Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul, Philadelphia

The Cathedral Basilica of Saints Peter and Paul opened first in 1864 and has served as the seat for the archbishop of Philadelphia. The architecture follows the Neo-Classical style popular during the Italian Renaissance. The church is specifically modeled after the Lombard Church of Saint Charles in Rome. 

Entrance to Cathedral of Saints Peter and Paul

Saint Peter

Saint Paul

Side view of the cathedral (and my daughter!)

The main altar has a baldachin over it, reminiscent of the tent over the Ark of Covenant. The dome has a Latin inscription of Matthew 16:18, "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church." The dome rises over 156 feet above the floor of the cathedral.

Main altar

Dome

To the left is the cathedra, or the archbishop's chair, with his coat of arms above.

The cathedra in the cathedral

To the right is the ambo from which the readings are proclaimed and the homily is preached.

Ambo

On the south transept is a painting of the Adoration of the Magi by Arthur Thomas.

Adoration of the Magi

The southside altar is dedicated to the Sacred Heart and has an amazing glass mosaic of the revelation of the Sacred Heart to Saint Margaret Mary Alocoque.

Southside altar

One side altar is dedicated to the sixth bishop of Philadelphia, Patrick John Ryan (1831-1911). As you might guess from his name, he is of Irish descent and so a Celtic theme is dominate.

Ryan Altar

The stations of the cross in the cathedral are finely-crafted tableaus.

Station 11, Jesus is nailed to the cross

At the back of the cathedral is a shrine to Saint Katharine Drexel. The altar was donated by Katharine and her sisters in the 1800s but the statue was crafted in the early 2000s after she was declared a saint. The shrine was dedicated in 2009.

Shrine to Katharine Drexel

Drexel's tomb is to the left of the altar.

Burial place of Saint Katharine Drexel

Above the tomb is a mosaic dedicated in 1975 for the 100th anniversary of Philadelphia being an archdiocese. It depicts, among other images, George Washington visiting Old Saint Mary's Church, Katharine Drexel with some children, and Commodore Barry, founder of the United States Navy.

Centennial mosaic

We were also impressed with the confessionals.

Confessional