Can you truly know the bedrock of your faith without knowing its genesis?
For centuries, the spiritual heart of the Catholic world did not beat in the Vatican. It pulsed from a forgotten hill across Rome-the Caelian Hill-where stood the
Archbasilica of St. John Lateran
,
Omnium Urbis et Orbis Ecclesiarum Mater et Caput
(Mother and Head of all the Churches of the City and the World). This magnificent volume, "The First Throne of Peter," invites you not merely to read history, but to step onto the very ground consecrated by Emperor Constantine himself in 324 A.D. Witness the miraculous transformation of a pagan cavalry barracks into the world's first public Christian cathedral, the sacred place where the Popes of Rome held undisputed authority for a thousand years. Prepare to uncover the imperial roots and spiritual destiny of the true Cathedral of Rome.
This is the dramatic saga of survival that few know. Follow the relentless cycles of destruction and rebirth: the barbarian sackings by the Vandals, the devastating earthquakes that brought its ancient walls crashing down, and the terrible fires that followed the Papacy's exile to Avignon. Yet, in every age, from the glorious mosaic restorations of the Medieval period to the Baroque majesty sculpted by Borromini for the 1650 Jubilee, this sacred site has risen. It is a tangible testament to the Church's unyielding resilience-a promise in stone that
Non praevalebunt
(The gates of hell shall not prevail). Discover the secret history hidden within its walls, from the relic skulls of Saints Peter and Paul to the
Holy Stairs (Scala Sancta)
, traced by the knees of countless penitents across the ages.
Delve into the
Lateran Councils
, the legislative events held within these walls that defined the foundational doctrines, affirmed the seven sacraments, and charted the course of global Christianity. This book will connect you directly to the source of Apostolic Succession, revealing how the
Lateran's Cathedra
remains the definitive symbol of the Pope's pastoral office as Bishop of Rome. Understand the profound significance of its title as the "Mother Church," a spiritual primacy that even St. Peter's Basilica must acknowledge. For those seeking a deeper, more substantial connection to the ancient, eternal foundations of our Faith, this book is essential reading-a pilgrimage through time to the sacred wellspring.
Part of the acclaimed
"Pilgrimage to the Sacred: Italy's Holy Shrines"
series, this work is crafted specifically for the serious believer. It is fact-filled yet reverent, treating the history of the Lateran not merely as architecture or politics, but as a living testament to divine providence. It is an invitation to venerate the cornerstone of our ecclesiastical heritage, offering the illumination required to truly appreciate the depth and sacrifice woven into every stone of this holiest of Archbasilicas.
Are you ready to claim your inheritance by standing at the First Throne of Peter?