Churches in rome

St. Paul's Cathedral in Rome

The Basilica of San Paolo Fuori le Mura (Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura) has been standing in Rome for seventeen centuries. The church is one of the 4 great papal basilicas. Numerous parishioners and pilgrims strive to the temple to receive the remission of sins in the rite of "Holy Door". Since 1980, the temple added to the list of World Heritage of humanity.

Read articles about papal basilicas:

  • Santa Maria Maggiore (Basilica Papale di Santa Maria Maggiore);
  • St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican (Basilica di San Pietro);
  • Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano (Basilica di San Giovanni in Laterano);

Execution of St. Paul

The Apostle Paul (lat. Paulus and Paullus) in 67 AD was subjected to numerous tortures and executed by order of the emperor Nero, as a preacher of the new faith. The Christian apostle was buried three kilometers from the place of his death, the grave was marked with a memorial sign. Subsequently, this corner of Rome was called the "Three Fountains", according to legend, the severed head of St. Paul hit the ground three times to open the way for three underground keys.

Story

St. Paul's Cathedral impresses with its grandeur and solemn appearance. The poet Prudentius in a poem written in honor of Emperor Honorius immortalized the beauty of the holy place in poetic form. The picturesque basilica is located behind the Aurelian wall, that is, formally abroad of Rome by the standards of the early Christian era.

The gates of San Paolo (Porta San Paolo), which are part of the wall that defines the borders of the capital, is no less memorable. It is believed that they stand exactly in the place from where the apostle Paul went for head-cutting. From the gate there is a road to the south, at the end of which stands the church of St. Paul (San Paolo).

The temple was built over the tomb of St. Paul in Rome, who was executed at the very beginning of our era. Many believers came to the grave from the very beginning, so it was decorated with a memorial plate. To honor the memory of the secluded apostle under Emperor Constantine I in the 4th century A.D. a church was built.

The building was expanded by order of Valentinian I, and Theodosius I really beautifully designed it In 590-604, under Pope Gregory the Great, the church was rebuilt again: a new altar was built, the courtyard was decorated with more than a hundred columns. In the center of the outdoor courtyard, a monument to San Paolo, holding a large book and a sword, was erected. The monument is made so realistic that looking at it, you see - the apostle was ready to give his life for the Christian faith.

The church received its first damage in the 9th century from Saracens, and in 1823 there was a big fire. After 31 years, it was rebuilt, and consecrated by Pius IX, and the whole Christian world, including Russia, helped him in this. The cathedral was decorated with a new facade, frescoes and mosaics with images of St. Paul, Jesus, the four prophets. In the 13th century, a monastery was opened at the Cathedral in Rome.

Description

Outside, San Paolo Fuori le Mura resembles an ordinary fortress, but the main decorations are inside. The interior of the Cathedral is a rich decoration in the style of classicism and neoclassicism. Three doors lead to the basilica, each of which is decorated separately. In the right door are inserted plates from an ancient door that stood until the 19th century. Not far from them is an image of the resurrection of Christ.

Inside the cathedral there are 5 halls, the central one is divided into parts by 80 granite columns. The colonnade and ceiling fresco date from the 19th century. The ceiling is decorated with carved gilded panels. The cathedral also preserved part of the construction of the V century - fragments of mosaics and an arch. One of the names of this arch is the Arch of Galla Placidia, it is believed that it was erected in honor of the wife of the Roman emperor. Each window has a unique pattern that transmits the sun's rays and fills the cathedral with warm light. The entire floor is lined with images of various animals.

In the gallery of San Paolo Fuori le Mura are portraits of 236 pontiffs. They are located in medallions, and there are very few unfilled frames. There is a legend that when the last Pope dies and all the medallions are filled, the end of the world will come.

Visitors can see in the center of the church a sarcophagus with the relics of St. Paul - this is the main attraction of the church. Above it stands the creation of 1285 - a tabernacle decorated with skillfully combined pagan and Christian motifs. And next to it stands the XIII century candlestick, 5.5 m high. Only the Pope has the right to celebrate mass over the relics.

There are holes in the tomb in which visitors shoved pieces of cloth in order to touch the holy place. Near the sarcophagus there is an altar with a window, which allows any visitor to confess their sins.

Also stored in the basilica:

  • a piece of the Life-giving Cross of the Lord;
  • a particle of the staff with which Saint Paul made his walking walks;
  • particles of the relics of bishops, apostles, martyrs.

In 2011, the 10th international festival of sacred music was held in the cathedral (X ° Festival Internazionale di Musica ed Arte Sacra). Symphony No. 7 of Anton Bruckner performed by the symphony orchestra sounded in the sacred walls.

How to get there

Address: Piazzale San Paolo, 1

San Paolo Fuori le Mura is located in the southern part of the city, two kilometers outside the Aurelian walls. You can visit the territory of the cathedral with a guided tour or on your own. Tourists are provided with the most comfortable conditions, they even provide wheelchairs and are allowed blind people to walk with a guide dog. There are souvenir shops at the entrance to St. Paul's Cathedral.

You can get to the church:

  • Metro B-lines leave at Garbatella or Marconi stations;
  • by bus number 23 or 769 - you need to get to the stop Via Ostiense-San Paolo;
  • on tram number 2 - get off at the Basilica S. Paolo stop.

Useful practical information

  • Owners of a car with a navigator will need GPS coordinates: 41 ° 51'31 "N 12 ° 28'35" E.
  • Working hours: daily from 07:00 to 18:30, the monastery and cloister are open from 08:00 to 18:15, confessions are held from 7:00 to 12:30 and from 16:00 to 18:30.
  • Official website of the basilica: www.basilicasanpaolo.org

Popular Posts

Category Churches in rome, Next Article

Outlet Serravalle: Welcome to Shopping
Cities of Italy

Outlet Serravalle: Welcome to Shopping

Outlet Serravalle, located near Milan - the most "fashionable" city in Italy, is rightfully considered one of the largest shopping centers not only in Italy, but also in Europe as a whole. Having opened its doors to customers in 2000, Serravalle has not been losing ground for the second decade. The outlet has established itself not only as a place for great shopping, but also as a venue for a variety of fairs, exhibitions, fashion shows, music concerts, theater performances, all kinds of festivals and festivals.
Read More
Shopping in Rimini: what, where, when
Cities of Italy

Shopping in Rimini: what, where, when

Most tourists, especially the fair sex, try to combine business with pleasure during their travels - lounging on the beach, visiting interesting exhibitions and museums, sightseeing and, of course, wandering around the local shopping centers and shops. This fully applies to Rimini - this Italian resort has long been chosen by budget shopping fans who prefer high-quality mid-range products to trendy and ultra-expensive branded items.
Read More
What to see in Bologna on your own in 1 day
Cities of Italy

What to see in Bologna on your own in 1 day

A city in shades of terracotta, Bologna is one of the most interesting on the Apennine Peninsula. The capital of the region Emilia-Romagna has something to captivate an inquisitive tourist. If you are in transit, BlogoItaliano has prepared a short route for you with the main places worth seeing in Bologna on your own in 1 day.
Read More
10 most interesting churches and cathedrals of Venice
Cities of Italy

10 most interesting churches and cathedrals of Venice

Cathedrals and churches are one of the main assets of Venice: the city has about 250 consecrated churches, each of which boldly deserves the title of a work of art. The walls of many of them contain canvases of great painters and sculptors, so visiting the temples can be interesting not only to believers, but also to all art admirers.
Read More