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Domine Quo Vadis
English name:	Chapel of "Domine Quo Vadis"
Dedication:
Denomination:	Roman Catholic
Built:	1637
Architect(s):
Artists:
Contact data
Address:	Via Appia Antica

Domine Quo Vadis is a chapel connected to the story of St Peter's flight from Rome.

Contents 1 History 2 Exterior 3 Interior 4 Domine Quo Vadis

[edit] History

The chapel stands at the site where, according to the legend, Peter met Christ when he fled from Rome to escape martyrdom. He asked: "Domine, quo vadis?", "Lord, where are you going?", and Christ answered: "To Rome, to be crucified again." This helped Peter overcome his fear of martyrdom, and he returned to face his persecutors. The authenticity of the story, from the apocryphal Acts of Peter is uncertain, but it is a good story that shows Peter in the way we know him from the Gospels - afraid and confused, but always obedient in the end.

Construction of the chapel was ordered by Francesco Cardinal Barberini in 1637.

[edit] Exterior

Close to the chapel is another, abandoned chapel from the 16th century. It was built by Cardinal Pole, who thought that Domine Quo Vadis was in the wrong place. The Romans, however, remained faithful to their old tradition of where the correct place was.

[edit] Interior

Just inside the door is a stone with a footprint. This is a copy of the supposed original stone in which the footprins of Our Saviour appeared after He had met Peter. The original, a basalt stone from the Roman pavement on the Via Appia, can be seen at San Sebastiano. Most likely, this original was a pagan offering given after a successful journey.

[edit] Domine Quo Vadis

From the apocryphal Acts of Peter:

And he obeyed the brethren's voice and went forth alone, saying: "Let none of you come forth with me, but I will go forth alone, having changed the fashion of my apparel." And as he went forth of the city, he saw the Lord entering into Rome. And when he saw him, he said: "Lord, wither goest thou?" And the Lord said unto him: "I go into Rome to be crucified." And Peter said unto him. "Lord, art thou being crucified again?" He said unto him: "Yes, Peter, I am being crucified again." And Peter came to himself; and having beheld the Lord ascending up into Heaven, he returned to Rome, rejoycing, and glorifying the Lord, for that he said: "I am being crucified"; the which was about to befall Peter.