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St John Before the Latin Gate (San Giovanni a Porta Latina) is a basilica church in Rome, Italy. As quoted by St Jerome, in the year 92, St John the Evangelist survived martyrdom at Rome under the Emperor Domitian. He was later exiled to the island of Patmos. This event was traditionally said to have occurred at the Latin Gate (located on the southern portion of the Roman wall). The tradition for the building of the Basilica of St John Before the Latin Gate places its construction during the pontificate of Pope Gelasius I (492–496). In the 8th century, the basilica was restored by Pope Adrian I, and later the belltower and portico were added, and at the end of the 12th century the basilica was reconsecrated by Pope Celestine III. In the 16th and 17th centuries, a Baroque ceiling and other Baroque features were added to the interior. In the years 1940–1941, the Baroque features were removed, and the Basilica was returned to a more primitive simplicity. After this work, another search along the face of the central nave revealed the presence of a full circle of medieval frescoes. This last renovation was carried out by the Rosminian Fathers, who, in 1938, were given care of the basilica and the nearby building, where they opened the Collegio Missionario Antonio Rosmini which houses their International House of Studies. The entrance to the basilica is fronted by a small square with an 8th century well-head, nearly reproducing the aspect of the basilica that would have been seen at the reconsecration by Pope Celestine III in the 12th century. The portico of the basilica is supported by four re-used classical columns (each of a different marble) supporting five arches. The main door is framed with a simple mosaic of red and green porphyry. 
St John Before the Latin Gate Exterior Views 
St John Before the Latin Gate Interior Views (The last image is John being thrown into a huge basin of boiling oil by his enemies) John the Apostle was the son of Zebedee and the younger brother of James the Great. According to church tradition, their mother was Salome. Also, according to some traditions, Salome was the sister of Mary, Jesus' mother. John the Apostle is traditionally believed to be one of two disciples (the other being Andrew), who upon hearing John the Baptist point out Jesus as the "Lamb of God," followed Jesus and spent the day with him. John is said to be the disciple whom Jesus loved. The phrase "the disciple whom Jesus loved as a brother" or "whom Jesus loved as a friend" is used six times in the Gospel of John, but in no other New Testament accounts of Jesus. Church tradition has held that John is the author of the Gospel of John and four other books of the New Testament – the three Epistles of John and the Book of Revelation. Until the 19th century, the authorship of the Gospel of John had been attributed to the Apostle John. However, most modern critical scholars have their doubts. The most plausible theory of St John’s death states that he was arrested and faced martyrdom when his enemies threw him in a huge basin of boiling oil. However, according to the tradition, John was miraculously delivered from death. The authorities then sentenced John to slave labor in the mines of Patmos. On this island in the southern part of the Aegean Sea, it is said that John had a vision of Jesus Christ and wrote the prophetic book of Revelation. The apostle John was later freed, possibly due to old age, and he returned to what is now Turkey. He died as an old man sometime after AD 98, the only apostle to die peacefully. Reference: 'San Giovanni a Porta Latina' on WikiPedia.org 'St. John Before the Latin Gate' on Fatima.org 'John the Apostle' on Wikipedia.org All Photographs are from Commons.WikiMedia.org 
Evangelist St John by Fra Angelico C58 (1971) Transfiguration - Apostles John & Peter 598 (1976) St John the Evangelist & St John Baptist:1996 Gold Coin V6 (2001) Cimabue, the Painter, 700th Anniversary of Death - St John 1231 (2002) |
