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Vatican
(627 words)

1. Place-Name

The “Vatican” was the name of a hill (the Mons Vaticanus) on the right bank of the River Tiber in Rome. From the 2nd century onward it was revered as the burial place of the apostle Peter. Constantine (306–37) built St. Peter’s Church there, and in the 15th century it became the residence of the pope. It was expanded in the 15th to 17th centuries to become the largest palatial complex in the world. It includes today, in addition to the papal residence, the Vatican archives, library, and museums.

2. Incorrect Usage

In everyday (but …

Cite this page
Gatz, Erwin, “Vatican”, in: Encyclopedia of Christianity Online. Consulted online on 23 March 2023 <http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/2211-2685_eco_V.1>
First published online: 2011
First print edition: ISBN: 9789004169678, 20080512



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