CHRISTIANITY'S FIRST CATHEDRAL

St. John Lateran is the oldest and most highest ranking basilica in Rome. It is the cathedral of Rome - the official seat of the Pope. It is dedicated to Our Saviour, St. John the Baptist, and St. John the Evangelist. On the front of the building is an inscription stating that this is "SACROSANCTA LATERANENSIS ECCLESIA OMNIUM URBIS ET ORBIS ECCLESIARUM MATER ET CAPUT" translated as "The Most Holy Lateran Church, Mother and Mistress of all churches of the city and the World". It is also known the Basilica Aurea, "The Golden Basilica", due to the magnificant decorations which adore it.

From Wikia:

The main façade is the work of Alessandro Galilei, from 1736. The first stone was laid by Pope Clement XII on 8 December, 1735. It has five large arches opening on the narthex, and is crowned by c. 7 metre high statues of Christ, Sts John the Baptist and John the Evangelist and other saints. The full list of the large statues, with the artists' names, is:

• Jesus Christ by P. Benaglia
• St John the Baptist by B. Pincellotti
• St John the Evangelist by D. Scaramuccia
• St Gregory the Great by Giovanni Battista de Rossi
• St Jerome by A. Corsini
• St Ambrose by A. Benaglia
• St Augustine by B. Ludovisi
• St Athanasius by P. l'Eastache
• St Basil by G. Riccardi
• St John Chrysostom by G. Frascari
• St Gregory Nazianz by C. Taodardini
• St Bernard by T. Brandini
• St Thomas Aquinas by P. Latour
• St Bonaventure by B. Casoni
• St Eusebius Vercelli by G.F. Lazzoni

The Loggia of Blessings is in the centre. From it, a newly elected Pope gives his blessing on the day that he first takes possession of the cathedral.

The façade faces the east, as the basilica was built before the tradition of placing the altar in the east had taken hold in Rome.

This is the "papal altar" - not because only the pope uses it - but because it contains a wooden altar used by St. Peter and the early Popes. The relics of the heads of Sts. Peter and Paul are behind the grill above the altar.



Another altar, The Altar of the Blessed Sacrament, made by Pier Paolo Olivieri enshrines a table traditionally said to be that used by Christ at the Last Supper. The columns of this altar are made of bronze and marble, and are thought to have come from the columns of Cleopatra's ships.
It is an ancient tradition in Rome to have station churches . The faithful visit these various churches during the 40 days of Lent (and throughout the liturgical year) for the celebration of Mass and reciting of the Litany of the Saints.
St. John Lateran is visited 3 times during Lent (see here for more info on this practice).

For more on this beautiful church in addtion to the above links, see www.romanchurches and New Advent .