Γιατί ο Πέτρος κρατά πάντοτε κλειδιά;

Γιατί ο Πέτρος κρατά πάντοτε κλειδιά;

Ναός της Ρώμης

20 Νοεμβρίου 2021

Τέχνη

Από την Sophie Hart

Simon Peter was a simple fisherman before he became the chief apostle of the Lord Jesus Christ. In many artistic renditions of this apostle, his fishers’ nets are replaced with two keys. Why?

Παραδοσιακά, ο Πέτρος αναπαρίσταται να κρατά δύο κλειδιά ίσου μεγέθους, τα οποία εξηγούνται από τον Σωτήρα στο Ευαγγέλιο του Ματθαίου: «Kαι θα σου δώσω τα κλειδιά τής βασιλείας των ουρανών· και ό,τι αν δέσεις επάνω στη γη, θα είναι δεμένο στους ουρανούς· και ό,τι αν λύσεις επάνω στη γη, θα είναι λυμένο στους ουρανούς.» (Κατά Ματθαίον 16:19). 

The Church that Jesus Christ established on the Earth included the authority to bind in heaven the things which are bound on Earth. In simpler terms, Peter was given the power and authority of God, or the priesthood. The keys which he holds are strong symbols of that priesthood authority and the fact that it has been restored today. 

In the Rome Temple Visitors’ Center, Peter can be found twice in two separate artistic renditions–but both with keys. One stands in the Christus room, where he is found on the right hand of the Savior. In this copy of the original statues done by Bertel Thorvaldsen, Peter holds the keys in his hands with his gaze set directly on the Temple for The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-Day Saints. The other depiction of the apostle is contained in the stained glass found at the entrance of the visitors’ center done by American artist Tom Holdman. In stunning color and traditional blue robes, Peter holds the keys while watching Jesus perform a miracle. 

Both of these unique pieces of art can be found at the historic site of the Rome Temple, which stands as the only temple of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Italy. Outside the Eternal City, the visitors’ center invites all to come and see these special renditions of the apostle Peter, who is known to have been martyred within Rome’s city limits.