Скачать или смотреть Mary Wearing Pallium - St. John Lateran Baptistry

During my recent visit to Rome, I stopped at the Baptistery of St. John Lateran to look for a particular image of Mary I had seen referenced in an old book. I didn't know the exact size or location, but finally found it in the Chapel of St. Venantius, which was added to the Baptistry in 640-42.

It looks like a typical ancient Roman Chapel, and was partially remodeled relatively recently. I don't yet know the exact date, but I have reason to believe it was remodeled within the last 50 years. A poured concrete floor was added, suspended over the ancient floor, and a new altar and altar piece were added.

However, there is something different. The "new" altar piece is unusually tall, hiding the apse mosaic, an original mosaic from the 7th century. I couldn't recall seeing another church in Rome where the apse mosaic is hidden in this manner. I asked myself "what's the deal - since when do you hide a 7th century mosaic?" The reason becomes obvious when you walk up to the side and peek behind the altar piece.

Apparently the Church hides such an apse mosaic when it shows the Virgin Mary wearing the pallium, the ancient priestly vestment that only archbishops and popes have worn for the last 1,600 years or so. The mosaic shows Mary wearing a white pallium over a dark chasuble, portrayed as a priest, with her hands raised in intercessory prayer.
I can only assume that when this chapel was remodeled the architects, while they could not bring themselves to change the apse mosaic, must have decided to cover it up. I'm sure they felt it was scandalous to show a woman wearing a garment that is reserved for archbishops and popes. The new altar piece features a much more "traditional" image of Mary with the baby Jesus.