As peals of church bells rang out across the Eternal City this morning, Romans and visitors alike began making their way to the Pantheon for the celebration of the Pentecost Mass and the performance of a beautiful ritual that’s been going on for 1400 years in which a shower of red rose petals is dropped through the oculus of the ancient building and falls to the floor.
The Pantheon, as many eCoolers will know, was build by the Roman Emperor Hadrian between 117-125 AD. It was dedicated to all the Roman gods and its 143 foot wide concrete dome must have put certainly on the must-see list for every ancient tourist to Rome.
In the year 609 AD — exactly 1400 years ago — the Pantheon became a Christian church when the Byzantine Emperor Phocas gave it to Pope Boniface IV who rededicated to Santa Maria ad Martyres (St. Mary and all the Martyrs).
Thus, for almost a millenium and a half, the building has served as a Christian church with its big moment happening each year on feast of Pentecost, the fiftieth day after Easter, the day on which the Holy Spirit descended upon the Apostles and other followers of Jesus as described in the Book of Acts, Chapter 2 in the New Testament.
At the Pantheon each year, as at all Catholic churches, Pentecost is celebrated with a mass. However, it’s what happens following the mass that is truly spectacular. A team of firemen scale the dome of the Pantheon and sit poised above its oculus (the “eye” or opening at the center of the dome).
As the clergy leaves the church, the firemen throw thousands of red rose petals through the oculus and these flutter to the floor, a symbol of the Holy Spirit descending to earth.
Those who attend the mass ooh and awe as the flower petals cover the center of the building, then rush in madly to scoop them up, stuff them in pockets, or throw them into the air once again.
As many of you have probably discerned from this lovely photos, our trusty photographer, Susan Sanders, was there this year (as always). Upon her return to the compound, she showered the floor with the petals – it’s not quite the same as seeing them at the Pantheon, but at least we’re smelling sweet here today.
