The Heavenly Jerusalem
9th century
Mosaic
Church
of St. Praxedes, Rome
This is the summit of the arch that precedes the
church's apsidal arch. On the
left and right angels conduct the elect to the Heavenly Jerusalem (see detail),
whose two
open gates are each guarded by an angel. Within the structure of the
city, the apostles come from left and right (see detail) offering their
crowns to Christ, who stands in the center in a reddish garment with
St. Praxedes and St. Peter (see detail).
Moses and Elijah are at the far left and right (respectively) inside
the city.
The approach of the saints is suggested by the concluding chapter of
Revelation: "Blessed are they that
wash their robes in the blood of the Lamb: that they may have a right
to the tree of life, and may enter in by the gates into the city"
(verse 14). For the angels guarding the gates, see Revelation 21:12, "it had a wall great
and high, having twelve gates, and in the gates twelve angels."
The offering of the
crowns is suggested by Revelation 4:10: "The four
and twenty ancients
fell down before him that sitteth on the throne, and adored him that
liveth for ever and ever, and cast their crowns before the throne."
More of Heaven
More of St. Praxedes
More of St. Peter
Photographed at the
site by Richard Stracke
