Sant'Egidio in Trastevere
From Churches of Rome Wiki
Sant'Egidio in Trastevere St Giles in Trastevere
Piazza S Egidio 3 00153 Roma Tel. 06 58 56 61 Fax 06 58 00 197
Normally open only for Mass at 20.30.
Church dedicated to St Giles, hermit, died c. 720. History
The cult of St Giles, one of the Fourteen Holy Helpers, was probably introduced in Rome in the 9th century. The church is of later date, built in 1632 by Filippo Colonna. It was dedicated to Our Lady of Carmel and St Giles, and given to the Discalced Carmelites. They had an adjacent convent, where they provided aid for the poor.
In 1973, the convent was turned into a museum of folk art, and the church was given to the Comunitá di S. Egidio, a lay organization founded in Rome in 1968 to aid the poor and work for peace and understanding through ecumenical and inter-religious dialogue.
The church is served by diocesan clergy. Exterior
The façade has a single storey, crowned by a triangular tympanum. Above the doorway is a rectangular window, also with a triangular tympanum, while the doorway has a rounded one above it. Above the door is a dedicatory inscription to Our Lady of Carmel. Interior
The church has a single nave, with a barrel-vault ceiling. There are two side chapels, dedicated to St Giles and to the Crucifix.
To the left of the entrance is the funerary monument of the marquiese Veronica Rondonini Origo, designed by Carlo Fontana in 1706.
The marble high altar is dedicated to St Elijah, and reflects the design of the church's façade. Above the altar is a painting of The Madonna of Carmel Giving the Scapular to St Simon Stock, painted by Andrea Camassei in 1630. To the sides are paintings of St Teresa of Avila and The Coronation of the Virgin, painted by a Carmelite brother known as il Fiammingo.
The chapel on the left-hand side, which is dedicated to St Giles, has a painting of the saint with the deer which according to the legend brought him its milk every day. It was painted by Cristoforo Roncalli (il Pomerancio).
In the choir is a paiting by Andrea Pozzo, depicting The Virgin with Sts Joseph and Teresa of Avila. There is also a newer icon depicting The Miracle of Pentecost. Special notes
The feast of St Giles is celebrated on 1 September.
