Sant'Agata in Trastevere
From Churches of Rome Wiki
| Sant'Agata in Trastevere | |
|---|---|
| | |
| English name: | St Agatha's in Trastevere |
| Dedication: | Agatha |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic |
| Type: | Confraternity chapel |
| Built: | 8th century |
| Architect(s): | Giacomo Recalcati |
| Artists: | Girolamo Troppa, Biagio Puccini |
| Contact data | |
| Address: | 9 Largo San Giovanni de Matha 00153 Roma |
| Phone: | 06 58 03 717 |
Sant' Agata in Trastevere is a church dedicated to the martyr St Agatha.
Contents |
[edit] History
The origins of the church are uncertain. It probably goes back to the pontificate of Gregory II (715–731), who established a permanent church and monastery. A plaque by the corridor leading to the sacristy states that it was established in his family home in 727.
In 1575, the church was granted to the Archconfraternity of the Society of Christian Doctrine. Until then, it had been a parish church.
It was restored by Giacomo Recalcati in 1710, and again at the orders of Pope Pius VII in 1820–1821.
In 1911, it was granted to the Archconfraternity of the Most Holy Sacrament and Our Lady of Carmel, who still serve the church. The goal of the archconfraternity is to promote the cult of Our Lady.
The last restoration so far was carried out in 1984.
[edit] Exterior
The façade was completely rebuilt in 1710 by Recalcati, inspired by Francesco Borromini's designs. It has two stories, separated by an architrave with an inscription. The doorway has a curved tympanon. The upper storey has a large window.
[edit] Interior
The church has a single, rectangular nave, with Corinthian columns along the sides and three side chapels.
The ceiling was decorated by Girolamo Troppa, with the Assumption in the centre and angels around it. The same artist made the frescoes in the apse.
The altarpiece at the high altar depicts The Martyrdom of St Agatha, and was made by Biagio Puccini in 1713.
The first chapel on the right has an 18th century painting of St Michael the Archangel, and one of Pope St Pius X by Giuseppe Bevilacqua, made to express the archconfraternity's gratitude to the pope who granted the church to them.
In the third chapel on the right is a painting of The Madonna of the Rosary with Sts Dominic and Catherine, by Biagio Puccini.
The church has a venerated statue of the Madonna del Carmine, Madonna of Mount Carmel, also called the Madonna of Noantri, patron of the region. It now stands in the second chapel on the left; previously, it was in the second on the right. There is a large procession in her honour in the middle of July.
In the third chapel on the left is another work by Biagio Puccini, The Crucifixion.
Domenico Guidi, the master mason who assisted Recalcati in rebuilding the church, is buried in the centre of the church. He died in 1728.
[edit] Liturgy
The Madonna del Carmine is carried through the streets on 16 July when the Festa de'Noantri is celebrated in Trastevere. The feast is a tradition dating in its currect form to c. 1920, but has older roots. It is a secular feast that incorporates religious elements. The statue of the Madonna is dressed in new embroidered clothes each year, and is brought to San Crisogono. The macchina (stretcher) that it's carried on is recreated from a design by Domenico Gregorini, one of the architects of Santa Croce in Gerusalemme.
Other feasts of importance are the Dedication of the church on 4 February, St Agatha on 5 February, St Gregory II on 13 February, the Nativity of the Blessed Virgin on 8 September and the Immaculate Conception on 8 December.
