Basilicas in Italy—Rome—4

Basilica of Pudentiana, Rome

Church of a cardinal and a Station church

This church is considered the oldest Christian church in Rome.  Originally built in the 2nd Century, it is built over the remains of the home of St. Pudens, father to Saints Pudentiana and Praxedes, and perhaps the first converts of St. Peter in Rome.  St. Pudentiana is buried here.  It served as the Pope’s residence until 313.  A mosaic is one of the earliest representations of the Incarnation.  Today’s Renaissance and Baroque church is mostly the result of 16th Century renovations.  The basilica has been the church of a cardinal since at least 1278 and is the national church for the Filipino community in Rome.

The top picture is from a local source and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of the Four Holy Crowned Martyrs, Rome

Church of a cardinal and a Station church

The church is dedicated to early Christian martyrs who were either stonemasons or soldiers.  During their 1084 sack of Rome, the Normans completely burned this church.  The current, smaller, Romanesque church dates to the 12th Century.  A convent of Augustinian nuns has been here since 1564.  It has been the church of a cardinal since at least 595, two of whom went on to become Pope.  Another—King Henry of Portugal—was both a king and a cardinal.  The current titular cardinal is Roger Mahony, retired Archbishop of Los Angeles.

The first two pictures are from local sources and the last two are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Saba, Rome

Church of a cardinal

Some type of structure existed here in the 6th Century as a home for Pope St. Gregory the Great and his mother.  Monks from a community in Palestine founded by St. Saba came here in the 7th Century to escape Islamic encroachment.  It soon became one of the most important monasteries in Europe and popes used the community to maintain relations with Catholics in the East.  It became richly endowed. It became less important in the 10th Century but the building has been renovated many times since especially in the 12th and 13th Centuries.  It has been administered by the Jesuits since 1573 and has been the titular church of a cardinal since 1959.

The first picture is from a local source and the last two are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Sabina, Rome

Church of a cardinal and a Station church

The church was built in the 5th Century but has been substantially remodeled over the centuries.  It was previously the site of St. Sabina’s home—Sabina was an early Christian.  The church was given to St. Dominic in 1219 and it has been the home of the Dominican Order ever since.  Saints Dominic, Thomas Aquinas, and Hyacinth have all lived here.  The church has cypress wood doors carved around 430 depicting Jesus’ crucifixion with the two thieves—the first known public representation of that event.  The Basilica is the first station church—the Pope presides over Ash Wednesday Mass here.  It has been the church of a cardinal since 423.

The first picture is from a local source, and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Sebastian outside the Walls, Rome

Church of a cardinal

This site was a Christian cemetery (catacombs) by the 3rd Century and Saints Peter and Paul were once buried here.  A church was built in the early 4th Century to honor St. Sabastian, a 3rd Century martyr.  The remains of St. Sebastian were moved to St. Peter’s Basilica in the 9th Century prior to a Saracen attack which destroyed the Basilica of St. Sebastian.  It was quickly rebuilt, although the current Baroque structure dates to the 17th Century.  Of note is a bust of the Savior by Gian Bernini—one of his last works.  Fabian, a 3rd Century pope, is buried here and the basilica has been the titular church of a cardinal since 1962.

The first picture is from Dreamstime and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Sixtus, Rome

Church of a cardinal and a Station church

The church is dedicated to Pope St. Sixtus II and was originally built in the 4th Century.  Sixtus was martyred by the Romans in 258 along with six of his deacons.  His relics and those of other popes were eventually moved to this church.  It was rebuilt in the 13th Century and restored, in a Baroque style, in the 18th Century.  Dominican nuns have had a convent here for centuries and the basilica has been the titular church of a cardinal since 600. 

The first picture is from a local source, and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Stephen in the Round on Celian Hill, Rome

Church of a cardinal and Station church

The church was built in the 5th Century on the site of a Roman temple and army barracks.  It was initially dedicated only to St. Stephen the Martyr but was later also dedicated to St. Stephen, the first King of Hungary.  It is the national church of Hungary and was also the first church in Rome to be built in a circular style.  The church has been restored and embellished several times of the centuries.  It has been the church of a cardinal (one of whom became pope) since 499.

The first three pictures are from local sources and the last is from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Vitalis and Martyr Companians, Rome

Church of a cardinal and Station church

The church was built in the late 4th Century and has been embellished many times over the years.  It is dedicated to St. Vitalis, his wife, St. Valeria, and their sons, Sts. Gervase and Protase, all 2nd Century martyrs.  It is considered the most frescoed basilica in Rome.  It has been the church of a cardinal since 499.  These cardinals have included one pope and one Saint—John Fisher. 

The first picture is from a local source, and the others are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Mary in Montesanto, Rome

Church of a cardinal

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Leo XII in 1825.

This baroque church was built in the 17th Century and has had a Mass every year since 1953 recognizing art and culture.  The future Pope John XXIII was ordained a priest here in 1905.  The statues of saints on the exterior are thought to have been designed by Bernini.  It has been the church of a cardinal only since 2023.

The first picture is from a local source and the second is from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Lawrence in Lucina, Rome

Church of a cardinal and a Station church

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius X in 1908.

The church was originally constructed in the 4th Century but has been upgraded many times since.  Lucina refers to a Roman woman who allowed the church to be built on her property.  It has been the church of a cardinal since 684—a least two of whom went on to become pope.  

Both pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilicas in Italy—Rome—3

Basilica of St. Mary in Cosmedin, Rome

Church of a cardinal

A church was built here in the 8th Century to replace a building that had probably been a church since the 6th Century.  The Normans sacked Rome in 1084 and destroyed this church.  It was rebuilt in a Romanesque style in the 12th Century.  Some Baroque elements were added in the 17th and 18th Centuries and additional restorations have been done in recent centuries.  This has been the church of a cardinal since at least 1088—two of whom became pope.  The church is administered by the Greek-Melkite Catholic Church.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Mary in Trastevere, Rome

Church of a cardinal and a Station church

One of the oldest churches in Rome, there was likely to have been a church here in the early 3rd Century and certainly by the 4th Century.  The current Romanesque building dates primarily to the 12th Century.  The church has 13th Century mosaics by Pietro Cavallini and is the burial place of two popes.  It has been the church of a cardinal since at least the 3rd Century including two who became pope.  It was also the titular church of James Gibbons, second American cardinal, and two recent Primates of Poland—Wyszynski and Glemp.

The top picture is from Dreamstime and the rest are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Mary in Via Lata, Rome

Church of a cardinal and a Station church

Some traditions, although not all, have that St. Paul was imprisoned at this site awaiting his trial and that Saints Paul, Peter, Luke, and John, may have lived here at one time or another.  A church was built here in the 5th Century, but the current Baroque church dates to the 17th Century.  The early church served the poor and needy.  A statue of Mary Our Advocate attracts many pilgrims.  This has been the church of a cardinal since at least the 8th Century.

The top picture is from Dreamstime and the other two are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Frances of Rome, Rome

Church of a cardinal

A church was built here in the 8th Century which is said to be the site of St. Peter’s defeat of Simon Magus.  The current Romanesque church dates to the 13th Century although improvements have been made over time.  Originally called New St. Mary’s, it was rededicated to St. Frances of Rome in the 16th Century.  She is buried here as is Pope Gregory XI who returned to papacy to Rome after years in France.  It has been the church of a cardinal since the 12th Century and has been administered by the Olivetans since 1352.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Mary above Minerva, Rome

Church of a cardinal

Declared a minor basilica by Pope Pius V in 1566.

The church was originally built in the 8th Century over the ruins of a temple to Minerva, a Roman goddess.  The church was given to the Dominicans in the 13th Century and they built the current Gothic church between 1280 and 1370.  It and an adjacent convent served for several centuries as the Dominican’s headquarters.  It has been the church of a cardinal since 1557.  The church is the burial site of St. Catherine of Siena, the artist Fra Angelico, and three popes.  The church also has the Michelangelo statue “Christo della Minerva.”

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Martin ai Monti, Rome

Church of a cardinal

Officially known as the Basilica of Saints Sylvester and Martin in the Mountains, a church was built here in the 4th Century.  It was rebuilt at least twice before the current church was built in 845.  It was embellished in a Baroque style in the 18th Century.  The basilica is staffed by the Carmelites and has been the church of a cardinal since 1088.  Three of these cardinals were elected pope including Pope Pius XI and Pope Paul VI.

Both pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Nicholas in Prison, Rome

Church of a cardinal and Station church

Originally the site of three Roman temples, a church was likely built here in the 5th Century.  The current church was built between 1599 and 1865 and incorporates some of the Roman temples.  It is dedicated to St. Nicholas because there was once a Greek neighborhood here.  “Prison” refers to a jail or prison once near this site.  It does not refer to St. Nicholas being in prison.  The basilica today is a center of Marian devotion.  The basilica has been the church of a cardinal since 1138 and not a single one of these cardinals became pope.  One of the cardinals was Patrick O’Boyle, once the Archbishop of Washington DC.

Pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Pancras, Rome

Church of a cardinal

A church was built here in the 6th Century on the burial site of St. Pancras, who was martyred at the age of 14 in 304 during the Diocletian persecutions.  A larger church was built in the 7th Century.  The church was entrusted to the Discalced Carmelites in 1662 who remodeled the building.  It was renovated again in the 19th Century after a French attack on Rome.  Beneath the church is a large catacombs.  The basilica has been the church of a cardinal since 1517, two of whom later became pope. 

The first picture is from a local source and the second is from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Peter in Chains, Rome

Church of a cardinal and a Station church

The original basilica was built in the 5th Century to house the chains that had bound St. Peter in Jerusalem.  They had been given to the Roman Empress by the Patriarch of Jerusalem.  Tradition tells us that when the Jerusalem chains were presented to Pope Leo I they were miraculously merged with the chains that held St. Peter in Rome.  The church has been modified several times but most importantly in the early 16th Century by Pope Julius II using Renaissance and Baroque styles.  Pope Julius’ tomb in the church is dominated by Michelangelo’s statue of Moses.  The church also has a sarcophagus said to hold the remains of the seven Maccabean Brothers mentioned in the Old Testament.  The basilica has been the church of a cardinal since 1078.  The current titular cardinal is Donald Wuerl, former Archbishop of Washington DC.

All pictures are from Wikipedia.

Basilica of St. Praxedes, Rome

Church of a cardinal and a Station church

This church is dedicated to St. Praxedes and her sister St. Pudentiana, who provided aid and comfort to Christians persecuted by Rome in the 2nd Century.  They eventually were martyred themselves and St. Praxedes is buried here, along with 2,300 other Christian martyrs.  The Byzantine church was built between 780 and 822, although an earlier church was once here.  The church is heavily decorated with Byzantine mosaics and also has a portion of the column on which Jesus was tied during his flagellation.  The church has been administered by the Benedictines since 1198 (who also restored the church) and has been the church of a cardinal since 1073. 

All pictures are from Wikipedia.