Rome: Churches of the Roman Forum
About the Forum:
The Roman Forum has long been known as the market place of Ancient Rome.
Most of the ruins you see here are pagan monuments or temples that date from from around 27 B.C. to 476 A.D. It is also, however, home to several churches dating back to the 6th Century.
Here are the five Churches of the Roman Forum, plus one prison:
1. The Church of Santa Maria Antiqua: Also called Old Saint Mary’s, this is the oldest church in the Forum. What was once the entry way erected by the Emperor Domitian to the imperial palace overhead, became a Church in the late Fifth Century. The church contains a unique collection of wall paintings spanning a period (6th to late 8th century) that is un-equalled in Rome (see gallery above) and elsewhere; they are of utmost importance for an understanding of the development of early medieval and Byzantine churches.
Abandoned in the 9th Century, it was largely forgotten until it was re-discovered in 1900. It then fell into disrepair during the later half of the 20th Century , but was restored through the efforts of the World Monuments Fund and re-opened to the public in 2015.
Click here for the official website of Santa Maria Antiqua (in English).
2. Another church of note is San Sebastiano al Palatino. This is a very small church located along a small lane in the Forum, just off the Via Sacre, the main street of the Forum. It is dedicated to Saint Sebastian, the late-third-century Christian martyr under the reign of Diocletian.
According to tradition, the church was built on the site of the saint’s “first” martyrdom with arrows, which proved unsuccessful. The archers left him for dead, but a Christian widow (Saint Irene) and nursed him back to health. Many paintings have as their subject “Saint Sebastian Tended by Saint Irene”.
He then presented himself before Diocletian, who condemned him to death by beating. His body, thrown into a sewer, was found by another pious woman, who dreamed that Sebastian told her to bury his remains near the catacombs. His relics are believed to be here in the Basilica of San Sebastiano.
We celebrate the Feast of Saint Sebastian on January 20.
There is no official website for the church.
Cosmas and Damian might have been born in Cyrrhus, modern-day Syria, and later moved to the Gulf of Iskenderun in Cilicia, modern-day Turkey, in the mid- to late-third century. They were twins, sons of a Christian mother and possibly a Christian father, who raised them in the faith. They were educated in the science of healing and became physicians.
At that time, physicians were often paid based on their reputations. Those who were highly skilled and successful often catered to the wealthy, receiving regular salaries from them. Others charged for services on a case-by-case basis. Because Cosmas and Damian were Christians, legend holds that they decided to evangelize the largely pagan community in which they lived by doing something extraordinary. They offered their healing services for free! This charitable work earned them the title “Anargyroi,” meaning “without silver.” Their counter-cultural practice caught the attention of their fellow citizens and drew many to the faith. Legends hold that they were excellent physicians who healed many, perhaps more through their prayers than by their science. One legend states that they were the first to transplant a leg to an amputee, which is often depicted in art.
In 284, Diocletian became the Roman emperor and embarked on many reforms within the empire. In 303, he began to issue a series of edicts that led to an empire-wide persecution and death of many Christians. Prior to that, persecutions were more localized and random. Around the year 287 or 303 (records are conflicting), the Roman Prefect Lysias of Cilicia arrested the twins Cosmas and Damian. Christians of prominence were often the first to be targeted.
As was the custom, the brothers were given the opportunity to publicly renounce their faith and honor the Roman gods to save their lives. They refused and were sentenced to death. Various legends surrounding their deaths state that they were first tortured in an attempt to get them to comply with the prefect’s wishes. However, they were miraculously preserved from suffering, sustaining no injuries. Multiple attempts were then made to kill them by drowning, fire, arrows, and stoning, but each attempt failed. Finally, Cosmas and Damian, along with three of their brothers, were beheaded.
It is believed that Cosmas and Damian were buried in the city of Cyrrhus, their possible birthplace. From that time on, they have been widely venerated. Many miraculous healings have been attributed to their intercession. Within a century of their martyrdom, churches were built in their honor in Jerusalem, Egypt, and Mesopotamia.
In the sixth century, Roman Emperor Justinian I honored these saints by restoring the city of their burial. Shortly after, the emperor received a miraculous cure through their intercession. In gratitude, he brought their relics to Constantinople where he built a Church in their honor that became a popular pilgrimage site. In that church, a custom began where the faithful would remain all night at their tomb in prayer, seeking miraculous cures to their ailments. Many miracles have been reported over the centuries.
Also in the sixth century, Pope Symmachus inserted the names of Cosmas and Damian into the Roman Canon (Eucharistic Prayer I) and Pope Felix IV repurposed a fourth-century pagan temple in Rome, within the Forum of Peace, renaming it the Basilica Santi Cosma e Damiano.
We do not know the exact historical details of the lives and martyrdoms of Saints Cosmas and Damian, their work and heroic martyrdom presents us with the virtues of courage and fidelity to Christ. These third century saints, believed to be brothers, converts to Christianity, were physicians who practiced medicine in the Roman province of Syria without charging people, which resulted in them being called “the holy unmercenaries”. In Greek, the Anargyroi (without silver).
They were martyred under the reign of the Emperor Diocletian.
There are many beautiful mosaics here, especially in the Apse of the Church (as shown): in the middle is Christ, with Saint Peter presenting Saint Cosmas and Saint Theodorus (right), and Saint Paul presenting Saint Damian and Pope Felix IV (who is shown holding a model of the church).
The Feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian is celebrated on September 26.
They normally have morning Mass daily, but call first to be certain, +39 (06) 692-0441.
Click here for the official website of the Basilica of Saints Cosmas & Damian in Rome.
4. Founded by Blessed Bonaventure of Barcelona, whose body lies here, the Convent of San Bonaventura al Palatino is surrounded by Stations of the Cross, in recognition of the fact that Blessed Leonoardo is the originator of the devotion to the Stations of the Cross. Retreats are offered here.
5. At the Eastern end of the Forum you will find the Church of Saint Frances of Rome (Santa Francesca Romana). Although built in the ninth Century, it did not get its current name until 1608, when Pope Paul V canonized Saint Frances of Rome, who had died in April, 1440. She was the first Benedictine Lay Oblate and her body lies under the main altar.
There is no official website for the church
6. Mamertine Prison, under the Church of Saint Joseph of the Carpenters (located just adjacent to the Forum). The prison in which Saints Peter and Paul were held before their executions.
Click here for our page describing the Mamertine Prison.
Photo credits: Wikipedia commons.
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