The papal tiara is the headdress of the Roman pontiffs, a symbol of their secular and spiritual power. It originates from the crown of Persian kings. The popes wore it from the thirteenth to fourteenth centuries until the time of the implementation of the reforms of the Second Vatican Council, namely until 1965. Pavel Shestoy handed over the tiara specially made for him, in which he was crowned, for charitable purposes to the Basilica of the Immaculate Conception. However, it still shows off on the coat of arms of the Vatican and the Holy See. Although attempts to get rid of the tiara continue. So, Benedict the Sixteenth removed it from the papal coat of arms. She was replaced by miter.
Papal tiara: description and meaning
The headdress, symbolizing the rights and authority of the “deputies of Christ,” is distinguished by the fact that it resembles an egg in shape. This is a triple crown adorned with precious stones and pearls. In Latin, it was also called the "tribrainum." These three crowns, or tiaras, are crowned with a cross. Two ribbons are falling behind. The papal tiara is not a liturgical headdress. It was worn during ceremonial processions, blessings, the proclamation of dogmatic decisions and at ceremonial receptions. At liturgical services, the pope, like other bishops, covered his head with miter. Traditionally, it was used for heraldic purposes.
Papal tiara: history
Catholics believe that the first mention of a headdress similar to a tiara is in the Old Testament, namely in the Book of Exodus. There Jehovah orders to build such a royal hat for Aaron, the brother of Moses. This is reflected in European painting. Aaron is often portrayed in a tiara, especially in paintings by Dutch artists. Then this headdress is mentioned in the writings of one of the first popes, Constantine. Further in the evolution of the tiara, three periods are distinguished. The first of these is when the head of the Roman Catholic Church covered his head with a helmet-like garment. It was called Kamelaukum. Most likely, in its lower part there was a circle-shaped ornament, but it was neither a crown nor a diadem yet. When these symbols of power appeared on the headdresses of popes is unknown.
From the descriptions of the ninth century it follows that the crown was not yet there. In the 10th century, church vestments are changing. A miter appears, and in this era a difference arises between the headdresses of the popes and bishops.
The end of the Middle Ages
Many examples of the first tiaras known to us have been going on since the end of the thirteenth century. It is known that before the pontificate Boniface of the Eighth (1294-1303) there was one crown on this headdress. And this dad added a second diadem there. The reasons for this are unknown. Maybe this pontiff loved luxury, or maybe he wanted to show that secular and spiritual authority was in his power.
Although some historians believe that Innokenty the Third still added the second diadem in the first half of the thirteenth century. No wonder he declared a crusade against the Albigensians and proclaimed himself the overlord of all earthly rulers.
But the tombstone of Benedict the Twelfth (1334-1342) in Avignon is decorated with a sculpture already dressed in a headdress with three crowns. Although before the fifteenth century in the art there are images of pontiffs, where the papal tiara has only two diadem. Gradually, the legend began that Saint Peter covered his head so. By the way, on portraits of popes who were removed from their posts or did something condemned by the church, this headdress usually lies on the ground.
Symbolic meaning
There are several versions of the significance of the three crowns. The papal tiara, according to one of them, symbolizes the power of the pontiffs over heaven, earth and purgatory. There is another version. She says that this is a symbol of papal authority over three continents, where the descendants of Shem, Ham and Japheth live - Europe, Asia and Africa. There is also an explanation that crowns mean that the pontiff is the high priest, supreme pastor and secular ruler. Also, these diadems were interpreted as different levels of authority of papal sovereignty. This is the spiritual authority in the church, secular in the Vatican and supreme over all earthly rulers.
But over time, the Roman Catholic clergy began to interpret the tiara in a slightly different way. She became a symbol of the fact that the pope is the head of the church, the secular sovereign and governor of Christ. Interestingly, in art, the tiara was not only an example of what the vestments of Roman pontiffs were in solemn occasions. She is also the headdress of God the Father. But if He is depicted in a tiara, then that, as a rule, consists of five rings.