Sant'Antonio Abate all'Esquilino

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Sant'Antonio Abate all'Esquilino

English name:	St Anthony Abbot at the Esquiline
Dedication:	Anthony Abbot
Denomination:	Russian Catholic
Type:	National church


National church:	Russia
Built:

Architect(s):
Artists:
Contact data
Address:	Via Carlo Alberto 2 00185 Rome
Phone:	06 44 86 98 58

Sant'Antonio Abate all'Esquilino, or the Russian Church, is the Russian national church in Rome.

[edit] History

The church was built in 1308 next to a 5th century church, Sant'Andrea Cata Barbara. A hospital was built next to the church in 1259, and the Antonines moved in. By the end of the 16th century, the old church had collapsed into a ruin.

The church was rebuilt in the 18th century, in the Baroque style.

In 1928 the Pontifical Institute for Oriental Studies and the Russicum, the Russian College, were built next to the church. Four years later, in 1932, the church was given to the Russian Catholics. It retains its dedication to St Anthony Abbot, but is generally known only as the Russian Church.

Before 1932, a ceremony known as the Blessing of the Beasts took place here on St Anthony's feast day, 17 January, since he is a patron of animals. This is now moved to the piazza outside Sant'Eusebio.

[edit] Exterior

Most of what you see is from the 18th century restoration, but a Romanesque doorway facing Via Carlo Alberto is from the medieval church.

[edit] Interior

The church is arranged according to the needs of Byzantine liturgy, with a beautiful iconostasis. These alterations were done after 1932.

[edit] Liturgy

On Saturday evenings, Solemn Vespers is sung (7 PM).

On Sundays, it is possible to attend the Divine Liturgy (Mass), prayed in the Church Slavonic language (10 AM).

National churches