Acathedra is theraisedthrone of abishop in theearly Christian basilica.[1] When used with this meaning, it may also be called thebishop's throne. With time, the related termcathedral became synonymous with the "seat", or principal church, of abishopric.[1]
The word in modern languages derives from a normalGreek word καθέδρα [kathédra], meaning "seat", with no special religious connotations, and the Latincathedra, specifically a chair with arms.[citation needed]
It is a symbol of the bishop's teaching authority in theCatholic Church, theOrthodox Church, and theAnglican Communion churches.[citation needed]
The English word "cathedra", plural cathedrae, comes from theLatin word for "armchair", itself derived from the Greek (καθέδρα). After the 4th century, the term'sRoman connotations of authority reserved for the Emperor were adopted by bishops. It is closely related to the etymology of the wordchair.
The term appears in early Christian literature in the phrasecathedrae apostolorum, indicating authority derived directly fromthe apostles.[2][3]
The doctrine of papal infallibility, the Latin phraseex cathedra (literally, "from the chair") was proclaimed at theFirst Vatican Council byPius IX in 1870 as meaning "when, in the exercise of his office as shepherd and teacher of all Christians, in virtue of his supreme apostolic authority, the Bishop of Rome defines a doctrine concerning faith or morals to be held by the whole Church."[4][5]
Tertullian (c. 155 – c. 240?) was the first to use cathedra in the meaning of abishop's see.[5]
Eventually, the mainchurch of adiocese, used as the primary church by its bishop, received the title 'cathedral'.[1] The cathedral is literally the church into which a bishop's officialcathedra is installed.[citation needed]
TheJoint International Commission for Theological Dialogue Between the Catholic Church and the Orthodox Church makes use of the termcathedral to point out the existence of a bishop in each localchurch, in the heart ofecclesial apostolicity.[6]
The definitive example of acathedra is that encased within theTriumph of the cathedra Petri designed byGian Lorenzo Bernini in 1657, and completed and installed inSt Peter's Rome in 1666. As early as the 8th century, an ancient wooden chair overlaid with ivory plaques depictingThe Twelve Labours ofHeracles and some of the constellations,[7] was venerated as the episcopal chair ofSt. Peter. It is aByzantine throne with framed fragments ofacacia wood, encased in the oak carcass and reinforced with iron bands. It was long believed to have been used by the ApostleSaint Peter, but theHoly See recognises that the chair was a gift fromHoly Roman EmperorCharles the Bald toPope John VIII in 875.[8] Several rings facilitated its transportation during processions.Pope Alexander VII commissioned Bernini to build a monument to display this relic in a triumphant manner. Bernini's gilded bronze throne, richly ornamented withbas-reliefs, encloses the relic. On January 17, 1666, it was solemnly set above the altar ofSaint Peter's Basilica inVatican City. Greater than life-sized sculptures of fourDoctors of the Church form an honour guard: St.Ambrose and St.Athanasius on the left, and St.John Chrysostom andSt. Augustine on the right.
Celebrated on February 22 in accordance with thecalendar of saints, the Feast of Cathedra Petri (theFeast of the Chair of Peter the Apostle) honours the founding of the church inRome and gives thanks for the work of Saint Peter.
A fifth- or sixth-century bishop's throne decorated with elaborate ivory carving is preserved in the sacristy of the cathedral atRavenna. It bears a monogram in front, "Maximianus ep.", which gave it its name. The identity of the bishop is given by the 1908Catholic Encyclopedia as Maximianus of Constantinople (d. 431), considered as more likely than Maximianus of Ravenna (d. 556).[5]
TheChair of St. Augustine represents one of the most ancient extant cathedrae in use. Named after the firstArchbishop of Canterbury,St. Augustine of Canterbury, it is made ofPurbeck Marble orBethesdamarble 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 thekings 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.[9] Since the Middle Ages, it has always been used in the triple enthronement of an Archbishop of Canterbury. He is seated on the throne in thequire as Diocesan Bishop, in thechapter house as titularabbot, and in St. Augustine's chair asPrimate of All England. This is the only occasion in which the cathedra is used. A second cathedra is used for other occasions at which the archbishop is present.
The early Christian bishop's throne, orcathedra, stood in an elevated position behind the altar, near the wall of theapse.[1] It had been the position of the magistrate in the apse of the Romanbasilica, which provided the model type—and sometimes were adapted as the structures—for early Christian basilicas.[citation needed]
In theMiddle 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.[citation needed]
In theRoman Catholic Church since theSecond Vatican Council, the altar is often free-standing. The cathedra in cathedrals built or renovated after Vatican II is sometimes placed behind the altar, as in ancient Roman basilicas.
InAnglican practice, the cathedra tends to be placed to one side in thechoir, although in more contemporary practice, it is commonly placed on the gospel side of thechancel (i.e., to the left of the altar, as one looks at it from the front).
Eastern Orthodox andByzantine Rite Catholic churches have a throne for the bishop in theapse behind theholy table, with seats for the priests (Greek:synthranon) arranged to either side. 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 and therefore anicon of Christ is often placed above the bishop's throne. The bishop ascends to the high place only during thedivine liturgy, at theTrisagion. For this reason, theconsecration of a bishop takes place at theTrisagion, so that he may ascend to the high place for the first time as a bishop during the liturgy at which he is consecrated.
Another throne is provided for the bishop in thenave of the church:
Anorlets is usually placed at both the high place and the throne in the nave. An orlets is usually kept permanently on the Russiankafedra, even when the chair is removed; the orlets is, however, removed when a deacon stands on thekafedra to read the gospel.
Ferre also writes:"The exposition of certain Paris (doctors) is of no avail, who affirm that Christ only promised that the faith should not fail of the Church founded upon Peter; and not that it should not fail in the successors of Peter taken apart from (seorsum) the Church"
