St Peter in Chains

Monday, June 9, 2025

Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli 

(St. Peter in Chains)

It was about this time that King Herod arrested some who belonged to the church, intending to persecute them. He had James, the brother of John, put to death with the sword. 

When he saw that this met with approval among the Jews, he proceeded to seize Peter also. This happened during the Festival of Unleavened Bread. 

After arresting him, he put him in prison, handing him over to be guarded by four squads of four soldiers each. Herod intended to bring him out for public trial after the Passover. 

So Peter was kept in prison, but the church was earnestly praying to God for him. 

The night before Herod was to bring him to trial, Peter was sleeping between two soldiers, bound with two chains, and sentries stood guard at the entrance. 

Suddenly an angel of the Lord appeared and a light shone in the cell. He struck Peter on the side and woke him up. “Quick, get up!” he said, and the chains fell off Peter’s wrists. Then the angel said to him, “Put on your clothes and sandals.” And Peter did so. “Wrap your cloak around you and follow me,” the angel told him.  Acts‬ ‭12‬:‭1‬-‭8‬ ‭NIV‬‬

According to tradition, a woman traveled to Jerusalem in 432 AD and received as a gift the chains that had held Peter in prison. She took them to Rome and gave them to Pope Leo I. He placed them next to the chains that had held Peter in Rome and the two miraculously fused together. They then built the basilica to honor this miracle.

When we were there, we got to hear a service in progress. I have to admit that it seemed a little distracting to have several tour groups milling around, listening to their particular guides while church-goers tried to focus on the mass. 

One of the most impressive pieces in the church was the Tomb of Julius II. The central figure of this mausoleum is the sculpture of Moses by Michelangelo. Initially Moses looked forward toward the altar. The sculptor thought it best for his head to be turned away so as not to be looking directly at it. Through some skillful artistry, he lowered Moses’ left knee and turned his head while keeping the sculpture intact. 

I’m not sure if you can see it in the picture but Moses has two horns. Apparently this is because of a mistranslation of the Hebrew word for “rays” coming from his head. 

Michelangelo is also credited for Pope Leo I lying on his side above Moses.  Although he started Rachel standing to Moses’ right and Leah standing to his left, Raffaello da Montelupo finished them. (No, not that Raphael.) 

Da Montelupo also sculpted the Sibyl to the left of the Pope and the Prophet to the right. 

The Madonna and Child at the top is the work of Scherano da Settiguano. 

This is one of my favorite sculptures that we saw on the trip. It filled an entire wall. It was beautiful. 

LORD, Thank you for the miracle you performed in the prison that night which allowed Peter to be free. Thank you for the way you free us from the bondage of sin through your son. You are the Chainbreaker.