Last May 28th, as every year,
the solemn Mass of Pentecost Sunday was celebrated in the Pantheon, particularly suggestive because it ends with the throwing of rose petals from the oculus of the dome.
This ancient rite recalls
the descent of the Holy Spirit in the form of tongues of fire on the Madonna and the Apostles, transforming them into wisemen.
«Suddenly a rumble came from the sky... Tongues of fire appeared to them, which divided and rested on each of them; and they were all filled with the Holy Spirit and began to speak in other tongues..."
P
entecost was celebrated 50 days after Easter, hence the name (Pentekonta in Greek means 50). For the Jews it was a "harvest festival" of thanksgiving to God for the fruits of the earth and for the Tables of the Law received by Moses on Mount Sinai.
It was therefore a celebration linked to the Seasons and the harvest. But why was the Pantheon chosen for the cascade of rose petals?
As we explain in our book "Pantheon. Architecture and Light" (chapter 8),
The symbols of the pagan cult were superimposed on those of the Christian cult, and also the symbols of power. This spectacular ceremony has the purple color of the petals and of the vestments of the priests, which hints to the Roman imperial symbols, to the purple color of the togas of the senators and the emperor, which was inherited from the vestments of the cardinals
It should be remembered that even today the Pope bears the title of Pontifex Maximus, just like the Roman emperor: in both cases that was the highest priestly office, also in ancient Rome.
The Pantheon was originally a temple dedicated "to the goddess Cybele, mother of all gods". In the Christian era, after the donation to Pope Boniface IV in 509, it was transformed into the church of Santa Maria ad Martyres, dedicated to the Madonna and all the martyrs.