Thursday, March 18, 2010

San Martino ai Monti

Pope Saint Sylvester (314-335) built the original church of today’s Station Mass, so the full name of the church is actually Santi Martino e Silvestro ai Monti.  He’s buried under the crypt altar, which is under this not-crypt altar.P3180177

Sylvester is also believed to have been the first bishop in the West to use a miter, which at the time they said, ‘was a miter good idear.’  Or something to that effect.  His miter and throne are preserved here; unfortunately you can’t see them in this photo of the ceiling.

P3180178 

The extensive ruins below show the original Titulus Aequitii (being one of the original 25 parishes of Rome), which, while appearing to be a home, also shows a hall which could hold about 400 people, being the only such design of a house known in the city.

P3180184

By the way, while we’re in the Monti district, these two photos from the nearby church of Santa Maria ai Monti help clarify a difficulty of the visitor (or resident) in Rome.  While the 40 days of Lent can bring you to some of the most magnificent churches of the city, with almost 1,000 churches filling the streets, there’s no way you’ll see them all. P3180187

And even the most obscure chapels cascade with art.

P3180188 Ceiling: Santa Maria ai Monti

So enjoy what you can, knowing there’s always more.

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