When visiting the New Renaissance Basilica of Saint Peter (1506), one of the most impressive items is the massive bronze baldacchino, or high alter, designed and sculpted by the famous baroque artist Gian Lorenzo Bernini. The four massive twisting columns are specifically modeled after those in Solomon’s temple, and the angels above are from the Keruvim from the Holy Ark.

Art is everywhere, and especially numerous are the contributions by Italian mosaic art masters. But looking closer at what is represented and mostly unknown, these artists bring to life Hebrew (Old Testament) prophetesses and prophets from the Torah. These figures gaze down from above upon all the people who enter Saint Peter’s Basilica.

From a Jewish perspective, states Andrea Stoler, this can be considered one of the largest creative renderings and displays of Hebrew (Old Testament) prophetesses and prophets through the medium of mosaic art.

These mosaic Hebrew (Old Testament) prophetesses and prophets decorate the lunettes and pendentives throughout the interior of Saint Peter’s Basilica. The prophets provide evidence that Christianity developed from Judaism. More importantly, they demonstrate deep respect and knowledge for Jewish tradition from those who designed them.

The Israelites believed that God spoke through the prophets. It is through the prophetesses and prophets that we continue to hear God's voice. Although the prophetesses and prophets were greatly respected, the Israelites did not always listen to their words or obey them. The prophetesses and prophets were not fortune tellers. Nor were they foretellers of the future. The prophets were wise women and men who knew the inevitable results of the nation’s wrongdoings, unwise alliances, and, above all, of religious and moral wrongs. The prophetesses and prophets considered themselves to be protectors and guardians of Israel’s spiritual purity and piety, as well as its national well-being. The prophet’s job was to warn the Israelites of danger while envisioning God’s Majestic and loving plan for the Messianic era. Those that are considered most important are those whose message was to become relevant for future generations.

In the Jewish religion, it is only the Jews who tell “the story over and over from the beginning to the end every year, every moment on earth.” This is obviously one of the major reasons that Jews have survived throughout the many persecutions they have faced.

Thus, how do the prophetesses and prophets figure into this? The Haftorah portion connected with each weekly Parsha (Torah) reading provides the means by which the Jewish liturgical ritual connects the five books of the Torah to the rest of the Apocrypha readings included in the Hebrew Bible. These Haftorah portions continue the story of the Israelites arriving in the Promised Land, and most of this ongoing story is told through the teachings of the Hebrew prophetesses and prophets.

The Old Testament (Hebrew) prophetesses and prophets are those whom God picked (figuratively) to keep receiving the word of God. The prophets were then required to do God’s bidding at all costs—to keep telling the story. Keep on warning the Jews to stop backsliding—to keep Hope alive, no matter what was happening politically.

The prophetesses and prophets were charged with telling the Jews who (God) was giving the orders, why God was doing it, and how, when, where, and why God was telling them to achieve these goals, even if the populace didn’t understand. The prophetesses and prophets were the mouthpiece of God as life continued on through the generations.

In addition, Stoler explains, the mosaics tell the story not only of the prophets and prophetesses but also of renowned Jewish women from the Hebrew Bible. These astonishing Jewish women, primarily through their deeds, were as brave, determined, and courageous as they were wise. They used their leadership skills to impact their and future generations, either directly or indirectly, and are as inspiring today as at any time in history.

Andrea Stoler lives full-time in Rome and is originally from upstate New York. She received a Ph.D. from Northwestern University in Chicago in molecular and cell biology.

She is an accredited tour guide in Vatican City, making her the first and only Conservative Jewish American woman offering full-day tours, from a Jewish perspective, in the Vatican Museums, Sistine Chapel, Saint Peter’s Basilica, and Saint Peter’s Square.