Ravenna, vista dell'interno della Cappella di Sant'Andrea, mosaici del Vi secolo e affreschi di Luca Longhi, XVI secolo, nelle lunette laterali.

Unesco monuments

Archiepiscopal Chapel or St. Andrew Chapel

“Either light was born here or, captured here, reigns freely”

Ravenna, vista esterna dall'alto del complesso dell'Episcopio.

Ravenna, vista dell'abside della Cappella Arcivescovile con croce d'oro nel cielo stellato e i medaglioni coi volti di Cristo, Apostoli e Santi. Foto Andrea Bernabini.

WHY IT IS A UNESCO HERITAGE SITE
It is the only example of an early Christian archiepiscopal chapel that has come down to the present day, and its mosaics are of extreme interest because they can be interpreted from an anti-Arian perspective.

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History

The Chapel of St. Andrew, or Archiepiscopal Chapel, is located on the second floor of the Archiepiscopal Museum of Ravenna. It was built under Bishop Peter II, in the 5th century AD, during the expansion of the Episcopal Palace. It was the oratory reserved for Orthodox Catholic bishops at the time of the Arian king Theodoric. All the decorations can be read as an anti-Arian manifest and a hymn to Orthodox Christianity as the true, only and right way to Salvation.
The rectangular, barrel-vaulted vestibule welcomes us with its striking mosaics featuring the figure of Christ as a victorious soldier and the heavenly arbor filled with vibrant flowers and colorful birds.
Latin inscriptions, painted in the early 1900s to supplement lost mosaic parts, enhance the theme of Light.
Even more valuable is the oratory. It is a room of collected size, with a Greek cross plan, also decorated with myriads of gleaming gold and colored enamel tiles. Originally the little chapel was dedicated to Christ, but from the mid-6th century it was dedicated to St. Andrew, when Maximian transported his relics here from Constantinople.

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Must-see mosaics in this place

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Christ as a warrior

Above the entrance we find the figure of Christ, silhouetted against a mountain landscape in green tesserae standing out on vibrant golden sky. A unique depiction in all early-Christian art. Christ is represented young, beardless, with his head encircled by a jeweled halo. He wears a body armour and a purple cloak stopped by a precious fibula. In his right hand he holds the cross. His left hand, covered by the cloak, holds an open book with the inscription “I am the way of truth and life.” With his shoes, called campagi, Christ tramples the head of a lion and a terrible snake, the forces of evil. It is Psalm 91:13. Jesus Christ, the son of God and of his own divine substance, the true and only way to Salvation, tramples on the Arian heresy.

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Ravenna, Cappella Arcivescovile, Cristo Guerriero.

Vault of the vestibule

The vault of the vestibule represents a delightful paradise garden. It is an arbor formed by a pattern of white lilies, spaced with red flowers, dotted with various species of colorful birds, both exotic and local. We see peacocks, pheasants, paroquets and doves, that also have religious significance.
Peacocks, for example, are a symbol of immortality because their meat was said to never spoil. The western swamphen is a symbol of chastity and fidelity, because it was said to die if abandoned by its companion. Parrots are a symbol of eloquence, and doves, a symbol of the Christian soul, are also messengers of universal peace between God and man. The vestibule is a riot of colored tesserae, in hues now delicate, now bright, defining the plumage and all the smallest details.

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Ravenna, Cappella Arcivescovile, Volta vestibolo.

Vault of the oratory

Once inside of the oratory we are delighted by the richness of the gold tesserae that reverberate thanks to the light. The vault consists of four proud, upright angels following structural diagonals. They have raised hands that converge at the center, the point at which they hold up the monogram of Christ. From blue and pink clouds appear the symbols of the four Evangelists, showing us the Gospels protected by a precious cover.
This depiction, together with the medallions of the intradoses, with figures of Christ with Apostles and Saints, is read as a representation of the triumph of the Orthodox Church against the Arian faith, a heresy which denied the divine nature of Christ.

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Ravenna, Cappella Arcivescovile, volta con Angeli.

Saint Perpetua

Saint Perpetua observes us gently. She is young and noble, with a hairstyle in which her hair is held by a tiara of pearls, gold, and precious stones. She wears a necklace made of stones and gems and a golden cloak, further emphasizing her noble origins. The delicate complexion of her face is rendered with white and pink enamel tesserae. The mouth is barely noticeable while the eyes are large, important because they are instruments in the contemplation of God. Together with St. Felicita, her handmaiden, she was martyred in 203 AD in Carthage and here she symbolizes the Church of Africa, which in the time of Peter II was invaded by the Arian Vandals. She embodies the true faith for which she gave her life.

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Ravenna, Cappella Arcivescovile, dettaglio Santa Perpetua.

Info & Tickets

P.za Arcivescovado, 1, 48121 Ravenna RA

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Entrance fee

Ticket: € 10.50
Concession: € 9.50 (*)
There is only a combined ticket, which includes the entry to Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, Neonian Baptistery (**), Basilica of San Vitale, Mausoleum of Galla Placidia (**) and Archiepiscopal Museum and Chapel.
The ticket is valid for 7 consecutive days from the date of issue and entitles the holder to one entry for each monument.
* Valid for Italian and foreign students during the school year; valid for organizations with special agreements (see details).
** There is an additional charge of €2 that applies to access the Mausoleum of Galla Placidia and Neonian Baptistery. Mandatory booking for groups. The charge applies also to children over 6 and residents of Ravenna.

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Booking

Tickets can be booked online or by contacting the Reservations Center.
In addition, tickets can also be purchased on the day of visit at the ticket offices located in each monumental complex.
For further information: www.ravennamosaici.it

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Free of charge

Children up to 10 years, citizens of Ravenna (with a valid document), disabled people with certified disability over 74% or “Carta Bianca” holders, ecclesiastics, soldiers, tourist guides of Region Emilia-Romagna at work.
Journalists must request free admission in advance to the Opera di Religione by writing to info@ravennamosaici.it
For groups: 1 free tour leader every 20 paying visitors. For schools: 1 free teacher every 10 paying students.

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Mosaic Places

Explore the other UNESCO Monuments of Ravenna

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