan statues adorning his church. It reminds me a bit of statues of confederate leaders here in The States

[@maxis5427]

@@andrewprahst2529 The problem here is that popes in the 1500s were actually in love roman/greek statuary and culture in general. It was the renaissance dude... Look at michelangelo, donatello, rafaello, borromini's masterpieces in florence, il bramante. They were all trying to achieve "the perfection of the classical era". Popes straight up refurbished statues without even changing them and slapped another name on top of them. Idk, what we've here, a statue of Marco antonio rising a horse? Let's say it's CharleMagne, no one will notice (This was actually one of the most clever way to preserve them). What you're saying it makes sense, still, can I just hate hypocrisy of popes for doing this while reading cicerone or the catholic church in general?

[@DrBsy]

I was at the awesome St Peter’s basilica few days ago for 2 days! Words cannot describe my feelings!

[@LudwigHohlwein1974]

Still the most incredible building I'm ever likely to step into. Everyone should see this wonder of the world, at least once. It is awe inspiring and Bernini's work is a zenith of human achievement.

[@aka99]

Yes but there are buildings which look similar and not are only cathedrals.

[@overdose8329]

The one in malta is huge and nice. A lot of the ones in Spain look great too

[@claudermiller]

I visited it once. It's mind-blowing in its sheer scale. Everything about it is absolutely fantastic.

[@TheFreedutch2008]

Seen it once about 35 years ago would love to see it again.

[@Desertrose09]

Visited Rome and the Basilica for the 4th time on 17th August 2022. I recall standing in St. Peter's Square for the first time in March 2001 - I was in awe and could not move as I was struck by the majesty of this magnificent structure. Spent a whole day there - it was an awesome experience. Thank you for your video.

[@bensonrichard561]

Hello beautiful Janet and how are you doing today?

[@mitchellbarnow1709]

Excellent video, Garrett! I have seen some of this history here or there, but not all together like you have done so smartly.

[@automaticmattywhack1470]

The little sayings under the pics of the popes made me chuckle. I could use a nap too!

[@jec1ny]

This channel really deserves far more subscribers.

[@elcidleon6500]

I always wondered if there was something beyond the eye, then you proved otherwise which made me appreciate the St. Peter's Basilica even more. This is the good stuff!

[@bentreynor3626]

Would you ever consider talking about Greek and Roman funeral practices?

[@barbiewert7182]

No way

[@wacobob56dad]

To see St. Peter’s in person is just incredible.

[@SimonEkendahl]

Thank you toldinstone. This sooths my mind and helps in keeping my sanity.

[@andreluizbutzkedallacorte5242]

Dedicating a whole 10h to the Vatican on my trip to Rome last year was one of my best decisions in life

[@goodmorningsahib]

I went there last month. It is simply awe inspiring. The cavernous size of the interior can’t be appreciated until you step in. 700feet (200m) long and similarly high at the dome.

[@d.l.l.6578]

I like your voice and calm demeanor. You’re an excellent storyteller.

[@roberteckhardt7527]

A Marble skull of the hand of Bernini crafted for pope Alexander the VII himself was recently rediscovered in the archive of Dresdens old masters gallery. It looked identical to an original skull, so the curators almost overlooked the baroque skulpture. The object is currently on Display in said Gallery.

[@TXMEDRGR]

You are so correct that the Vatican is breath taking, it is the most magnificent building I have ever seen.

[@_hench__5251]

Man Iv'e been waiting for this one. Great job sir.

[@MrYeahyuhhh]

Even the photos look unbelievable… This place literally is what hundreds of years of artistic design bring to reality

[@paroayush]

We recently went to Rome and toured around Vatican City. The Basilica is an awe-inspiring piece of historic and religious monument ever made. We were just spellbound to see the majestic architecture and art that this place adorns with. Quite a mystery how this was even built so intricately and with finesse in 16-17th Century with no modern tools or equipments.

[@fredscott1199]

Hello from Nashville, Tennessee. Can you leave a link to your book so that I may purchase it, please?

[@BeeMcDee]

6:12 I died 😂 I love history related to biblical subjects. This was great!

[@stephenlight647]

A fantastic building. If only the Hagia Sophia had survived, un-desecrated.

[@RichO1701e]

It wasn't. It's just a building. They are just buildings. Religious nonsense doesn't affect physical buildings. Get a grip.

[@ducktender397]

​@RichO1701e the Muslims ruined all the beautiful art that decorated the interior

[@Francis-qu2iu]

​@@RichO1701e ur letting your religious bias interfere with the interpretation of the statement. One does not lament that it is a mosque, but rather than many of its ornaments, decorations, and original style have been destroyed and covered up. Think of the beautiful Byzantine mosaics and the high altar that once adorned Hagia Sophia. It really is a shame we cannot visit it in it's true glory.

[@christianwestling2019]

Great video! One funny detailed you missed in the story of when they moved the obelisk is that the when they started to raise the obelisk, the ropes were so strained as they started to burn. A man then, despite the risk of death, shouted to them to throw water on the ropes. They did, the ropes were saved and the obelisk rose. The man espaced death. :)

[@markstrainstation]

Thanks for talking about the baptismal font because my daughter was baptized their in 2002.

[@PBmask]

I visited the St. Peter's Basilica this summer and words and pictures cannot describe this building. I was aware that it was amazing, not just as a building but as an artpiece. But this is the definition of amazing. You cant get a grasp of the sheer scale and beauty of the thing without seeing it with your own eyes. And it became very obvious why people would spend decades waging war to seperate from the catholic curch.

[@hans-joachimbierwirth4727]

That Obelisk has a twin in Constantinople erected by Theodosius I, who was the last emperor of the unified empire before it was split, nowadays under occupation by ottoman barbarians. One of them unsuccessfully tried to blow it up in 2016. These Obelisks have been commissioned around 1450 BC by Thutmosis III. who is called the Napoleon of ancient Egypt by some.

[@astutik8909]

The obelisks are pagan sungods. An abomination in Gods sight.

[@Aristocles22]

The way its described, one would think that the whole of St. Peter's was made from looting ruins. While it does take some marble from the Colosseum, copper from the Pantheon, and some bits and pieces from ancient mansions, most of the materials used to build the basilica were original and not "recycled" from anywhere else.

[@stevecalovich3682]

On the warmest days, as you approach the front doors, you are met with a continuous blast of cool air.

[@BenWinder108]

I’m not catholic. Every time I go to Rome, I go on a tour and up the dome of Saint Peter’s Basilica. The place is magical. In my opinion absolutely beautiful place.

[@jovanweismiller7114]

Dr Ryan, just a point of information. Constantine did not begin St Peter's after he converted. That would have been difficult since he didn't convert until he was on his deathbed. He did, however, begin it after legalising Christianity in the Empire.

[@histguy101]

Hi, the traditional date of his conversion is 312, although he began raising his sons as Christians possibly as early as 309 with the eldest, Crispus. By the time he became sole emperor in 325, he had fully "come out of the closet."

[@AsiandOOd]

you have to be misreading something. it is widely known that constantine converted before he legalized christianity, and was never baptized. the controversy is a claim that he was baptized at his deathbed, which doesn't mean he is not christian as many early patriarchs werent baptized as well.

[@John_Fugazzi]

He was baptized on his deathbed. This was common practice because it was believed that Baptism removed every trace of sin. Thus if you were baptized just before dying, you would go straight to Heaven.

[@overdose8329]

@@John_Fugazzi baptized as an Arian if I remember correctly

[@johnfrancis6413]

@@overdose8329 Every baptism invoking the Trinity is valid it doesn't matter if the biaptizer was Lutheran or Arian

[@paulkoza8652]

Just returned from my second visit to Rome and first to the basilica. It impressed me for its size and engineering. Less so for its decor. There are prettier churches in Europe and indeed in Italy itself. The most impressive was the huge columns that support the roof and dome which provide for an amazing amount of cubic space in the central nave and cross naves as well.

[@xXSprMgaAwsmFxyHtXx]

I bet the Romans had an easier time moving the obelisk than the Renaissance peoples did

[@Xerxes2005]

I really doubt it. Contrary to what is commonly believed, the Middle Ages were more technically advanced than the Romans. Just look at the cathedrals. If they were able to build the cathedral of Reims, they would be able to move an obelisk.

[@sskspartan]

@@Xerxes2005 Maybe but those churches were built for hundreds of years and without as much pay for the workers as it was "god's work" and they found it ok to squander resources since plumbing and libraries and so on weren't a concern anymore.Romans built their gargantuan stuff often in less than a decade and with fair wages, though with some slaves as well.They never wanted to create ultra detailed and money wasting luxurious stuff like the "great"(many of them aren't structurally sound and keep needing repairs every few years)which totally contradict the "hate riches and live modestly"ideas of Christianity anyway

[@sskspartan]

@@Xerxes2005 and even still, concrete was lost and only 1200 years later could Christians create a bigger dome than the Pantheon

[@Xerxes2005]

@@sskspartan So much anti-christian platitudes and fallacies... The fact remains that they were able to build these cathedrals, to move the stones, to rise them up, etc. So they were more than able to move and rise that obelisk. A bigger dome than the Pantheon? You mean like St. Peter's?

[@bearcb]

@@Xerxes2005 Romans took much less time to build structures of comparable size. Even Saint Peter’s, built in Renaissance with more advanced engineering, is comparable to Roman baths. Don’t get me wrong, the architecture of gothic cathedrals is fantastic in concept, but in engineering terms they don’t hold a candle to Romans.

[@patricksanders858]

If you are going to visit the Basilica, remember it is open at 7 am on Sundays. I visited during a weekday with my family but couldnt handle the lines. I waited until Sunday, got up early and strolled through security and had the whole area to myself and a fozen others. No crowds, no lines, "front row" views... I highly recommend doing so.

[@t.vanoosterhout233]

You make me want to go back and spend some more hours walking this and other churches. Rome sweet Rome!

[@nancytestani1470]

Amazing…I was there in 2019…and it was overwhelming, and marvellous to behold..goosebumps, almost crying..so fantastic, I so need to go again

[@drewp.weiner2473]

Jordan Maxwell has great videos on the symbols and symbolism at St. Peters

[@MrJeremybowling]

what a wonderful video, thank you!

[@tonyl3762]

There is a reason that the grave of only one of the Twelve was so remembered and honored throughout the centuries....

[@chixdighueyz]

I have the bronze angel of death tatooed on me, it truly just brought my love of faith and art together when I saw it in person

[@jimmydesouza4375]

It's really nice to see a modern video about Christianity or a Christian location not riddled with blatant "Christianity bad!!!" propaganda (or indeed any at all that I noticed). Thanks.

[@rutgerb]

The video is not about christianity. Only you mention christianity, which btw is bad!!!

[@jimmydesouza4375]

@@rutgerb You should look up what St. Peter's Basilica is, then you'd know how pitiful your post is. Though I am not sure how you didn't get all the pertinent info from the video itself...

[@rutgerb]

@@jimmydesouza4375 its a building.

[@rutgerb]

@@jimmydesouza4375 and if you want to talk christianity icw the vatican. I am Dutch, the vatican declared all Dutch enemies of christianity, because we didnt follow the idiocrazy of the sint pieter sekt. We had 80 years of war with your christianity and we won.

[@rutgerb]

@@jimmydesouza4375 Murder, rape, stealing and cheating is what financed the st peters basilica, its the worst thing of catholicism. It is litterly build with all the bad things of humanity. The money was raised by indulgences, its build with bloodmoney.

[@Gainn]

Gotta love a good mashup.

[@screechingwind114]

I Would make that Structure into A Library of Knowledge for All, perhaps in the Next Earth..very inspirational place to Learn.

[@jmc7466]

This is the best! Thanks a lot!

[@musamusashi]

As a native Roman, i always found the extravagant luxury of St. Peter, and of many other artistic and architectural achievements of the Catholic Church, in stark contradiction with the authentic spirit and message of Christianity. Interestingly there's an Italian proverb, which is used in both religious and non religious context, that can be translated as "the largest the church, the smallest the devotion", so this perception of something not being right from the spiritual perspective, was present among the faithful throughout the centuries, but totally ignored by the majority of Popes, always more worried with earthly successes to be associated with their names than with the transcendental. Nice video, from a very nice channel, btw.

[@AnBarbarossa]

Oh, shut up. You just don't know Christianity. Go read what Saint Francis of Assisi - known to be poor - and Saint Dominic had to say about this argument of yours.

[@EresirThe1st]

The church was more about political control than it was about religious expression.

[@musamusashi]

@@EresirThe1st absolutely.

[@oldrabbit8290]

may i ask what the name of the old St. Peter's Basilica painting at 5:15? it's truly breathtaking

[@JohnnyAngel8]

Go to the Liturgical Arts Journal April 22, 2020. Search its website. What Sits Underneath St. Peter's Basilica in Rome. I don't know the name of it, though.

[@antonxuiz]

6:10 nice captions xD Is the little details that matter

[@rickb3078]

Thank you for all the info. Ill be in rome later this year and cant wait to revisit sites with so much new information. I have a question : the artwork at 5:13 could you tell me where i can find this / download this?

[@JohnnyAngel8]

Liturgical Arts Journal April 22, 2020 Search its website. What Sits Underneath St. Peter's Basilica in Rome.

[@rickb3078]

@@JohnnyAngel8 Got it! Thank you for your help 😊

[@bradfordbarrettluckotheIrish]

Wonderfully done!

[@graceantonio3573]

THANK YOU, GOD BLESS YOU! RECYCLING HAS BEEN A COMMON SENSE EVER SINCE! GLORY ALELUAH!

[@ianbarr5110]

If the carpenter from Galilee could see this he would be disgusted.

[@uchennanwogu2142]

why?

[@KamalBara-lh8sx]

Isn't god the king of kings

[@TetsuShima]

Peter's crucifixion was brilliantly and terrifyingly portrayed in Anthony Burgess's novel "The Kingdom of the Wicked." In that book, an elderly Peter decides to turn himself in to the authorities, since he cannot bear the fact that an old man like him is still alive while thousands of young Christians are being executed by Nero. The next time we see Peter, he is already dead and crucified upside down in the stadium, while, around him, children dressed as sheep are slaughtered by dogs in front of a horrified audience and the laughter of Nero and Tigellinus.

[@thr3ddy]

Thanks for the book suggestion!

[@joeh5538]

So Christian fiction? Neat

[@douglasdaniel4504]

And it was in Nero's circus on the Vatican...the mental click as it all snapped into place was audible. I need to read that book.

[@TetsuShima]

@@douglasdaniel4504 You should definitely read it. The book masterfully portrays the birth of christianity from Jesus' resurrection to the destruction of Pompeii in a very nihilistic and depressing tone. You should also watch its 1985 mini-series adaptation "A.D.", starred by amazing actors and actress like Susan Sarandon, Ian McShane, James Mason, Fernando Rey and Ava Gardner

[@justmoritz]

This is a re-release, no? I swear I saw this before

[@toldinstone]

Yes, I made a video with the same title two years ago. The old version is now called "A Historical Walking Tour of St. Peter's Basilica."

[@tylernagy4814]

Easily one of the best videos you’ve put together. Thank you for all the effort you put into them.

[@fredericchopin4821]

I absolutely adore your channel. Keep the wonderful work up!

[@andyroo9381]

St. Peter's Basilica is as big as you imagine it to be.

[@BuriedFlame]

6:17 _"Oh cra---"_ 7:15 Ouch dude. Just....ouch.

[@optomixx4050]

Amazing video! I have studied renaissance art history off and on for years and you surprised me with some your great tidbits.

[@michaireneuszjakubowski5289]

Just wanted to say that the algorithm seems to hate this channel - I've been subscribed for some time and enabled all notifications, but still haven't got any. If I weren't regularly checking your channel for updates, I wouldn't know you're putting out videos.

[@flouserschird]

I found this video in my recommended page. Never seen this channel before.

[@aka99]

Hmmm Strange but this explains a lot!

[@michaireneuszjakubowski5289]

@@flouserschird Mysterious are the ways of the machine...

[@John_Fugazzi]

Thank you. This was fascinating and I hardly knew any of it beyond the fact that there had been am earlier basilica.

[@stevenovetsky3274]

Brilliant!

[@nicolek4076]

Wonderful. Quite the best thing I've seen on KZbin this year! Congratulations! Keep it up!

[@theoldar]

I found it to be over the top. A little more simplicity would have served it well.

[@vaevictis3612]

The building of new St. Peter's required so much money, that it basically bankrupted the Church and was one of the reasons to sell indulgence "bonds". This was in turn one of the major reasons for the Reformation and the ultimate great schism of Catholic Church and massive religious wars that led to deaths and untold sufferings of millions and fracturing and decline of European culture. But you know, entering the halls of St. Peters and looking around - me and I am sure any Pope would say: It was well worth it!

[@nosuchthing8]

When you lay out the history of the basilica and the fallout, I'm not so sure.

[@nicholasmccormick4254]

Been there, and the sculptures were remarkable. However I could not get passed the guilt I felt when I see what they did with the money they forced from its people for so long. I think that's why the living one stated "no images". The Roman empire just crossed the street and used another name.

[@christopherstottart]

Great. Now I have to go back to Rome so I can see it all again. Love your videos. I appreciate what you do here.

[@davek7706]

I, too, sometimes wear stylish blue pants!

[@patricksanders858]

The Basilica is amazing but I find La Sagrada Familia in Barcelona to be much more awe inspiring.

[@2MuchPurple]

This is very interesting. I visited the basilica years ago, and as a non-religious tourist, found it to be a bit too much to take in in an hour or so. So baroque!

[@johnbharris]

Do you happen to have a recommendation for any Vatican necropolis tours?

[@adyseven1]

Superb as always. Thank you.

[@marczimmerman8524]

The Pope gave the death penalty to anyone who spoke while raising Nero's obelisk. That's one sick Pope!

[@markmaki4460]

Since Constantine was not baptised until just before his death, he cannot technically be said to have converted to Christianity until he was almost dead. Perhaps "came to favor and patronize" is best to say, or at least thought when we say he converted any time before he was in extremis.

[@FrJohnBrownSJ]

The practice of deathbed Baptism was a little more common than one might think. Since the sacrament of Confession wasn't in its current form and Baptism (resulting in the forgiveness of all past sins) can be done only once, many Christians held off on Baptism until late in life.

[@terminationshock1356]

@@FrJohnBrownSJ Makes sense. Just do one big sweep at the very end and enjoy life in the meanwhile :D

[@FrJohnBrownSJ]

@@terminationshock1356 You might be close to the truth on Constantine. He seemed at times to take the Christian Faith seriously, including what must have seemed like obscure theological ponts, seriously. But he also had family rivals killed. But in the end, his trust in the Church, formed over his wild lifetime, was there.

[@terminationshock1356]

@@FrJohnBrownSJ Yeah, he had his wife Fausta and son killed. He was ruthless but so were some of the popes even much later on. Also, I would say that at the time the people were very aware of the fact that they were making up the rules as they went on. So many things of the doctrine were settled with politics and agreements at councils like the one of Nicaea that I imagine they were taking a lot of aspects of religion with a grain of salt since they were themselves the ones that wrote them

[@FrJohnBrownSJ]

@@terminationshock1356 I've done a lot of reading and studying the writings and homilies of the leaders of the Church at that time. They seem very sincere. It's hard to believe the Church could last 2000 years if it was built on inauthentic political considerations when it comes to doctrines. Poor leadership at times? Absolutely. But we judge those leaders by the amazing standards set by the saintly theologians truly compelled by God.

[@kerruhhh6954]

i wish i knew this history before i went there, it would’ve been so much cooler knowing the context

[@jonathonschott]

Michaelangelo had a famous quote, 'oh what a gift it is to work and love in the grace of God'. It was actually a subtle thumbing of the nose to the catholic church as he was a homosexual and is rumored to have had relations with the model who is now known as David with his finger extended. At the time homosexuality was a capital offense punishable by death. Priceless.

[@Biblical_Mystery]

For whoever comes across this message, be assured that God is with you in every step of your journey. He paves the way, stands by you, and guards your rear. Approach each situation with confidence, knowing that God is your steadfast companion. Amen 🙏❤🚶‍♂

[@kaloarepo288]

I have visited the church of St Paul outside the walls which is not that far from the Vatican and is a paleo-Christian church going back to the time of Constantine and it is absolutely exquisite but I believe it was badly burnt in the mid 19th century and rebuilt as closely as possible to the original -early Christian churches were designed to be plain and even ugly on the outside but exquisite on the inside to point to the fact that it is the interior of a person that is beautiful and not the exterior -this is the case with the Byzantine churches in Ravenna.

[@oldworldchris4187]

Fascinating!

[@arkitektlt]

Is it true that, instead they hold/berried Alexander’s the Great tomb as in place for St. Peter tomb?

[@wadeguidry6675]

If I ever get rich, I would like to hire you as a tour guide. I can listen to you talk about this stuff forever.

[@abrahamphilip6439]

Quuz Question. What does the Bronze Image of St.Peter in Peters Basilica denote ?