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Santa Maria in Trastevere is one of the oldest churches in Rome. It is among the first one of the original 25 parishes in Rome. Some say that this is the first church in Rome to be dedicated to Mary, mother of Jesus, although others claim that privilege belongs to the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore. One of the most striking features of this church is the apse mosaics. 
 Pictured above are exterior and interior photos of Santa Maria in Trastevere Church Building History • Pope Callistus I (217-222) is said to have built a small oratory on site of this church • May have been the first place of public worship in Rome • Julius I (337-352) replaced the oratory with a church which underwent a number of revisions • Innocent II (1130-1143) constructed a new building using materials from the Baths of Caracalla • Large areas of important mosaics were done in the 13th century by Pietro Cavallini • Major reconstruction work was done in 1866 thru 1874 by Viginto Vespignana at the request of Pope Pius IX (1846-1878) 
Pictured above are the 12th and 13th-century mosaics in the apse of Santa Maria in Trastevere Joseph Tylenda's book The Pilgrim's Guide To Rome'sPrincipal Churches (page 246) gives a perfect description of the apse mosaic: "In the top portion of the apse Christ is in the center with Mary on his right, both sitting on the same throne. Christ wears a blue tunic with gold wrap, while Mary, wearing the same colors, has a jeweled bodice. Christ's right hand is on Mary's right shoulder. The book in his left hand has Come, my chosen one, I will give you my throne. taken from the liturgy for the feast of the Assumption. The book in Mary's hand has His left hand is under my head, and his right arm embraces me (Cant 2:6). On Christ's left are Sts. Peter, Cornelius, Julius I, and Calepodius. The last three are here because their relics are beneath the main altar. On Mary's right are Sts, Callistus and Lawrence, and Innocent II, who holds a model of the church in his hand, Reaching down from the heavens above is the hand of God over Christ's head. Looking for Vatican stamp links related to this church is a bit challenging. St. Peter is in the dome mosaic. Examination of the floorplan reveals a painting of St. Frances receiving the stigma, but that is about it. Perhaps there is a Marian stamp connection that could be found but there is nothing specific to the Santa Maria in Trastevere church was discovered.  St. Peter Scott 448 (1967)  St. Francis Receiving Stigma Vatican Postcard P233a (1967) References • George Weigel, Thursday Of The Second Week Of Lent - Station at St. Mary in Trastevere" Roman Pilgrimage - The Station Churches Basic Books, Copyright 2013, pages 126-133 • Joseph N. Tylenda, S. J, "S. Maria in Trastevere" The Pilgrim's Guide To Rome'sPrincipal Churches The Liturgical Press, Copyright 1993, pages 242-248 • Rita Mantone "Santa Maria in Trastevere" Rome's Original Tituli: A Pilgrim's Guide To The Eternal City's House ChurchesClick-it Write Books, Copyright 2016 (Kindel Version) • Santa Maria in Trastevere Wikipedia Photographs of St. Mary in Trastevere are from the Wikipedia article cited above |
