The cathedra of the Pope in the apse of St. John Lateran, the cathedral of Rome.

A cathedra (Latin, "chair", from Greek, kathedra, "seat") is the chair or throne of a bishop. It is a symbol of teaching authority in the Roman Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church, and has in some sense remained such in the Anglican Communion and in Lutheran churches. Cathedra is the Latin word for a chair with armrests; its Roman connotations of authority reserved for the Emperor were adopted by bishops after the 4th century. In this sense, it is sometimes referred to as a "bishop's throne." A church into which a cathedra is installed is called a cathedral or co-cathedral — the seat of a particular church called a diocese. Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x683, 645 KB) Description: Popes chair, Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, Roma, Italy File links The following pages link to this file: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano Cathedra ... Image File history File links Download high resolution version (1024x683, 645 KB) Description: Popes chair, Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano, Roma, Italy File links The following pages link to this file: Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano Cathedra ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Pope (from Latin... Late Baroque façade of the Basilica, completed, after a competition for the design, by Alessandro Galilei in 1735 St. ... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ... For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ... For other uses of chair, see chair (disambiguation). ... The thrones for The Queen of Canada, and the Duke of Edinburgh in the Canadian Senate, Ottawa is usually occupied by the Governor General and her spouse at the annual State Opening of Parliament. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations · Other religions Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Luther Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Archbishop of Canterbury · Catholic Pope Coptic Pope · Ecumenical Patriarch Christianity Portal This box:      This article... In education, teachers are those who teach students or pupils, often a course of study or a practical skill, including learning and thinking skills. ... This article is about authority as a concept. ... Catholic Church redirects here. ... It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Eastern Christianity. ... Main article: Anglicanism The Anglican Communion is a world-wide affiliation of Anglican Churches. ... The Lutheran movement is a group of denominations of Protestant Christianity by the original definition. ... For the architectural structure, see Church (building). ... For other uses, see Latin (disambiguation). ... For other uses of chair, see chair (disambiguation). ... For the architectural structure, see Church (building). ... For other uses, see Cathedral (disambiguation). ... A co-cathedral is a cathedral church which shares the honor of being a bishops seat, or cathedra, with another cathedral. ... A particular Church, in Catholic theology and Canon law, is any of the individual constituent ecclesial communities in full communion with Rome that are part of the Catholic Church as a whole. ... Pope Pius XI blesses Bishop Stephen Alencastre as fifth Apostolic Vicar of the Hawaiian Islands in a Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace window. ...

Cathedra Petri

The triumphal Cathedra Petri, the "Chair of Peter" in St Peter's Basilica, Rome, designed by Bernini

The definitive example of a cathedra is that encased within the Triumph of the cathedra Petri designed by Gian Lorenzo Bernini in 1657 and completed and installed in 1666. As early as the 8th century, an ancient wooden chair overlaid with ivory plaques depicting the Labors of Hercules and some of the signs of the Zodiac was venerated as the episcopal chair of St. Peter himself. In fact, it is a Byzantine throne enframing fragments of acacia wood encased in the oak carcass and reinforced with iron bands. Several rings facilitated its transportation during processions. Pope Alexander VII commissioned Bernini to build a sumptuous monument which would present this relic in a truly triumphant manner. Bernini's gilded bronze throne, richly ornamented with bas-reliefs encloses the relic. On January 17, 1666 it was solemnly set above the altar of Saint Peter's Basilica in Vatican City. Four over-lifesized sculptures of Doctors of the Church form an honor guard: St. Ambrose, St. Athanasius (left); and St. John Chrysostom, and St. Augustine (right). Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2142x2856, 2557 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedra Chair of Saint Peter Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... Image File history File linksMetadata Download high-resolution version (2142x2856, 2557 KB) File links The following pages on the English Wikipedia link to this file (pages on other projects are not listed): Cathedra Chair of Saint Peter Metadata This file contains additional information, probably added from the digital camera or... Interior view, with the nave of the Cattedra in the back St. ... A self portrait: Bernini is said to have used his own features in the David (below, left) Gian Lorenzo Bernini (Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini) (December 7, 1598 - November 28, 1680), who worked chiefly in Rome, was the pre-eminent baroque artist. ... Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini (Giovanni Lorenzo Bernini; December 7, 1598 – November 28, 1680) was a pre-eminent Baroque sculptor and architect of 17th century Rome. ... Alcides redirects here. ... The term zodiac denotes an annual cycle of twelve stations along the ecliptic, the apparent path of the sun across the heavens through the constellations that divide the ecliptic into twelve equal zones of celestial longitude. ... According to tradition, Peter was crucified upside-down, as shown in this painting by Caravaggio. ... For other uses, see Acacia (disambiguation). ... Alexander VII, né Fabio Chigi (February 13, 1599 – May 22, 1667) was Pope from April 7, 1655 until his death in 1667. ... Interior view, with the nave of the Cattedra in the back St. ... In Roman Catholicism, a Doctor of the Church is a theologian from whose teachings the whole Christian church is held to have derived great advantage and to whom eminent learning and great sanctity have been attributed by a proclamation of the Pope or of an ecumenical council. ... For other uses, see Ambrose (disambiguation). ... Athanasius of Alexandria (also spelled Athanasios) was a Christian bishop of Alexandria in the fourth century. ... John Chrysostom (349– ca. ... “Augustinus” redirects here. ...

Celebrated on 22 February in accordance with the calendar of saints, the Feast of Cathedra Petri honors the founding of the church in Rome and gives thanks for the work of Saint Peter. is the 53rd day of the year in the Gregorian calendar. ... The calendar of saints is a traditional Christian method of organising a liturgical year on the level of days by associating each day with one or more saints, and referring to the day as that saints day. ... For other uses, see Rome (disambiguation). ... “St Peter” redirects here. ...

Chair of St. Augustine

The enthronement of Rowan Williams as Archbishop of Canterbury at Canterbury Cathedral. He is seated in the historic Chair of St. Augustine

The Chair of St. Augustine represents one of the most ancient extant cathedrae in use. Named for the first Archbishop of Canterbury, St. Augustine of Canterbury, it is made of Purbeck Marble or Bethesda marble and dates to sometime between the 6th and 12th centuries. Those who argue for an older date suggest that it may have been used to crown the kings of Kent. Canterbury Cathedral, in which the cathedra is housed, maintains that the chair was once part of the furnishings of the shrine of St. Thomas Becket, since dismantled [1]. Since antiquity, it has always a place in the triple enthronement of an Archbishop of Canterbury. He is seated on the throne in the quire as Diocesan Bishop, in the chapter house as titular abbot, and in St. Augustine's chair as Primate of All England. This is the only occasion in which the cathedra is used. A second one is used for other occasions in which the archbishop is present. Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Image File history File linksMetadata No higher resolution available. ... Pope John Paul I s enthronement as Pope on 3rd September 1978. ... For the English boxer, see Rowan Anthony Williams. ... The Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader and senior clergyman of the Church of England, recognized by convention as the head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. ... Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site. ... The Cathedra Augustini . The Chair of St Augustine or Cathedra Augustini (Latin) represents one of the most ancient extant cathedrae in use. ... The Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader and senior clergyman of the Church of England, recognized by convention as the head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. ... Augustine of Canterbury (birth unknown, died May 26, 604 (traditional) or 605 (Thorn)) was the first Archbishop of Canterbury, sent to Ethelbert of Kent, Bretwalda of England by Pope Gregory the Great in 597. ... Purbeck is a local government district in Dorset, England, named for the Isle of Purbeck. ... Bethesda is a town in Arfon, a district of Gwynedd, traditional county of Caernarfonshire, north Wales, lying on the River Ogwen and the A5 road in Snowdonia. ... For other uses, see Marble (disambiguation). ... The Kingdom of Kent was a kingdom of Jutes in southeast England and was one of the seven traditional kingdoms of the so-called Anglo-Saxon heptarchy. ... Canterbury Cathedral is one of the oldest and most famous Christian structures in England and forms part of a World Heritage Site. ... St. ... The choir stalls in the quire of Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England A quire is the area of a church where the choir sits, also known as the choir. ... A chapter house is a building or room attached to a cathedral or collegiate church in which meetings are held. ... Abbots coat of arms The word abbot, meaning father, has been used as a Christian clerical title in various, mainly monastic, meanings. ... The Archbishop of Canterbury is the spiritual leader and senior clergyman of the Church of England, recognized by convention as the head of the worldwide Anglican Communion. ...

Ex cathedra

The term ex cathedra, meaning "from the throne", is used to designate official pronouncements of the pope when he teaches the whole world. As a throne or armchair symbolizes the power to teach, the cathedra in this case refers to the teaching authority over the whole church rather than to an actual chair. According to Roman Catholic dogma, the pope's statements ex cathedra are infallible. In Anglican episcopal governance, episcopal teaching is conditioned by synodical governance, and so bishops cannot be said to speak ex cathedra in this way - although they may jocularly be said to do so. It has been suggested that this article or section be merged into Papal infallibility. ... Topics in Christianity Movements · Denominations Ecumenism · Preaching · Prayer Music · Liturgy · Calendar Symbols · Art · Criticism Important figures Apostle Paul · Church Fathers Constantine · Athanasius · Augustine Anselm · Aquinas · Palamas · Wycliffe Tyndale · Luther · Calvin · Wesley Arius · Marcion of Sinope Pope · Archbishop of Canterbury Patriarch of Constantinople Christianity Portal This box:      The Pope (from Latin... For other senses of this word, see dogma (disambiguation). ... In Catholic theology, papal infallibility is the dogma that, by action of the Holy Spirit, the Pope is preserved from even the possibility of error[1] when he solemnly declares or promulgates to the Church a dogmatic teaching on faith or morals as being contained in divine revelation, or at... A synod (also known as a council) is a council of a church, usually a Christian church, convened to decide an issue of doctrine, administration or application. ...

Placement

The cathedra of the Catholic Diocese of Honolulu is placed behind the altar. The cathedral church interior was reformed for the liturgical changes.

The traditional position of the cathedra was in the apse, behind the high altar, which had been the position of the magistrate in the apse of the Roman basilica which provided the model type—and sometimes the actual structures—for early Christian basilicas. In the Middle Ages, as altars came to be placed against the wall of the apse, the practice of placing the cathedra to one side (mostly left) became standard. Download high resolution version (480x667, 111 KB)A series of photos, provided by the rectory of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu, HI and are in the public domain. ... Download high resolution version (480x667, 111 KB)A series of photos, provided by the rectory of the Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace in Honolulu, HI and are in the public domain. ... This article is about an architectural feature; for the astronomical term see apsis. ... An ancient Roman altar An altar is any structure upon which sacrifices or other offerings are offered for religious purposes. ... St. ... The Middle Ages formed the middle period in a traditional schematic division of European history into three ages: the classical civilization of Antiquity, the Middle Ages, and modern times, beginning with the Renaissance. ...

In the Roman Catholic Church since the Second Vatican Council, the altar is often free-standing and faces the people, so that, according to its advocates, priest and people pray in a mutual dialogue around "the table of the Lord"; in cathedrals built or renovated after the reforms of Vatican II, the cathedra is often placed behind the altar, as in ancient Roman basilicas. The Second Ecumenical Council of the Vatican, or Vatican II, was the twenty-first Ecumenical Council of the Roman Catholic Church. ...

In Anglican practice, the cathedra tends to be placed to one side in the quire, although in more contemporary practice, it is commonly placed on the gospel side of the chancel (ie., to the left of the altar, as one looks at it from the front). The choir stalls in the quire of Bristol Cathedral, Bristol, England The choir stalls at Buxheim Priory, by Ignaz Waibl See also: Choir (disambiguation) A quire (sometimes referred to as a choir) is an area of a church or cathedral, usually in the western part of the chancel between the... This article is about an architectural feature; for the astronomical term see apsis. ...

Eastern Orthodox cathedrals will have a throne for the bishop in the apse behind the altar, with seats for the priests to sit to either side of him (among the Orthodox, only bishops and priests are permitted to sit in the sanctuary; deacons and the lower clergy must stand). This location is referred to as the "High Place" and represents the presence of Christ presiding over the services, even when the bishop is not present. For this reason, the High Place often has an icon of Christ placed above the seat. The bishop will only ascend the High Place during the Divine Liturgy, at the Trisagion (at other times, if he sits in the sanctuary, a seat will be prepared for him off to the side). For this reason, the Consecration of a bishop takes place at the Trisagion, so that he may ascend the High Place for the first time as a bishop during the Liturgy at which he is Consecrated. High Place, in the English version of the Old Testament, the literal translation of the Heb. ... Look up icon in Wiktionary, the free dictionary. ... The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. ... The Trisagion (Thrice Holy) is a standard hymn of the Divine Liturgy in most of the Eastern Orthodox Churches, Oriental Orthodox Churches and Eastern Catholic Churches. ... To consecrate an inanimate object is to dedicate it in a ritual to a special purpose, usually religious. ...

There will be another throne for the bishop in the nave of the church: Links to full descriptions of the elements of a Gothic floorplan are also found at the entry Cathedral diagram. ...

• In the Greek practice, this will normally be located along the southern wall of the church, on the kliros. In this style, it is one of the monastic choir stalls (kathismata), only more elaborately carved, usually at the top of three steps, and with a canopy above it. During the Divine Liturgy, the deacon will ascend this throne to read the Gospel, facing west.

• In the Russian practice, the kafedra is a large square platform set in the very center of the nave, with a moveable chair or faldstool placed on it. This arrangement is a remnant of the ancient bemah (Greek: amvon), borrowed from the Jewish synagogue, which stood in the center of the church in ancient times. During the Russian Liturgy, the deacon will stand on this platform, facing east, to read the Gospel.

Although an Hegumen (Abbot) does not have a cathedral, he may have a similar chair, likewise symbolic of his authority, reserved for him on the kliros of his monastery. The Hegumen's kathisma would be simpler than the one for the bishop, sometimes raised atop two steps, located to the side of the bishop's throne. The kliros (Greek: κλήρος, plural κλήροι, kliroi; Slavonic: клиросъ, kliros or sometimes крилосъ, krilos) is the section of an Eastern Orthodox Church dedicated to the choir. ... A Kathisma (Greek: καθισμα; Slavonic: каѳисма, kafisma), literally, seat, is a division of the Psalter, used by Eastern Orthodox Christians and Eastern Catholics who follow the Byzantine Rite. ... The Divine Liturgy is the common term for the Eucharistic service of the Byzantine tradition of Christian liturgy. ... Gospel, from the Old English good tidings is a calque of Greek () used in the New Testament (see Etymology below). ... Faldstool (from the O.H. Ger. ... Interior of the Amsterdam Esnoga: We see the tebáh (reader’s platform) in the foreground, and the Hekhál (Ark) in the background. ... Hegumen, hegumenos, or ihumen (Greek: ἡγούμενος , Russian: игумен) is the title for the head of a monastery of the Eastern Orthodox Church, similar to the one of abbot. ...

See also

• List of cathedrals
• List of the bishops of the Church of England in England, Ireland, Scotland and Wales
• List of the dioceses of the Church of England
• List of the dioceses of the Church of Ireland
• List of the Episcopal dioceses of the United States
• List of the Roman Catholic bishops of the United States
• List of the Roman Catholic cathedrals of the United States
• List of the Roman Catholic dioceses of the United States
• Chapter

This is a list of cathedrals around the world, including both actual cathedrals (seats of bishops in episcopal denominations, such as Catholicism, Anglicanism, and Orthodoxy) and a few prominent churches from non-episcopal denominations that have the word cathedral in their names. ... This page lists Bishops and Archbishops in the Church of England, the Church in Wales, the Scottish Episcopal Church and the Church of Ireland Archbishops in the Church of England Archbishop of Canterbury Archbishop of York Bishops in the Church of England Bishop of Bath and Wells Bishop of Birmingham... This page is a list of Church of England Dioceses, along with their geographic location and the foundation dates of those founded in the modern era, i. ... The Church of Irelands diocesan system is based on the 900-year-old system set up by the Synod of Rathbreasail. ... The Episcopal Church in the United States of America is governed by 100 dioceses in the United States proper, plus eleven dioceses in other countries or outlying U.S. territories. ... Each diocese is led by a prelate bishop. ... The Cathedral of Our Lady of Peace is the seat of the Diocese of Honolulu. ... The following is a list of the Roman Catholic dioceses of the United States. ... This article incorporates text from the Catholic Encyclopedia, which is in the public domain. ...

Sources

• Catholic Encyclopedia Article on Cathedra
• Catholic Encyclopedia Article on Cathedra Petri

External Links

• Cathedra Petri in St Peter's Basilica
• Orthodox bishop seated at the High Place
• Russian bishop seated on kathedra
• Greek Bishop on throne in the kliros (Church of the Holy Sepulchre)
• Russian Orthodox Patriarch standing at kafedra in center of Christ the Saviour Cathedral, Moscow
• Russian Patriarch sitting at kafedra
• Russian Patriarch sitting at High Place