Lenten Station Church
Monday of Holy Week
St. Praxedes
(Santa Prassede)

The Basilica of St Praxedes, commonly known in Italian as Santa Prassede, is an early medieval titular church and minor basilica located near the papal basilica of St Mary Major. Dedicated in the 2nd century, Praxedes, who with her sister Pudentiana, was said to have provided comfort and care to Christians persecuted in the Roman Empire. The church incorporates mosaic decoration that mark it among the oldest churches in Rome. A church near this site was present since the fifth century, but the church in its current place and general layout was commissioned by Pope Hadrian I around the year 780 to house the relics (bones) of St Praxedes and St Pudentiana, the daughters of St Pudens, traditionally St Peter's first Christian convert in Rome. The church was built atop of the remains of a 4th century ancient Roman Thermae (imperial bath complex), privately owned by the family of Pudentiana. The basilica was enlarged and decorated by Pope Paschal I in 822. The most famous element of the church is the mosaic decorative program. Also noteworthy are ancient frescoes. Ascending a spiral staircase, one enters a small room, covered in scaffolding; on the wall is a fresco cycle, dating most likely from the 8th century. The frescoes probably depict the life cycle of the name saint of the church, Praxedes. St Praxedes also houses an alleged segment of the pillar or column upon which Jesus was flogged and tortured before his crucifixion in Jerusalem. The relic is alleged to have been discovered in Jerusalem in the early 4th century by St Helena, the mother of the emperor Constantine. The altar itself is a sight to behold. Built in 1730, it is very different from the rest of the church as it is framed by imposing red columns and crowned by an elaborate roof. Basilica of St Praxedes Exterior Views Basilica of St Praxedes Interior Views (Last Photo: Alleged segment of the pillar upon which Jesus was flogged and tortured) Little is known about Praxedes. St Praxedes and St Pudentiana were the daughters of St Pudens, traditionally St Peter's first Christian convert in Rome. Praxedes, who with her sister Pudentiana, are said to have provided comfort and care to Christians persecuted in the Roman Empire. According to legend, in the central nave of the church there is a well in which St Prasseda buried the bodies of over 2,000 Christian martyrs. The two female saints were murdered for providing Christian burial for early martyrs in defiance of Roman law. It is believed they died in 165 during the reign of Emperors Marcus and Antoninus II. The remains of Praxedes and Pudentiana were buried in the Catacomb of Priscilla, nicknamed the "queen of the catacombs" for its many martyrs and popes. On your next (or first) visit to Rome, be sure to include on your agenda a tour of St Praxedes. You are sure to discover fantastic aspects of this historic basilica. Reference: 'Santa Prassede' on WikiPedia.org 'Praxedes' on WikiPedia.org All Photographs are from Commons.WikiMedia.org Roman Basilicas - St Praxedes (Santa Prassede) 124 (1949) St Praxedes - 1655 oil painting attributed to Johannes Vermeer (The painting shows the saint squeezing a martyr's blood from a sponge into an ornate vessel)