Sant'Apollinare alle Terme
From Churches of Rome Wiki
| Sant'Apollinare alle Terme | |
|---|---|
| | |
| English name: | St Apollinaris' at the Baths |
| Dedication: | St Apollinaris |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic |
| Clergy: | Opus Dei |
| Titular church | Cardinal Tauran |
| Built: | 7th century, reconstructed 1742-1748 |
| Architect(s): | Ferdinando Fuga |
| Artists: | Verchaffelt Pierre Legros |
| Contact data | |
| Address: | 49 Piazza Sant'Apollinare 00186 Roma |
| Phone: | 06 68 16 44 40 |
Sant'Apollinare alle Terme is a church dedicated to St Apollinaris, Bishop of Ravenna and martyr. The full name of the church is Sant'Apollinare alle Terme Neroniane-Allessandrine; this refers to the Baths of Nero which were in the area.
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[edit] History
The church was founded in the early Middle Ages, probably in the 7th century. It is first mentioned in the Liber Pontificalis under Pope Hadrian I (772-795). The materials used were taken from the ruins of an imperial building. The first priests who served the church were probably Basilian Monks, eastern religious who had fled from persecution during the iconoclast period.
It is listed in the Catalogue of Turin as a papal chapel with eight clerics.
In 1574, the church was granted to the Jesuits by Pope Gregory XIII, and it was used as the church of the German College. The college was later united with the Hungarian one, and the German-Hungarian College remained a Jesuit institution until 1773.
In 1742, Pope Benedict XIV commissioned Ferdinando Fuga to rebuild the church, and it was rededicated in 1748.
After the suppression of the Jesuits in 1773, the Lazzarists served the church.
In 1990, it was granted to the Opus Dei, and it is now part of their Pontifical Institute of St Apollinaris.
The next to last titular of the church was H.E. Cardinal Aurelio Sabattini, who passed away on 19 April 2003. He was appointed titular deacon of the church in 1983, and made titular priest pro hac vice in 1993. The present titular deacon is Cardinal Jean-Louis Tauran, who was created cardinal on 21 October 2003.
[edit] Exterior
The façade was completed in 1742, by Fuga. The stile is that of the late 1500's, with Baroque elements. It has two stories, with Ionic columns in the lower and Corinthian ones on the upper. The lower level has a central doorway flanked by windows. Above the door is a triangular tympanon. On the upper level is a large central window with a balcony, and two smaller windows to the sides. The façade is crowned by a double tympanon.
In the vestibule is a 15th century venerated fresco of the Madonna.
The adjacent Palazzo di Sant'Apollinare was the headquarters of the Collegio Germanico from 1574 to 1773. The college was established by St Ignatius of Loyola. The building now belongs to the Roman Seminary.
[edit] Interior
The dome was reconstructed in 1748, and decorated with stucco. In the lantern is a dove, symbol of the Holy Spirit.
It has a single nave. Along the side are pilasters with Corinthian capitals holding the arches to the side chapels.
In the barrel-vaulted ceiling is a fresco of The Glory of St Apollinaris, by Stefano Pozzi.
The high altar was made on orders from Pope Benedict XIV. The stucco decorations are by Bernardino Ludovisi. The early 17th century altarpiece depicts St Apollinaris' Consecration as Bishop of Ravenna.
The third chapel on the right has a marble statue of St Francis Xavier by Pierre Legros.
In the Chapel of St Ignatius of Loyola is the funerary monument of Francesco Antonio Zaccaria, writer and archaeologist, who died in 1795.
There are two 18th century confessionals in the church.
The crypt, which is an altar with many relics of martyrs.
The elliptical Chapel of Graces, which is outside the church proper, is accessed through a doorway on the left. It has a 15th century fresco of The Virgin, Queen of Apostles. The fresco, made in 1494, survived the Sack of Rome in 1527 because the priests had covered it with lime. It was rediscovered in 1645 when two boys and a soldier took refuge in the church during an earthquake. A marble frame with golden stucco cherubs was added by Pietro Antonio Verchaffelt
[edit] Special notes
A special service is held here every Sunday, at which priests sing Gregorian chants.
The feast of St Apollinaris is celebrated on 4 October.
This is the station church the last Thursday in Lent.
[edit] Opening hours
Normal opening hours:
Ferial days 07.15 - 10.00;
Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation 09.30 - 11.30.
Mass normally celebrated 08.00 on ferial days, 10.30 on Sundays and Holy Days of Obligation.
