Today we travel outside the walls (Fuori le Mura) of Rome to visit the Basilica of Saint Paul. This is one of the four major basilicas of Rome. Now known as a papal basilica, this was known as the patriarchal basilica associated with the ancient see of Alexandria. You may recall we visited another former […]
Today we visit the church of Saints Cosmas and Damian. Cosmas and Damian excelled in medicine and offered their services for free. During the Diocletian persecutions, they were arrested. Because they would not renounce their faith, they were tortured. They suffered no injury during an attempted drowning or when they were burned. Crucifixion did not […]
Today we visit San Sisto Vecchio, Saint Sixtus the Old. Named ‘the old’ because it is the oldest monastery in Rome. Twice throughout our Lenten Station pilgrimage I’ve mentioned the story of Saint Lawrence meeting up with Pope Saint Sixtus II while the Holy Father was headed towards his martyrdom. This church is built over […]
On my tours, I often ask the group to name the cathedral of Rome. Many know the correct answer is Saint John Lateran. Some, understandably, think that Saint Peter’s Basilica is the cathedral. Now, if I were to ask where is the first cathedral of Rome, what would you say? Before you answer, let’s take […]
Today we visit the basilica of San Marco. First dedicated to Saint Mark the Evangelist, the church was later also dedicated to Pope Saint Mark, who once lived on this site. This is one of Rome’s oldest churches, built around the year 336. Known as Titulus Marci, this was one of the original twenty-five titular […]
Today we visit the church of San Vitale, located on the bustling street of Via Nazionale. In the late fourth century a small chapel was built here to honor the martyrs Saint Gervase and Saint Protase. In the fifth century a wealthy woman named Vestina donated money to build a larger basilica and the church […]
Today we travel across the Tiber into the Trastevere neighborhood to visit the church of Santa Cecilia. At sixteen, Cecilia, a Christian, vowed to remain forever a virgin. Her father, however, had different plans and arranged for her to wed Valerian, a pagan nobleman. She broke the news to her groom on the wedding night. […]
San Clemente, today’s station church, is one of the greatest places to experience Rome’s many layers. Here, a twelfth century basilica sits on top of a fourth century basilica which was built over a, possibly, first century house with a temple next door. In ancient times, it was often easier to build over previous structures, […]
Perhaps better known by it’s nickname, Santa Maria della Navicella, today’s station church is Santa Maria in Domnica. In the ninth century, a church was built here over the site of a third century house. The home, owned by a noblewoman named Cyriaca, was a meeting place for early Christians and a refuge for the poor. A […]
Yesterday we visited the church of Santi Apostoli. This is the church where candidates for the priesthood would go on Ember Friday to pray for guidance from the Holy Apostles. Today’s station church is Saint Peter’s Basilica, the place they came to be ordained on the following evening. We’ll visit this massive basilica again in a […]
Today we travel to Santi Apostoli, the church of the Holy Apostles, to visit the tomb of apostles, Saint Philip and Saint James the Less. That we visit the church today on Friday of the Quattro Tempora di Primavera, is not by chance. This was traditionally a day when the public would approve candidates for the priesthood […]
We continue our Lenten pilgrimage through the station churches of Rome with a visit to the church of San Lorenzo in Panisperna. The church is located over the site of Saint Lawrence’s martyrdom, just a few blocks from yesterday’s church, Saint Mary Major. Originally built during the time of Constantine, today’s structure only dates back […]
sToday we visit Santa Maria Maggiore, Saint Mary Major. This is our first of three visits to this church throughout Lent. Today we’ll discuss the story of how this basilica, also known as Our Lady of the Snows, came to be. To truly appreciate the story, you must realize that Rome can be ridiculously hot […]
Sacrosancta Lateranensis ecclesia omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput. Of all the churches in the city and the world, the Most Holy Lateran church is the mother and the head. This phrase is inscribed above the entrance to Saint John Lateran. Surely this is a mistake, right? Isn’t Saint Peter’s Basilica the mother and […]
Just a few blocks away from the craziness that is Piazza Navona sits the church of Sant’Agostino. Originally, the titular church of San Trifone sat nearby. The property was given to the Augustinians and construction on the current church, dedicated to Saint Augustine, began in 1296. Just a few short years later, in 1446, the […]
Located a short distance from the Colosseum, Santi Giovanni e Paolo is our stop for today. Named for the martyrs of the fourth century, this church is dedicated to two wealthy brothers who served in Constantine’s court under his daughter, Constantia. She converted them to Christianity and they would host Christian rites here in their […]
