Sedia gestatoria an elaborate variation on the sedan chair. Two large fans ("flabella") made of white ostrich feathers —a relic of the ancient liturgical use of the "flabellum", mentioned in the "Constitutiones Apostolicae"— were carried at either side of the "sedia gestatoria". The ceremonial throne was mainly used to carry popes to and from papal ceremonies in the Basilica of St. John Lateran and St. Peter's Basilica. The "sedia" was used as part of papal ceremony for nearly a millennium. Its origins are sometimes thought to date back to the Byzantine Empire where Byzantine emperors were carried along in a similar manner,
Ekaterina Sedia the New Jersey Pinelands. Ekaterina Sedia was born and raised in Moscow, Russia. Her family and friends still reside there while she, her husband and two cats live in New Jersey. Sedia teaches botany and plant ecology at Stockton University. Sedia has written many novels, short stories and occasionally edits anthologies. Additionally, Sedia enjoys social networking accounts such as Twitter, Facebook and Blogger. She enjoys catching up on these accounts while relaxing at coffee shops; however, she does not write there because they are too distracting. Besides writing, Sedia also has an interest in gardening, cooking, and feminism. Sedia is