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Avid readers of Vatican Notes are probably somewhat familiar with the Basilica of San. Clemente which is visited as a Roman Station Church on Monday of the second week in Lent. Vatican Notes featured this church in the fourth quarter issue of 2010. San. Clemente is a very old church in Rome that has a front atrium or open forecourt with a central water fountain that forms an impressive entrance to the church. .jpg)
▲ Pictured above are exterior and interior photos of San Clemente  ▲ Aspe Mosaic Dome The theme of the rich mosaic in the apse is the redemption of mankind and all creation was brought about with the death of Christ on the cross. Inside the church is a designated choir area, or cancelli, surrounded by a low wall with an ambo, or pulpit on each side.  Roman Basilicas - San Clemente Scott 123 (1949)  ▲ 1957 Postcard showing San Clemente choir area Church Building History • 338 - original building construction • 1088 - destroyed by Norman invaders • 1108 - rebuilt by Pope Parchall II • 1645 - church was given to Irish Dominicans • 1715-1719 Renovations introduced by Varlo Stefano Fontana • 1857 - stratification of the property discovered • 1865 - excavations by Father Joseph Mallory • 1912 - Additional excavations • 1937 - pagan sarcophagus discovered with scenes from the story of Phaedra and Hippolytus One of the more interesting aspects of the San Clemente Basilica is what is buried below ground. Excavations (1857 -1870) beneath the basilica have uncovered earlier fourth and first-century buildings. Later excavations (1912-1914) discovered lower levels dating back to the burnings in Rome in 64 AD.  In 2007 The Vatican Post Office issued a set of postcards to commemorate the excavations of 1865. The cover picture of the postcard set shows Pope Pius IX blessing excavations done by Father Joseph Mallooly, an Irish Dominican Frair. The postcards are based on a series of watercolor pictures by W. Ewing of St. Clement Basilica frescos from the IX to XI centuries. The San Clemente Basilica has a lot of history preserved within its walls. St.Clement was an early Bishop of Rome, who was exiled to Crimea and martyred by drowning in the Black Sea. St.Cyril and Methodius discovered some of his bones and brought some of the bones back to Rome where they are buried below the altar in the San Clemente Basilica. St. Ignatius of Antioch (ca. 35-ca.107) was martyred in Rome. His bones wore taken to Antioch, but later returned to Rome and are also buried below the altar in the San Clemente Basilica. During the excavations, the sarcophagus of St. Cyril was discovered. There is also a chapel dedicated to St. Dominic and there are several significant paintings depicting major life events of his life. All of this makes San Clemente a very interesting church to visit.
References • George Weigel, "Monday Of The Second Week Of Lent - Station at St. Clement" Roman Pilgrimage - The Station Churches Basic Books, Copyright 2013, pages 106-111 • Joseph N. Tylenda, S. J, "S. Clemente" The Pilgrim's Guide To Rome'sPrincipal Churches The Liturgical Press, Copyright 1993, pages 122-129 • Frank J. Korn, "San Clemente" A Catholic's Guide To Rome Paulist Press, Copyright 2000, pages 86-88 • Rita Mantone "Santa Clemente" Rome's Original Tituli: A Pilgrim's Guide To The Eternal City's House ChurchesClick-it Write Books, Copyright 2016 (Kindel Version) • 150th Anniversary Of The Excavations At Rome's Basicilia Of San Clemente UFN Bulletin, November 20, 2007 • Basilica of San Clemente website - https://basilicasanclemente.com/en/home-english • James C. Hamilton, The Roman Basilica of San Clemente: Medieval Frescoes Revealed in Stamps and Postal Cards Vatican Notes Volume 58, Issue 346, 2010, Page: 4-10 • Sir Banister Fletcher, Early Christian Architecture, A History Of Architecture On The Comparative Method, Charles Scribner's Sons, copyright 1967, pages 2655, 258-261 • San Clemente al Laterano Wikipedia Exterior, interior, and floorplan photographs are from Wikipedia articles as cited in the reference section. The picture of the apse mosaic is from the photo collection of Marvin Lanahan. |
