San Vitale, Rome

Basilica of Sts. Vitalis, Valeris, Gervase and Protase
Basilica Ss. Vitalis, Valeriae, Gervasii et Protasii(in Latin)
Basilica di Santi Vitale e Compagni Martiri in Fovea(in Italian)
Façade of the Basilica of San Vitale
Map
Click on the map for a fullscreen view
41°53′58.8″N 12°29′27.1″E / 41.899667°N 12.490861°E / 41.899667; 12.490861
LocationVia Nazionale 194/B, Rome
CountryItaly
DenominationRoman Catholic
TraditionRoman Rite
WebsiteOfficial website
History
StatusMinor basilica, titular church
DedicationVitalis of Milan, Valeria of Milan, Gervasius and Protasius
ConsecratedAD 401
Architecture
Architectural typeChurch
StylePaleochristian
Groundbreakingca. 400
Specifications
Length60 metres (200 ft)
Width18 metres (59 ft)
Clergy
Cardinal protectorAdam Maida

The early Christian imperial basilica of the Saints Martyrs Vitale, Valeria, Gervasio and Protasio known more commonly as the basilica of San Vitale and Compagni Martiri in Fovea (Roman Parish) or more simply as San Vitale al Quirinale. It is the oldest Catholic place of worship in the historic center of Rome, located in via Nazionale. The imperial basilica of San Vitale al Quirinale, built under the pontificate of Pope Siricius after 386 and consecrated and richly decorated by Pope Innocent in 402 (Luigi Hutter and Vincenzo Golzino) is the first public Christian basilica with a baptistery (still not found) not founded on pre-existing pagan temples, mentioned in the Liber pontificalis, built by the Emperor Theodosius at the behest of Saint Ambrose of Milan, in honor of the miraculous discovery of the bodies of martyrs Gervasius and Protasius in Milan. It is the most frescoed basilica in Rome.

History

The basilica was built in 400 with funds provided by Vestina, a wealthy widow, and was consecrated by Pope Innocent I in 401/402. It was dedicated to Ss. Gervasius and Protasius, and called the "titulus Vestinae". The dedication to St. Vitalis and his family (Saint Valeria, his wife, and Sts. Gervasius and Protasius, their sons) is dated to 412. This church is recorded as Titulus Vestinae in the acts of the 499 synod of Pope Symmachus, and three priests from the church subscribed their names.

San Vitale was restored several times, most importantly when it was extensively rebuilt by Pope Sixtus IV before the Jubilee of 1475. Other interventions took place in 1512 under Cardinal del Monte; in 1598, in 1859 by the generosity of Pope Pius IX; in 1938 and 1960. Because of changes in the city over the centuries, the floor level of the church is now several metres below the level of the street on which it is located, the present-day via Nazionale.

Customs

Free bread was distributed to the poor by the church every Friday, according to the will of a gentleman from the Marches, Francesco Silla.

Architectural and Artistic Features

Exterior

The portico is the most ancient part of the church, possibly dating back to the 5th century. It was altered at the end of the 16th century. The inscription on the portico, with the arms of Pope Sixtus IV, dates from this time. Pope Pius IX built the staircase to the 5th century portico in 1859.

Interior

The altar and painting

The church has a single nave, with walls frescoed with scenes of martyrdom, among which a Martyrdom of St Ignatius of Antioch, in which a ruined Colosseum is depicted. The apse, a surviving part of the original 5th century church, is decorated with a fresco by Andrea Commodi, The Ascent to Calvary.

Cardinal Priests

Among the cardinals who previously took their title from the church were: John Fisher, executed for treason in 1535 by Henry VIII of England; and Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte, who became Pope Julius III (1550–1555). The titulus was suppressed by Pope Clement VIII in 1596. It was united with the nearby Jesuit church of S. Andrea.

The titulus was restored by Pope Leo XIII in 1880, with the appointment of Cardinal Andon Bedros IX Hassoun. The current Cardinal Priest is Cardinal Adam Maida.

  • Caelius Januarius (attested 499)
...
  • Lictifredus (attested 1128–1130; 1133–1140)
  • Matthaeus (1130)
  • Thomas (1141–1146)
  • Theodinus (1166–1179)
...

Restored title

Preceded by
Santa Teresa, Rome
Landmarks of Rome
San Vitale, Rome
Succeeded by
Casa dei Cavalieri di Rodi

This page was last updated at 2024-02-14 03:27 UTC. Update now. View original page.

All our content comes from Wikipedia and under the Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike License.


Top

If mathematical, chemical, physical and other formulas are not displayed correctly on this page, please useFirefox or Safari