Yes, you read that title correctly. It actually sounds like the opening line of a joke. Yet, this is no joking matter. It was so serious in fact, that the Pope, Nicholas I, decreed in the 9th century that all Roman Catholic churches should have a rooster weathervane on its spiral or steeple. The question is, why?
Why would a Pope make such an official decree, such a bizarre request, to the entire Roman Catholic world? You are fastening an animal to the top of a church.
Hang tight and read on – the answer might surprise you.
I’ve been interested in weathervanes for quite some time: their history, origin and uniqueness. Weathervane’s were first invented in Greece, by the Greek Astronomer Andronicus, in 48 B.C. , to tell the direction of the wind. Such an invention was quite important in the science world at the time, for scientists and sea navigators alike.
As the invention started to make its way throughout the known world, the weathervane eventually made its way north to Scandinavia, (present day countries, Sweden and Norway.) Check out the quote below from a website all about weathervanes.
By the 9th century weathervanes had made their way to Scandinavia. These weathervanes had a unique shape that involved a 90° arc and were topped with an animal or creature from Norse fables. They were used on Viking ships and Scandinavian churches, and can still be seen in Sweden and Norway today.
https://www.valleyforgecupolas.com/blog/the-history-of-weathervanes
The Roman Catholic church caught wind (sorry I had to) of the idea and Pope Leo IV decided to mount a rooster weathervane to the top of the Old St Peters basilica in Rome in the 9th century.
Why a rooster though? Out of every animal you could choose : the royal lion, the Roman eagle (national emblem), why a cockerel?
Well, Pope Gregory I,(the pope before Leo IV) stated in the sixth century that the rooster should be the emblem of Christianity.
What?
Yes indeed, and his reasoning was quite compelling.
Pope Gregory I referenced Luke 22:34,
“But Yeshua said, “I tell you, Peter, a rooster will not crow today until you have denied three times that you know Me.””
Luke 22:34 TLV
https://bible.com/bible/314/luk.22.34.TLV
He choose a rooster because of the remarkable story behind this event mentioned in Luke 22. Not only did Peter deny that he even knew Jesus, but he did it three times to random strangers, (remember, only hours earlier he told Jesus he would die for him) and finally the rooster crowed, fulfilling Jesus’ prophecy. *This all happened around midnight.
Let’s take it a step further. Even though Peter denied Jesus, we know that when Jesus rose from the dead, he had this remarkable conversation with Peter, in John 21:15-17, asking him three times to take care of my sheep (referring to the body of Christ, it’s people). Peter actually got upset that Jesus was questioning him over and over. Yet, His questioning served a purpose.
Jesus had every reason to hold a grudge against his most trusted and loyal friend, yet we all fail at times. None of us are perfect, and Peter proved that as well by denying that he even knew his best friend and Lord. Yet, Jesus had mercy on Peter for his denial. He extended grace to him – even though Peter messed up royally, and was a sinful man, Jesus gave him a second chance – and He gave me that chance and he gives that to you today as well. I mess up as well, yet I find my God always has his hand outstretched – offering me hope when their logically should be none.
The rooster reminds us that Christ extends hope to sinners everywhere.
GotQuestions.com
The rooster is a symbol of change – hope for that mess up, and a reminder of Christ’s mercy to us all.
What a fitting thing to mount on a church. So fitting in fact, that Pope Nicolas I decreed that every church should have one, to serve as that reminder.
The picture at the beginning of my blog is of the oldest known Rooster weathervane, Gallo di Ramperto, which was on top of a church in Brescia, Italy for over a thousand years. It was built around 820-830, and served its purpose until it was removed in 1891 and placed in a museum.
I hope you enjoyed today’s post. Please, subscribe to my blog if you want to follow The Eason Clan, and tune in next time.
Christian
“Awake, my glory! Awake, harp and lyre! I will awaken the dawn.”
Psalms 57:9 TLV
https://bible.com/bible/314/psa.57.9.TLV
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