The Last Judgment Mosaic on the St. Vitus Cathedral
The magnificent St. Vitus Cathedral leaves in awe visitors and locals alike. The very image of the Cathedral reaching the heavens before you as you walk in from the second to the third courtyard is breathtaking. Just as you go around the building, you are surprised by another exquisite piece of art: The Golden Gate. Dating back to the 1370s and built by Charles IV’s favorite architect Peter Parler, this three-arched portal was the final stop on the Royal Coronation Route of the Kings of Bohemia. The central part of the glorious portal is dominated by a 82m˛ mosaic showing the Last Judgment.The mosaic is a triptych that depicts the second coming of Jesus Christ. The central image on the mosaic is Christ in Majesty, surrounded by angels. The angels surrounding him are carrying trumpets to signify the coming of the Lord. Underneath him, six Czech patron saints are kneeling. They are, from left to right, Saint Procopius, Saint Sigismund, Saint Vitus, Saint Wenceslas, Saint Ludmila and Saint Adalbert. This was to remind the Medieval viewer that salvation awaits the subjects of the Bohemian ruler – the saints are mediators between the two worlds. Underneath the saints, Charles IV and his fourth wife, Elizabeth of Pommerania, are kneeling in prayer. This places them right under the saints in the hierarchy of the Heavens. Their central position further suggests that the king is just and is therefore going to be among the first to ascend into Heaven – this is an expression of his power and legitimacy.