The final resting place of Saint Peter, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ and a foundational figure in Christianity, is a question of immense historical and religious significance. The answer lies deep beneath one of the world’s most famous religious landmarks: the Vatican Basilica.
Historical accounts and archaeological evidence converge to pinpoint the tomb of Saint Peter beneath the main altar of this grand basilica. This location, on the southern slopes of Vatican Hill, holds a profound history stretching back to the time of Emperor Nero (54-68 AD). During Nero’s reign, Christians faced severe persecution, and this very area was a circus where many, including Peter, are believed to have met their martyrdom.
It was on this site, directly in front of the circus grounds, that a humble grave was established. Remarkably, just a century after Peter’s death, this simple burial spot had become a recognized site of veneration. Around the end of the second century, a small funerary monument, known as an aedicule, was constructed. This “Trophy of Gaius,” as it’s often called, is documented by the priest Gaius and mentioned by the historian Eusebius of Caesarea, who quoted Gaius saying, “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.” These words underscore the early recognition of Peter’s tomb as a significant “trophy” or memorial.
Even before the reign of Emperor Constantine in the fourth century, the tomb of Peter drew devout pilgrims. Latin graffiti, bearing the names of Christ and Peter, discovered on a plaster wall (“wall G”) near the Petrine aedicule, serve as tangible proof of these early pilgrimages. Among these inscriptions, a fragment from the “red wall,” upon which the aedicule was built, features the Greek letters PETR[…] ENI[…]. Scholars interpret this graffito as either ‘Pétr[os] enì’ meaning “Peter is here,” affirming his presence at the site, or as an invocation ‘Pétr[os] en i[réne]’ meaning “Peter in peace,” reflecting the prayers of early Christians.
The unearthing of this burial site during archaeological excavations in 1939-1949 confirmed the long-held tradition. This discovery led to the construction of the first grand Basilica of Saint Peter in the fourth century. Commissioned by Pope Sylvester and Emperor Constantine, this basilica was deliberately built directly over Peter’s tomb. Centuries later, the Renaissance-era Basilica, which stands today, was erected in the same sacred location, replacing its predecessor but maintaining the continuity of the holy site.
The “Trophy of Gaius” itself was further enshrined. Emperor Constantine encased it within a marble casket, described by Eusebius 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.” This monumental tomb became the focal point for subsequent altars built above it, including the altar of Gregory the Great (590-604), the altar of Callistus II (1123), and the altar of Clement VIII (1594). Ultimately, Bernini’s magnificent canopy, standing beneath Michelangelo’s dome, was positioned directly above Constantine’s tomb, and thus, above the tomb of Saint Peter.
In conclusion, the answer to “Where Was The Apostle Peter Buried?” is definitively: beneath the main altar of the Vatican Basilica. This site, from its humble beginnings as a grave on Vatican Hill to its enshrinement within one of the largest churches in the world, stands as a testament to the enduring legacy of Saint Peter and the foundational history of the Christian Church.
© Fabric of Saint Peter
