Santa Maria in Trastevere
From Churches of Rome Wiki
| Santa Maria in Trastevere | |
|---|---|
| | |
| English name: | Our Lady's in Trastevere |
| Dedication: | Blessed Virgin Mary |
| Denomination: | Roman Catholic |
| Type: | Minor basilica |
| Clergy: | Diocesan |
| Titular church | Cardinal Glemp |
| Built: | 4th century, rebuilt in 12th and 19th century |
| Architect(s): | Carlo Fontana |
| Artists: | Pietro Cavallini, Domenichino |
| Contact data | |
| Address: | Via della Paglia 14/C/ Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere 00153 Roma |
| Phone: | 06-58.19.443 |
| Fax: | 06-58.96.460 |
Santa Maria in Trastevere is dedicated to the Blessed Virgin Mary.
Contents |
[edit] History
The church was one of the tituli, the parish churches of ancient Rome, known as Titulus Callisti. It is possibly the first church in Rome where Mass was celebrated openly. It was probably built by Pope Julius I (337-352), although tradition claims that it may have been built before 313, perhaps as early as soon after Pope Calixtus' death in 222 [1]. He was martyred near this place, and the titulus may have been named after his rather than the owner because it was originally built as a memorial chapel. It is believed to be the first church in Rome dedicated to the Blessed Virgin.
It was rebuilt under Pope Innocent II (1138-1148), in the first years of his pontificate. He kept the basilical plan, at a time when the Gothic style was gaining popularity in Northern Europe.
In the 1860's, it was restored with mixed results.
During some Holy Years, when the plague or flooding prevented the use of the churches outside the walls, this church was counted among the seven churches in the pilgrim itinerary.
The present titular priest of the church is Józef Cardinal Glemp. The history of the church as a title for cardinal priests goes back to the earliest cardinals. The title was originally Santa Maria, and was given to St Calepodius when he was created cardinal c. 112 (or at least, given rank equivalent to that of cardinal; he was in fact parish priest of the church with functions similar to this of later cardinals. The title was later changed to SS Callisto e Giuliano, and when Santa Maria in Trastevere had been built it was transferred there. Among earlier titular can be found Henry, Duke of York (later recognized as King Henry IX and I by the Jacobites), appointed in 1759.
[edit] Exterior
The façade was rebuilt by Carlo Fontana in 1702. Four Baroque statues above the portal depict Sts Calixtus, Cornelius, Julius and Calepodius. The mosaics are medieval, probably from the 12th century. It is thought that Pietro Cavallini restored them in the 13th century. The subject is the parable of the wise and the unwise maidens, with the Blessed Virgin in the center. The maidens on the right side are not wearing crowns, and they have let their lamps burn out.
The door has stone cornices from the Imperial period, reused from an earlier building.
In the narthex, there is a collection of pagan and early Christian inscriptions (3rd century), and some fragments of 9th century sculpture and medieval paintings. There are also sarcophagi from the 3rd and 4th centuries.
The campanile is from the 12th century. Near the top, a baldachino covers a mosaic of the Madonna with Child.
Around the corner from the back door is the Community of Sant'Egidio, which is renowned for its charitable services for the homeless. The soup kitchen feeds about 1.600 a day. The church has a long tradition for charitable work, and St Frances of Rome (1384-1440) used to come here to pray for strength to assist those in need.
[edit] Interior
The internal granite columns are from the 12th century rebuilding, and are reused columns from ancient buildings. They are thought to be from the Temple of Isis or the Baths of Caracalla, although this is uncertain. Look closely at their capitals, and you will see the heads of female pagan deities.
The apse mosaic of the Blessed Virgin is from the late 13th century, probably 1290, and is attributed to Pietro Cavallini. The main mosaic depicts St Mary enthroned, flanked by saints and popes. On the left side are Pope Innocent II, holding a model of the church identifying him as the builder, St Lawrence and Pope St Callixtus. On the right side are Peter the Apostle and Pope St Cornelius, Pope St Julius and St Calepodius. There is also a frieze with the Lamb of God and the Twelve Apostles. In the corners are the prophets Isaiah and Jeremiah, with symbols of the Evangelists, crosses and the Greek letters alpha and omega above them.
Mosaic panels between the windows are the work of Pietro Cavallini, probably made 1290-1291. They show scenes from the life of the Blessed Virgin. It can be dark here, but it's possible to ask the sacristan to switch on the lights so that the mosaics can be seen better. I would recommend that you look at them as they are first - it would have been just as dark here when they were made. The first from the left is the Birth of Our Lady, followed by the Annunciation, Nativity, Epiphany, Presentation in the Temple and the Falling asleep of Mary. The last one shows the soul of Mary in the arms of Our Lord. The mosaics depart from the Byzantine tradition in its use of colours and shapes.
The triumphal arch has frescoes from the 19th century, depicting the Blessed Virgin with the Holy Child, angels and the patriarch Moses and Noah.
The Episcopal throne in the apse is ancient.
To the right of the high altar is a Paschal candlestick, made by the Cosmati family.
To the sides of the apse are large mosaics of the prophets Jeremiah and Isaiah.
The painting in the middle of the wooden ceiling is the Assumption of the Blessed Virgin by Domenichino, painted in 1617. The rest of the ceiling was designed by the same artist.
Above the columns in the nave are paintings of saints. The 16 paintings were ordered by Pope Pius IX, and executed in the years 1865-1866.
The Cosmatesque floor was restored in the 19th century.
On the altar, there is a 6th or 7th century painting in encaustic on wood. The painting is known as the Madonna della Clemenza. The canopy was added in the 19th century restoration.
Sts Callixtus, Cornelius, Julius and Calepodius are interred beneath the high altar. They were moved here from the Cemetery of Calepodius. The crypt was built in the 9th century to hold relics of martyrs from the catacombs, which were threatened by Saracen raiders.
You may notice several inscriptions reading Fons olei, meaning 'oil spring'. This refers to a legend claiming that a natural oil spring appeared here some years before the Nativity. The legend was mentioned by St Jerome in the 4th century. He wrote that the Jewish community in Trastevere interpreted it as a sign that God's grace would soon flow into the world. Because of the spring, this became a meeting spot for the first Roman converts to Christianity.
At the steps at the end of the right aisle there are some black marble weights. These are ancient standard weights, which the Romans first kept in the temples and later in the churches.
In the chapel at the end of the right aisle, the Altemps Chapel, is the Madonna of Mercy, which was originally venerated in a street in Trastevere. The icon is a 6th or 7th century encaustic panel depicting the Madonna and Child between two angels. It was covered in silver leaf by Pope Gregory III (731-741), and Pope Leo III (795-816) donated a large purple veil to hang in front of the image. There is also a cross-shaped crystal reliquary holding a relic of Pope St Urban I. It was made in 1761, and presented to the church by Cardinal Henry Duke of York. The Cardinal's coat-of-arms can be seen on the leather case it is kept in. The chapel was designed by Martino Longhi the Elder, and it was installed to commemorate the Council of Trent. The chapel is normally closed; the sacristan will admit visitors if it is practically possible.
In the left aisle is the tomb of Pope Innocent II. he was from the Papareschi family, which was one of the most powerful families in Trastevere. He was originally buried in San Giovanni in Laterano, but was moved here after that basilica was damaged by fire in 1308.
The tomb of Pietro Cardinal Stefaneschi (died 1417) was made in the 15th century by Paolo Romano.
[edit] Footnotes
- ↑ According to one tradition, there was a dispute between Christians and the tavern keepers in the area over the right to use an assembly hall. The case was brought before Emperor Alexander Severus (222-235), who decided in favor of the Christians, saying that religious worship, no matter in which form, was better than drunkenness and debauchery.
