One of the great privileges of my life has been to lead each year a Traditional Catholic (FSSP) pilgrimage to the Holy Land. I helped organize two last year and one this year. The highlight is always Mass in the Church of the Holy Sepulchre, the holiest shrine in Christendom.
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| Bishop Sheen celebrates Low Mass atop the altar, ca. 1960 |
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Detailed photos of the Catholic altar on Mt. Calvary are rare. The altar is located. under the "Latin vault" of Calvary, inside the Latin chapel which includes the tenth (Jesus is Stripped of His Garments) and eleventh station (Jesus is Nailed to the Cross). This area is separated by only a few yards from the adjoining chapel where Christ died on the cross. This chapel received its name from the obvious fact that here Jesus was nailed to the cross. I include a few pics that illustrate the altar and capture in some way the aura of liturgical prayer - the distinctive spiritual atmosphere - that surrounds this living liturgical space. I am still trying to identify the enamel arms on the candle sticks if anyone cares to look into it.
The altar, one of my favorites in the Holy Land, is a made of silvered bronze (silver-plated bronze) and dates from 1588. It was the gift of the Grand Duke of Tuscany, Ferdinand I de' Medici (1549 - 1609), the work of the Dominican artist Domenico Portigiani at the Dominican Convent of San Marco in Florence (carved on the altar are the words Dominicus Portisianus Conventus Sancti Marci De Florentia). The altar was originally intended for the stone of the Anointing, in the same church, on the main level, but it proved impossible to place it there.
The six panels in the altar represent scenes from the passion of Christ - very much in the style of the artist.
The altar is located on Golgotha in what is called the "Latin nave" or the "Chapel of the Crucifixion." This is the chapel where Christ was nailed to the cross (located immediately next to the Greek Orthodox chapel where Christ died on the cross). The chapel is under the care of the Franciscans of the Custos. To celebrate Low Mass here is an immense distinction. Many thanks to Fr. Kenneth Fryar, FSSP who celebrated for us last year. On the right wall of the chapel is a window protected by a grill that opens to the chapel of the Franks, dedicated to Our Lady of Sorrows and St. John (tradition holds this as the place where Mary withdrew during the preparations for the crucifixion).
Many do not know that the Latin chapel was restored in 1937 by the great architect of the Holy Land, Antonio Barluzzi. Most of the mosaics in the ceiling date from the same time and are the work of P. D'Achiardi who has preserved a medieval figure of Christ while the lateral mosaics that illustrate the crucifixion, the holy women at the foot of the cross and the sacrifice of Isaac, symbol of Christ, are by L. Trifoglio. Meanwhile, the precious mosaic of Christ on the vaulted ceiling dates from the 12th century.
As mentioned previously, the altar was originally intended to be for the stone of the anointing, where Christ was anointed after having been taken down from the cross, located at the bottom of Mt. Calvary and inside the main entrance to the church.
Below is a rare vintage photo of the altar, with is full unique design on display. The portable gradines act as a mini reredos.
