St. Peter Ordains St. Hermagoras, Fresco at Aquileia Basilica, 1180 circa

St. Peter Ordains St. Hermagoras

Circa 1180
Fresco
Crypt of Aquileia Basilica

St. Mark on the right presents Hermagoras to Peter, who hands him a crozier as a symbol of his pastoral duties as the first bishop of Aquileia. Also symbolic of his new status are the chasuble and pallium he is wearing. Both items are worn during sacred services. The pallium, the "Y" of white cloth in the fresco, is worn by archbishops who have Authority over bishops in their locale. Mark and Peter wear the "Roman" garb that most Christian images use for apostles.

According to Tavano (197), opinions range widely as to when in the 12th century the crypt frescos should be dated, but most agree on a date around 1180.

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Photographed at the basilica by Richard Stracke, shared under Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike license.