The tomb of Saint Peter, a cornerstone of Christian faith, lies enshrined beneath the magnificent main altar of Vatican Basilica. This sacred site, steeped in history and veneration, marks the final resting place of the Apostle Peter, one of Jesus Christ’s closest disciples and the first Pope.
Dating back to the era of Emperor Nero (54-68 AD), the story of St Peter’s tomb begins on the southern slopes of Vatican Hill. This area, near Nero’s Circus, was tragically known for the persecution of Christians. It was here, in a humble grave, that Peter was laid to rest following his martyrdom. Remarkably, just a century after this event, this simple burial site had transformed into a focal point of early Christian devotion. As recorded by the priest Gaius in the late second century, and recounted by the historian Eusebius of Caesarea, the location was already recognized and revered. Gaius stated, “I can show you the trophies of the apostles. For if you want to go out to the Vatican or on your way to Ostia, you will find there the trophies of those who founded this Church.” This “trophy,” often referred to as the “Trophy of Gaius,” served as an early marker identifying St Peter’s tomb.
This aedicule became a significant pilgrimage destination for early Christians even before the reign of Constantine. Evidence of this early veneration is found in numerous Latin graffiti etched into “wall G,” a plaster wall near the Petrine aedicule. These inscriptions, featuring the names of Christ and Peter, highlight the site’s importance to early believers. Among these graffiti, a particularly notable fragment of plaster, originating from the “red wall” upon which the aedicule was constructed, bears the Greek inscription: PETR[…] ENI[…]. Scholars interpret this graffito as either ‘Pétr[os] enì’ (meaning ‘Peter is here’) affirming Peter’s presence at the site, or as an invocation ‘Pétr[os] en i[réne]’ (‘Peter in peace’), reflecting prayers directed towards him.
The discovery of this burial site during extensive archaeological excavations in 1939-1949 confirmed its historical significance and directly led to the construction of the first Basilica of Saint Peter. In the fourth century, under Pope Sylvester and Emperor Constantine, the first grand basilica was erected directly over St Peter’s tomb. Centuries later, this basilica was replaced by the awe-inspiring Renaissance Basilica we see today, further emphasizing the enduring importance of the original tomb.
The “Trophy of Gaius” itself, now integrated within the “Niche of the Pallia” in the Vatican Confessio, was encased in a marble casket by Emperor Constantine. Eusebius of Caesarea described Constantine’s monument as “a splendid tomb before the city, a tomb to which innumerable hordes flock from every part of the Roman empire, as a great Shrine and temple of God.” Continuing this tradition of reverence, successive papal altars – the altar of Gregory the Great (590-604), the altar of Callistus II (1123), and the altar of Clement VIII (1594) – were built directly above Constantine’s monumental tomb. These culminated in Bernini’s magnificent canopy beneath Michelangelo’s dome, which stands today as a testament to the unbroken continuity of veneration at St Peter’s Tomb for nearly two millennia.
© Fabric of Saint Peter
