Further messages and allegories in Sant'Apollinare in Classe

Further messages and allegories in Sant'Apollinare in Classe. Hotels near the monuments of Ravenna.

Mosaics: we shall proceed with the interpretation of the magnificent decoration of the apse of the Basilica of Sant’ Apollinare in Classe in Ravenna.

The Ornaments of the Cloak of Apollinare .
The bees are an allegory of the eloquence of the Bishop, which manifests itself as the capacity for interpreting and bringing to life the words of god to his community.

Bejewelled Cross and Starry sky.
In the Christianity of the first centuries the cross is always bejewelled: so that it is proposed in the context of the Resurrection and not as an instrument of the Passion and Death of Christ.

The face of Christ, at the  centre of the Cross, is the face of the “transfigured”: the one that brings the disciples (the three sheep) the news of the glory of the resurrected.

There are 99 stars, as the sheep in the parable of Mathew (18,12-14) that are sheltered by the shepherd, who however goes out at night to look for the lost sheep.
 
Jesus tells us that he gives his life “Nobody takes away my life, but I offer it from myself”.

Life can be found only by giving it: the more that one gives his life for others, the more abundant is the river of life.

Secondly, Jesus tells us that life flourishes by setting out with the Shepherd that knows the pastures.

The pasture, in which the font of life flow, is the Word of God as we find in the Scriptures and in the faith in the Church.

The pasture is God himself whom we learn to know through the power of the Holy Spirit.

The allegory is finally explained: the Mystery of  the Death  and the Resurrection of Christ appears fully effective; thanks to him all mean are pursued in order to be saved.

Bethlehem and Jerusalem
Bethlehem is the city of David, the city of the ancient pact. The Redeemer is supposed to have been born there.

Jerusalem is the city of the second pact: the two cities indicate the entire arc of the history of salvation which centres around Christ.

The Book
Is a sacred object: a presence of Christ in the midst of the community, through the written word.

The word " Fish "
Is one of the dearest allegories of Christ to the ancient communities.

The word “fish ” (in Greek) is the sum of the initials of the sentence that recites: Jesus Christ, son of God the Saviour.

The mosaic also contains a further two letters (which are also allegorical, and also in Greek) alfa and omega – the origin and end of life – and the Latin expression “ salus mundi ”, earthly salvation.

By putting these three expressions together we get a wonderful prayer: a kind of simplified “ Credo ” that the Christian community of Ravenna recited in the most sacred place in the heart of their city.


The pleasure of fine accommodation in the centre of Ravenna: we recommend the Fabbri hotels for a pleasant stay as follows:

The Centrale Byron hotel, 3-star, in the centre of Ravenna, close to the monuments ;

The Bisanzio Hotel, 4-star hotel in the centre of Ravenna, close to the monuments ;

Once you have reached the hotel and parked your car, forget it and walk everywhere, because everything is within walking distance.

The railway station is near our hotels and within walking distance of them.

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