The Redemptoris Mater Chapel (

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for ''Mother of the Redeemer'') formerly known as Matilde Chapel, is a

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chapel located on the second floor of the

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. Located just outside the doors of the papal apartments, the chapel is notable for its various mosaics similar to early

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religious artwork, and is reserved for the exclusive use of the

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. The cost of renovation for the chapel itself was a gift from the

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to commemorate the 50th anniversary of

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's sacerdotal ordination in 1996. The current Apostolic Preacher, Capuchin

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Father Raniero Cantalamessa often presides over the homilies in the chapel, which was occasionally used by

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History

The chapel was first called the ''Matilde Chapel'' but was renamed by Pope John Paul II in 1987 for the Marian Year. The timing also coincided with the same year when the traditions of the

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became more notable in the Church, as illustrated in the book ''Liturgie dell'Oriente cristiano a Roma nell'Anno Mariano 1987-1988''. The chapel began its renovations in late 1996 and was dedicated by Pope John Paul II on November 14, 1999. Pope John Paul II viewed the chapel as an ecumenical symbol for the various Eastern and Western churches who unite themselves in the papacy. He noted that the chapel has a particular ecumenical value and serves as an important presence of the Eastern tradition in the Vatican. The author of the iconographic program of the chapel mosaics is Professor . The first of the four walls were completed by a

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artist, Alexander Kornoukhov. Kornuokhov's work consists of a traditional depiction of the

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and the

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as often depicted in

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and

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churches. The other three walls were finished in a more modern design and various biblical scenes, finished by Slovene

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priest Marko Ivan Rupnik. There is also a grand mosaic of the

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as ''Mother of the Redeemer'' in the front center wall, particularly requested and admired by Pope John Paul II. In 2005, the

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, through the financial assistance of the

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, released a 3D panoramic tour of the chapel on the internet, allowing non-travelling pilgrims to see the chapel from its official Vatican website. The

Redemptoris Mater ''Redemptoris Mater'' (Latin: ''Mother of the Redeemer'') is an encyclical by Pope John Paul II delivered on March 25, 1987 in Saint Peter's Basilica in Rome. Subtitled ''On the Blessed Virgin Mary in the life of the Pilgrim Church'', the text ...

Chapel also served as inspiration for the chapel of the

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The Supreme Knight of the Knights of Columbus, Carl A. Anderson invited Father Marko Ivan Rupnik, the creator of the original Redemptoris Mater mosaics (who also contributed to the Sanctuary of Our Lady of Lourdes and Basilica of San Giovanni Rotondo) to create them for the fraternal organization.https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xB-rvMSn02s - Video Speech. Eucharistic Congress, Dublin Ireland. June 11, 2012.

References

External links

* Ульянов О. Г.br>Римский topos Образа: художники Императорской Академии художеств XVIII–XX вв. и «новая Сикстинская капелла XXI века» (Redemptoris Mater, Ватикан) // Академия художеств в прошлом и настоящем. Международная научная конференция РАХ к 260-летию со дня основания. СПб., 2018. С. 312-321
* Лексина О. И.br>EASTERN AND WESTERN CHRISTIAN TRADITIONS IN THE MARCO RUPNIK'S MOSAICS
{{Coord missing, Italy Chapels in Vatican City

History

See also

References

External links