Papal tiara: history and symbols

The Papal tiara is the headpiece of the Roman pontiffs, a symbol of their secular and spiritual power. It originates from the crown of the Persian kings. The Roman popes carried it from the thirteenth to the fourteenth centuries until the implementation of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, namely, until 1965. Paul the Sixth gave a specially made for him tiara, in which he was crowned, for charitable purposes in the basilica of the Immaculate Conception. However, it still adorns the coat of arms of the Vatican and the Holy See. Although attempts to get rid of the tiara continue. Thus, Benedict Sixteenth removed it from the papal coat of arms. It was replaced by a miter.

Papal tiara: description and meaning

The headpiece, symbolizing the rights and authority of the "governors of Christ", differs in that it resembles an egg in shape. It is a triple crown adorned with precious stones and pearls. In Latin it was also called "triregnum." These three crowns, or diadems, are crowned with a cross. Two tapes fall from behind. The Papal tiara is not a liturgical headdress. It was worn during ceremonial processions, blessings, proclamations of dogmatic decisions and at solemn receptions. At the liturgical services, the pope, like other bishops, covered his head with a miter. Traditionally, it was used for heraldic purposes.

Papal tiara: history

Catholics believe that the first mention of the headdress, similar to the tiara, is in the Old Testament, namely in the Book of Exodus. There, Jehovah orders to build such a royal cap for Aaron, the brother of Moses. This is reflected in European painting. Aaron is often portrayed in the tiara, especially in the paintings of Dutch artists. Then this headdress is said in the writings of one of the first popes, Constantine. Further, in the evolution of the tiara, three periods are distinguished. The first of these is when the head of the Roman Catholic Church covered his head with a helmet-like dress. It was called "camelaukum". Most likely, in its lower part was an ornament in the form of a circle, but it was not yet a crown or a diadem. When these symbols of power appeared on the headdresses of the popes, it is not known.

From the descriptions of the ninth century it follows that the crown was not yet there. In the tenth century the church vestments are changing. A miter appears, and in this age there is a difference between the headdresses of popes and bishops.

The End of the Middle Ages

Many of the examples of the first tiaras known to us are from the end of the thirteenth century. It is known that before the pontificate Boniface of the Eighth (1294-1303) on this headdress was one crown. And this pope added a second diadem. The reasons for this are unknown. Perhaps this pontiff loved luxury, or maybe he wanted to show that his powers include secular and spiritual power.

Although some historians believe that the second diadem was added by Innocent the Third in the first half of the thirteenth century. No wonder he declared a crusade against the Albigensians and proclaimed himself the suzerain of all earthly rulers.

But the tombstone of Benedict the Twelfth (1334-1342) in Avignon is adorned already with a sculpture, dressed in a headdress with three crowns. Although before the fifteenth century in the art there are images of the pontiffs, where the papal tiara has only two diadems. Gradually began to take shape the legend that St. Peter covered this head. By the way, in portraits of popes who were removed from their posts or committed some condemned acts of the church, this headdress usually lies on the ground.

Symbolic meaning

There are several versions of the importance of the three crowns. The papal tiara, according to one of them, symbolizes the power of the pontiffs over heaven, land and purgatory. There is another version. She says that it is a symbol of papal power over the three continents where the descendants of Sim, Ham and Japheth live - Europe, Asia and Africa. There is also an explanation that the crowns mean that the pontiff is the high priest, the supreme pastor and the secular ruler. These diadems were also interpreted as different levels of authority for papal sovereignty. This is spiritual power in the church, secular in the Vatican and supreme over all earthly rulers.

But over time, the Roman Catholic clergy began to interpret the tiara somewhat differently. It became a symbol of the fact that the pope is the head of the church, the secular sovereign and viceroy of Christ. It is interesting that in the art of tiara was not only an example of what the church vestments of the Roman pontiffs were in solemn occasions. It is also the headdress of God the Father. But if He is depicted in a tiara, then, as a rule, it consists of five rings.