Noble Guard (Vatican) of Hereditary Standard-Bearer, who was responsible for carrying the standard of the Catholic Church. After 1870, the Noble Guard, now reduced to a force of fewer than 70 men, performed mainly ceremonial duties as an honor guard. Guardsmen most commonly appeared in public when the pope presided over ceremonies in Saint Peter's Basilica. When the pope was carried in the sedia gestatoria, Noble Guards walked alongside the papal chair. During the hours reserved for papal audiences, guardsmen also stood in the antechamber of the papal apartments and, on formal occasions, on either side of the papal throne. During the Second
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