in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker
STORY
The Russian Church in Rome is the oldest of the Russian churches in Italy. On the proposal of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs on October 6, 1803. Emperor Alexander the First signed Decree 06 establishing the "Greek-Russian Church" at the Roman Mission. A staff was approved with one priest and two "churchmen" (i.e. psalmists). The Holy Synod was commissioned by the spring of 1804. "prepare the church with all its needs." Initially, it was supposed to be consecrated in the name of St. the supreme Apostles Peter and Paul - probably in recognition of Rome as the owner of the relics of the Apostles and as the chair of St. Peter.
The struggle with Napoleon distracted Russia from the church "project": the temple at the mission was built only 20 years after the signing of the Highest Decree - in 1823. The single-altar church in the name of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker was placed in the embassy house, on Korso 518. Subsequently, the church wandered from one house to another: from 1828. she was in the Palazzo Odescalchi on the square. Most Holy Apostles, since 1836 to 1845 - in the Palazzo Doria Pamphili in Piazza Navona, since 1845. - in the Palazzo Giustiniani near the Pantheon, since 1901. - in the Palazzo Menotti in Piazza Cavour and since 1932. - in a modern room.
Like all other foreign churches, the Roman one was included in the St. Petersburg diocese, but in many ways, primarily financially, it depended on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was called the Ambassadorial.
He became the first permanent priest in 1827. to 1831 Hieromonk Irinarkh (in the world - Yakov Dm. Popov, died in 1877). who previously served in the house church of Prince. Golitsyna-Terdi in Bergamo.
He was replaced in 1836. hieromonk Gerasim (died 1849, buried in Naples), whom. was transferred to Rome from a temporarily abolished mission with a church in Florence. In I844r. in Venice about. Gerasim was consecrated to the rank of archimandrite. Since that time, priests from the "black" clergy in this rank were appointed as rectors of the Roman Church.
Since 1849 to 1852 the rector was Archimandrite Feofan (Avsenev; died in 1852, buried at Testaccio Stream). From the professors of the Kyiv Theological Academy, then from 1852. to 1855 - Archimandrite Jacob, former abbot of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery.
In 1860-1864. in Rome, Archimandrite Pallady was the abbot. He replaced him in 1864-1866. Archimandrite Porfiry (in the world - Georgy Iv. Popov; died in 1866, buried at Testaccio Stream) was, among other things, a spiritual writer - he wrote, in particular, "Letters from Rome", published in "Pravoslavny Obozreniye" .
To the next archimandrite. Guria (later - Archbishop of Tauride) had to experience the hardships of politics: in 1866. there was a temporary break in relations between Russia and the Papal States, as a result of which the Russian priest was exiled to Naples just before Easter.
In 1867 Imp. Alexander II approved the new staff of the Roman church, consisting of the archimandrite-priest, a deacon and two psalmists.
The following Roman abbots were: in 1871-77. Archimandrite Alexander (in the world - Andrei Kulchitsky), in 1878-80. - Archimandrite Nikolai, in 1880-81. - Archimandrite Mitrofan, in 1881-84. Archimandrite Nikon (in the world - Philip Yegorovich Bogoyavlensky), in 1884-97. - Archimandrite Pimen. (in the world - Dmitry Dmitrievich Blagovo; died in 1897, buried at Testaccio Stream). Archimandrite Pimen occupies a prominent place in the history of Russian culture. Highly educated, from an old noble family, he accepted in 1880. monastic tonsure. His main literary work, "Stories of a grandmother, collected by his grandson D. D. Blagovo", became a kind of monument to the whole Russian era. In Rome, Archimandrite Pimen, together with Ambassador N. N. Vlangali, set up a Russian hospice of St. Stanislaus (now the property of the Polish Catholic Church), collected a valuable library, and wrote his own memoirs about Moscow life.
Archimandrite Clement (in the world - Konstantin Vernikovsky), who replaced Archimandrite Pimen, initiated the construction of a Russian church. The idea of building a church in the "Roman Catholic See City" has been discussed for a long time. The beginning was laid by the widow of the court councilor Elizaveta Kovalska, who in 1880. appealed to the Holy Synod with a request to be allowed to build a temple on the square at her own expense. St. Lawrence (Verano), in order to "commemorate the spouse who served in Rome." The church authorities decided to make inquiries in Rome. The Russian ambassador, Baron Ikskul, responded to the request of the Holy Synod as follows: “A temple in the world center of the Roman Catholic faith must correspond to the high significance of Orthodoxy and, at least, not be inferior in size and elegance to non-Catholic churches that have been built in Italy since 1870 ... Kowalska's funds are not sufficient...". As a result, the widow did not receive permission.
Archimandrite Kliment (subsequently - Bishop Vinnitsa) from the very beginning of his rectorship declared "the need to have an Orthodox church that meets the dignity of Orthodoxy and the greatness of the Fatherland." Already in 1898. fundraising began, which in 1900. was officially authorized by Imp. Nicholas II, who made a "royal contribution" of 10 thousand rubles. To raise funds, Archimandrite Kliment even traveled to Moscow, where he managed to receive money from the Grand Dukes Sergei Alexandrovich and Mikhail Nikolaevich. from Moscow manufacturers and Siberian gold miners - a total of 265,000 ital. lire Count L.A. Bobrinsky (d. 1915) promised to donate his house and garden in the center of Rome (Villa Malta) for the construction of the temple.
Unfortunately, the new rector, appointed in 1902, is Archimandrite Vladimir (in the world - Vsevolod Putyata). began to take a different line: he questioned the value of the Bobrinsky site (Villa Malta went to the heirs of Bobrinsky, and then to the o.o. Jesuits) and suggested looking for another place, rejected the original candidacy, arch. M.T. Preobrazhensky, the builder of the Russian church in Florence, and began to promote his candidate, arch. N.Yu. Yang. Disputes divided the participants in church construction, but the matter still continued: in 1906. The Construction Committee was formed, which included Russian diplomats in Italy, members of the Russian colony and Archimandrite Vladimir.
The name of Archimandrite Vladimir is associated with the first attempt in the history of the Russian Church to establish a Western European episcopal see. The question was raised for the first time in 1897. Archbishop of Finland Anthony (Vadkovsky). later - St. Petersburg Metropolitan. Ambassador in Rome A.I. Nelidov actively supported the idea through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In the summer of 1907 Archimandrite Vladimir was consecrated Bishop of Kronstadt, vicar of the St. Petersburg diocese to manage all Russian Orthodox churches abroad (with the exception of Constantinople and Athens). Unfortunately, the Western European diocese, for unknown reasons, was abolished two years later. In 1911 ep. Vladimir left Rome.
In 1912-14 Archimandrite Dionysius served here, who, in particular, published "A Companion to a Russian Orthodox Pilgrimage in Rome" (1912). Under him, the construction business did not stop: in the fall of 1913. Imp. Nicholas II allowed the collection of donations throughout Russia, and in the summer of 1914. The State Bank opened a special account in the St. Petersburg office. The Construction Committee drew up an appeal to the Orthodox in Russia with pathetic words: "... The Throne of God is placed in a rented apartment."
Since 1914 to 1916 Archimandrite Philip, who was killed after the revolution in Russia, was the rector in the church. In 1915 he formed a new composition of the Construction Committee, headed by Prince. S.S. Abamelek-Lazarev. The prince imposed on the Committee another, already the third in a row, architect - Vincenzo Moraldi. The project of the Italian was subjected to examination and serious criticism by arch. V.A. Subbotin, who then supervised the construction of the Russian church in Bari. The committee nevertheless accepted the project and, with the assistance of Moraldi, acquired a plot of land on the embankment in the name of the Russian embassy. Tiber, near Ponte Margherita (Lungo Tevere Arnaldo da Brescia). Death in 1916 Abamelek-Lazarev and the events in Russia interrupted temple building (in 1924, the land was seized by the Soviet embassy, and then sold).
A new stage in the history of the church is associated with the appointment to Rome in 1916. Archimandrite Simeon (in the world - Sergey Grigoryevich Narbekov). According to Metropolitan Evlogy - "a good, thoughtful monk" ("Memoirs", Paris. 1947. p. 434) - Archimandrite Simeon served here for almost half a century - he died in 1969. and buried at the Testaccio. In the spring of 1921 Archimandrite Simeon founded the Roman parish, which included about a hundred full members, and organized the Parish Council, headed by the former General Consul G.P. Zabello. Thus, the house church at the Russian (in the future - Soviet) embassy, located in. administered by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. became independent, parochial. Queen Olga Konstantinovna of Ellinov from the House of Romanov entered the parish as an honorary member (in 1926 arch. Simeon buried her).
A major success was the approval of the arrival of the status of a legal entity, Ente Mogale, by royal decree of November 14, 1929. The next important event was the entry into the possession of the mansion by M.A. Chernysheva ("Palazzo Chernyshev"). Princess Chernysheva (d. 1919) bequeathed her house on Via Palestro to the Russian Church in 1897, but due to legal complications, the parish officially received the inheritance only in 1931. April 10, 1932 a newly built church was consecrated in it - the decoration was transferred from the Palazzo Menotti from piazza Cavour. The project of the church was drawn up by the architect Prince. V.A. Volkonsky and engineer F. Poggi. The construction of the new church was financially supported by Princess S.N. Baryatinsky (in memory of her late husband V.V. Baryatinsky), Princess S.V. Gagarin (in memory of the deceased parents), as well as the Queen of Italy Elena of Savoy (Montenegrin).
Initially, the Roman community entered the Western European Diocese organized by Metropolitan Evlogii with its center in Paris: by decree of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia, dated May 5, 1922. Metropolitan Evlogii was entrusted with the administration of Russian parishes abroad. Archimandrite Simeon was appointed dean of the Russian churches in Italy. However, in 1927, as Metropolitan Evlogy wrote, "out of personal devotion to Metropolitan Anthony," he came under his omophorion (the Synod of Bishops of the Russian Orthodox Church Abroad). Due to the special position of the Orthodox community in Rome, it was until 1985. directly subordinate to the Chairman of the Synod of Bishops (since 1950, the residence of the Synod has been located in New York).
In the post-revolutionary period, the community was helped a lot by Prince. M.P. Abamelek-Lazareva. Born Demidova (died 1955), who lived in Pratolino, near Florence. as well as at the late husband's villa in Rome (now Villa Abamelek is the residence of the Russian ambassador). The princess paid maintenance to the rector and some parishioners. In 1921 she received the honorary title of "temple guardian".
Some material support was also provided by the Serbian and Bulgarian embassies. World War II brought many "displaced persons" to Italy, whom the community helped in every possible way. Church life was also temporarily revived by the Orthodox from the Allied Forces. In 1950-60s. the Roman parish took care of the Latina refugee camp and the home of the Far Eastern refugees Villa Olanda near Turin.
Since 1946 In Rome, Archimandrite Simeon was co-served by Abbot (later Archimandrite) Kallistos (d. 1964), who had previously, since 1935. to 1945 was rector in St. Remo and Archimandrite Zosima (died 1960). When in the mid-1950s the aged archimandrite Simeon retired, archimandrite Kallistos became rector of the church. In 1965 Archpriest Viktor Ilyenko was appointed to St. Nicholas parish. In the 1960s The community was subordinate to the Rev. Anthony. Archbishop of Geneva.
In 1984 about. Victor was replaced by Fr. Mikhail Maklakov is an American by birth. The community came into conflict with the new rector because of his tough anti-ecumenical line and for a number of other material reasons, Fr. Mikhail Maklakov had to leave Rome.
The search for a stable canonical position brought the parish back under the omophorion of the Western European Archdiocese, headed by Archbishop George (Wagner) at that time. Decree of November 25, 1985. A Serbian priest, professor at the Theological Institute in Paris, Archpriest Nikolai Chernokrak, was temporarily appointed rector. In February 1987 Archpriest Mikhail Osorgin, who is also the rector of the Parisian Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos and St. Seraphim of Sarov, was appointed rector.
If by the early 1980s Since the Russian community in Rome mainly consisted of the old emigration, already from the mid-1980s, when Rome became one of the transit points for "new emigrants" (former Soviet citizens who were looking for new opportunities in the West), the number of parishioners began to grow rapidly. Many newcomers received Holy Baptism in Rome, got married, baptized their children, some settled in Italy, others kept in touch with the church in other places of residence.
In addition to Russian parishioners, the church feeds Serbs (the community traditionally celebrates Serbian Glory), Copts, Bulgarians, Romanians and Orthodox Italians. Before the construction of the Greek embassy church (Via Sardegna, 153), Greeks were also members of the parish.
DECORATION
When the church was built, the three-story mansion Chernysheva was significantly altered. Under the temple was assigned the right half of the first floor. The construction project was drawn up by engineer F. Poggi and architect Prince. V.A. Volkonsky, who cared a lot about this church building. The idea of building a cruciform church was adopted, but, unfortunately, the proximity of the neighboring site did not allow the construction of the left "branch" of the cross. From the side of the courtyard, a special extension was made with a semicircular apse for the front of the church (starting from the salt). Internal partitions were removed and arches were built, giving the hall a cozy look. The altar and pre-altar arches were lined with gold mosaics and green marble, giving the temple - especially with additional consecration - an elegant, festive look.
On the main staircase, at the entrance to the church, marble commemorative plaques were erected with an expression of prayerful gratitude to the organizers of the St. Nicholas Russian Church: Archimandrite Simeon, Princess M.A. Chernysheva and Princess S.N. Baryatinsky.
Although the church often moved from one place to another and was robbed, most of the old and valuable decoration still survived. The original decoration of the temple was the iconostasis, built in the 1830s, mainly at the expense of the ambassador to the Papal Court, Prince. G.I. Gagarin. The composition of the wooden iconostasis, painted to look like white marble and sometimes gilded, belongs to the architect. K.A. Tonu. The single-row high iconostasis in the classical style resembles the work of this master for the Kazan Cathedral in St. Petersburg. On the frieze of the iconostasis there is an inscription: "Blessed is He who comes in the Name of the Lord."
The iconostasis is crowned with a four-pointed cross. The images of the iconostasis are written in an academic manner. Of course, Bryullov's Royal Gates are of the greatest value.
In a letter dated September 27, 1838. Karl Bryullov wrote to the Society for the Encouragement of Artists: “Now all Russian artists who are in Rome have taken upon themselves the consent of the Messenger of God (Kn. G.I. Gagarin - M.T.) to donate their labors to decorate it, I got to write Royal doors". The artist painted six medallions on copper, about 35 cm in diameter. The most successful are the images of the Evangelists, made very expressively, although not according to icon-painting canons.
The local images of the Savior and the Mother of God are painted thin. Hoffmann, and in the image of the Virgin one can see the influence (at least compositional) of the "Sistine Madonna".
The right doors are decorated with a beautiful temple image of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker (artist F. Bruni), the left - with the image of St. Alexander Nevsky (artist A. Markov). Icons represent Heavenly patrons Imp. Nicholas the First, under which the iconostasis was built, and Imp. Alexander the First, under which the Roman temple was founded.
Above the Royal Doors, according to the canon, an image of the Last Supper (artist Gabertzetel) was hoisted, now placed above the altar vault. Before being transferred to Chernysheva's mansion, the iconostasis also had two side images - a gift from Vel. book. Elena Pavlovna - which had to be dismantled. These are the icons of St. Empress Helena (Academician I. Ksenofontov) and St. Great Martyr Catherine (Academician P. Pleshchanov), which have now been moved to the right side compartment.
In the High Place there used to be a picturesque image of the Crucifixion (artist Yanenko), now it is in the church sacristy.
In 1855 the iconostasis was restored and decorated at the expense of Archimandrite Jacob. At the beginning of the century, the headman N.A. Protopopov supplied the church at his own expense with a rich sacristy, utensils, and icons. He also wanted to arrange a chapel in the name of St. Alexis behind the right kliros in memory of the birth of the Heir, but the Holy Synod rejected this idea.
The attractions of the temple also include:
Honored Iberian Icon of the Mother of God, painted in 1901. monks of St. Athos in memory of the Emperor. Alexander III, with an inscription on the reverse side (near the kliros),
four icons from the workshop of art. Malyshev, painted in Sergiev Posad in 1893; two - St. Nicholas the Wonderworker and St. Alexander Nevsky, in icon cases (formerly stood on kliros, now in the right side compartment) and two large images of the Savior and the Mother of God (near the left wall),
parsuna of St. Joasaph of Belgorod, written before the glorification of the Saint (above the candle box),
a cross-reliquary, a gift from the Greek prince Christopher Georgievich (in the altar), a small icon of St. Princess Olga, a gift from its author, Princess Mary, daughter of the Queen of the Hellenes Olga Konstantinovna,
a large image of the Mother of God "Goalkeeper". Or "Portaitissa", the work of Athos monk Victor Karavogeorgas (on the back wall),
18 small icons of the Saints of Kyiv, in two common frames, in the Vasnetsov style, from the workshop of Plakhov (in the side compartment),
14 small icons - "holidays" in three common cruciform frames,
two stained-glass windows: on the left - the Savior of the Almighty, on the right - the Mother of God (along the edges of the salt), a large image of St. Sava of Serbia, the work of Lidia Rodionova, a gift from the Serb brothers Savva and Spiro Raskovich (on the left wall), the image of the Mother of God "The Sign" by Vadim Zaitsev-Lukomsky (in the right side compartment), a carved lectern of Greek work with the icon of the Mother of God (near the left wall).
For a century and a half of Eucharistic life, in all its manifestations, including material and artistic, a prayerful, warm atmosphere has established itself in the church.
CEMETERY "TESTACCCIO"
The history of the Russian church in Rome is inextricably linked with the Testaccio cemetery. otherwise called "Non-Catholic" (acattolico) and "Protestant". According to the regulations of the cemetery, approved in 1921. and revised in 1953. "non-Catholic citizens" are buried here, although members of the Catholic Church may also be buried here in the graves of their "non-Catholic" relatives.
The first Protestant burials near the Testaccio hill near the Pyramid appeared in the middle of the 18th century, but for a long time "non-Catholic" funerals could only take place at night, and the installation of crosses on the graves was prohibited (until 1870).
Permanent burials of Russian Orthodox subjects at the Testaccio began in the 1830s, after a permanent Russian church appeared in Rome.
Until the First World War, the cemetery was de facto managed by the German Embassy, which bought in 1894. new piece of land. In 1921 was constituted by a General Committee of representatives of "non-Catholic" countries, which elects
Cemetery administrator.
Priests of the Roman church are buried in the cemetery; Archimandrites Feofan (d. 1852), Porfiry (d. 1866), Pimen (d. 1897), Zosima (d. 1960), Callist (d. 1964), Simeon (d. 1969), archpriest X. A. Flerov (died 1927), psalmists A.G. Rozhdestvensky (died 1849), P. Zotikov (died 1855). P.F. Dolotsky (died in 1893): elders: P.V. Den (dec. 1971), A.A. Myasoedov (d. 1988), donors: M.A. Chernysheva (died 1919), the Zabello family, the Baryatinsky family, representatives of prominent Russian families: the Gagarins. Golitsyn. Volkonsky, Yusupov, Baryatinsky, Meshchersky, Stroganov, Trubetskoy, Obolensky, Shcherbatov, Sheremetev and others, generals: A.A. Karneev (died 1840, I.F. Paskevich (died 1843), N.A. Wrangel (died 1927), I.P. Astakhov (died 1935), P.P. Bogaevsky (died . 1961), diplomats: N. V. Muravyov (d. 1908), G. G. Lermontov (d. 1908), V. V. Zhadovsky (d. 1916), A. N. Kuprensky (d. 1923), artists: M. Tamarinsky (d. 1841), I. S. Serebyanin (d. 1842), P. Petrovsky (d. 1842), K. M. Klemchenko (d. 1849), K. P. Bryullov (d. 1852), K. V. Grigorovich (d. 1855), A. I. Ivanov (d. 1863), P. N. Orlov (d. 1865), I. P. Panfilov (d. 1876), S. P. Postnikov (d. 1880), Ya. G. Khapalov (d. 1886), P. A. Svedomsky (d. 1904), A. A. Svedomsky (died 1911) and others, architect S.A. Ivanov (died 1877), sculptor P.A. Stavasser (died 1850), opera singer F.P. Komissarzhevsky (died 1905) , Decembrist Count Z. G. Chernyshev (d. 1862), daughter of the poet P. P. Vyazemskaya (d. 1835), daughter of the writer T. L. Tolstaya-Sukhotin (d. 1950), poet Vyach. Ivan ov (dec. 1949) and his daughter Lydia (d. 1985) - both Catholics - and many others.
At various times, through the efforts of the Roman parish, three common (“fraternal”) Russian graves (Zona terza, Riquadro secondo) were arranged, in which dozens of emigrants who did not have sufficient funds to obtain separate graves were buried.
There are also many Russian graves in the city's two Roman cemeteries: Verano (S. Lorenzo) and Prima Porta.
Address of the cemetery "Testaccio": 6, Via Caio Cestio (metro "Piramide"), tel. 06-57.41.900, opening hours - from 8h. until 12 noon and from 3 p.m. until 17h.
SERVICE SCHEDULE
Church services are performed:
on Saturdays - vigil at 18h.
on Sundays - Divine Liturgy at 10:30 a.m. and vespers at 6 pm.
on weekdays, Thursdays and Great Feasts - Divine Liturgy at 10 a.m. with Vespers the day before at 6 pm.
PATRONAL HOLIDAYS
Commemoration of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker, "Nikola Winter", December 19 (6).
Transfer of the relics of St. Nicholas from the World of Lycian to Bar-grad, "Nikola of the Summer", May 22(9). Of particular importance is the presence of the relics of the Heavenly patron of the community in Italy, in Bari, where pilgrimages are sometimes arranged. May 8, 1990 parish priest, Fr. Mikhail Osorgin, for the first time after the "separation" of the Churches, celebrated the Orthodox Liturgy on the throne, where the relics of the great Saint of God rest.
Rector
Archpriest Mikhail Georgievich Osorgin, who is also the rector of the Church of the Intercession of the Most Holy Theotokos and St. Seraphim of Sarov in Paris, and also feeds the house church of the Holy Equal-to-the-Apostles Great Kings Constantine and Helena in Clamart (France).
The Roman Church is part of the Archdiocese of the Orthodox Russian Churches of Western Europe with diocesan administration in Paris, 12, rue Daru, 75008, Paris, FRANCE, headed by Archbishop Sergius (Konovalov). The archdiocese is subordinate to the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople.
COMMUNITY HEAD
Maria Alexandrovna Ferzen, she is also the vice-chairman of Ente Morale.
Maria Fersen, 3, Piazza Gucchi, 00152 ROMA.
ADDRESS
Chiesa Ortodossa Russa di San Nicola Taumaturgo
Via Palestro, 71 00 185 ROMA, ITALIA
(a few minutes walk from Stazione Termini heading north along Via Marghera).
Tel: 06-44.50.729
St. Nicholas Orthodox parish in Rome will be grateful to everyone. who can help the church. Donations are accepted to the bank account:
CREDITO ITALIANO, Agenzia 15
Via della Conciliazione, 6 00193 Roma
Conto No. 22509/00 - Intestato a: Chiesa Ortodossa Russa in Roma.
OPPURE
c/c POSTALE 12652004
CHIESA ORTODOSSA RUSSA DI ROMA
DI SAN NICOLA TAUMATURGO
VIA PALESTRO 71
00185 ROMA RM
Sources and literature:
Archive of the Russian Church in Rome (parish registers, minutes of meetings, correspondence, etc.).
Synodal funds of the Russian State Historical Archive, (formerly TsGIA USSR).
"Orthodox Churches and Russian Institutions Abroad". Comp. arch. A.P. Maltsev. Berlin, 1906
M. Rudnev. "Orthodox Russian Churches in Western Europe" / Tula Diocesan Gazette, Nos. 35-37, 1907.
I. Bocharov, Yu. Glushakova. "Karl Bryullov. Italian finds". M. 1977
J. Beck-Friis, // cimitero acattolico ill Roinn, Malimo, 1956.
The Orthodox Russian Church in Rome is the oldest, in terms of the time of its establishment, of the Russian churches in Italy. On October 6, 1803, at the suggestion of the Collegium of Foreign Affairs, Emperor Alexander I signed a nominal decree on the opening of a "Greek-Russian church" at the Roman diplomatic mission. At the same time, a staff was approved with one priest and two psalmists. The Holy Synod was instructed by the spring of 1804 "to prepare the church with all its needs." Initially, it was supposed to be consecrated in the name of the Holy Primate Apostles Peter and Paul - probably due to the fact that the relics of the Holy Apostles are kept in Rome. However, a temporary break in diplomatic relations with the Papal States and the Napoleonic Wars prevented the implementation of the decree: the temple at the mission was opened only three decades later...
He performed the first Orthodox services in Rome periodically in 1827-33. hieromonk Irinarkh (in the world Yakov Dm. Popov, + 1877), who first served in the house church of Princess E. Golitsyna-Terzi in Bergamo, and since 1823 - in the embassy church in Florence. In 1833, this remarkable preacher, who ended his life in the rank of Archbishop of Ryazan, was appointed to the embassy church in Athens, and he left Italy forever.
In 1836, the abolished church at the Russian diplomatic mission in Florence was transferred, together with its rector, hieromonk Gerasim, to Rome. It is this date that is considered the beginning of the life of the local Russian parish. The one-altar church, consecrated in the name of St. Nicholas of Myra the Wonderworker, the heavenly patron of the then reigning sovereign, was originally placed in the embassy house in the Palazzo Doria Pamphili on Piazza Navona (subsequently, the house church moved more than once, located in rented premises: in the Palazzo Giustiniani near the Pantheon; in the Palazzo Odescalchi in Corso Umberto; in the Palazzo Menotti in Piazza Cavour).
Like all other foreign churches, the Roman one was included in the St. Petersburg diocese, but in many respects, primarily financially, it depended on the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and was called "ambassadorial".
In 1843 in Venice, Fr. Gerasim was consecrated to the rank of archimandrite, and from that time on, the Holy Synod appointed priests from the "black" clergy as rectors of the Roman church, in this rank.
Since 1849, after the death of Fr. Gerasim, until 1852 the rector of the church was the professor of the Kyiv Theological Academy, Archimandrite Feofan (Avsenev; + 1852, buried in the Testaccio cemetery), then from 1852 to 1855 - Archimandrite Jacob, who was formerly hegumen of the Kirillo-Belozersky monastery.
From 1855 to 1860, Archimandrite Zephanius (in the world Stepan Sokolsky) served here, later - Bishop of Turkestan and Tashkent (+ 1877).
In 1860-64. in Rome, Archimandrite Pallady was the abbot. Archimandrite Porfiry, who replaced him in 1864 (in the world Georgy Iv. Popov; + 1866, buried in the Testaccio cemetery) was, among other things, a spiritual writer - his pen, in particular, belongs to Letters from Rome, published in the Pravoslavny review".
The next archimandrite, Guriy (later Archbishop of Tauride), had to experience the hardships of politics at a high level: in 1866 there was another break in relations between Russia and the Papal State, as a result of which the Russian priest was expelled from Rome just before Easter to the Kingdom of Naples. The life of the Russian Church temporarily stopped...
In 1867, Alexander II approved the new staff of the Roman church, consisting of the archimandrite-rector, a deacon and two psalmists, but the Russian clergy were sent to the banks of the Tiber only after the Savoy troops and the Garibaldians entered the Eternal City in 1870, and he became the capital of a new, united Italy.
After that, the local abbots were: in 1871-77. Archimandrite Alexander (in the world Andrei Kulchitsky); in 1878-80 - Archimandrite Nicholas; in 1880-81 Archimandrite Mitrofan; in 1881-1884 - Archimandrite Nikon (in the world Philip Igorevich Bogoyavlensky); in 1884-1897 - Archimandrite Pimen (in the world Dmitry Dmitrievich Blagovo; +1897, buried in the Testaccio cemetery). Archimandrite Pimen occupies a prominent place in the history of Russian culture. Highly educated, from an old noble family, he received monastic tonsure in 1880. His main literary work, "The stories of a grandmother, collected by her grandson D. D. Blagovo", became a kind of monument to an entire historical era. In Rome, Archimandrite Pimen, together with Ambassador N. N. Vlangali, set up a Russian hospice of St. Stanislaus (now the property of the Polish Catholic Church), collected a valuable library, and wrote memoirs about his life in Moscow.
who replaced Fr. Pimen, Archimandrite Kliment (in the world Konstantin Bernikovsky) initiated the construction of a Russian church. The beginning of this was laid by the widow of a court councilor, Elizaveta Kovalskaya, who lived in Italy, who applied to the Holy Synod in 1880 with a request to be allowed to build a church at her expense in the cemetery of St. Lawrence in Verano, in order to "honor the memory of her husband who served in Rome." The church authorities decided to make inquiries, and the Russian ambassador, Baron Ikskul, responded to a request from the Holy Synod as follows: “A temple in the world center of the Roman Catholic faith must correspond to the high significance of Orthodoxy and, at least, not be inferior in size and elegance to non-Catholic churches, which have been built in Italy since 1870 ... Kovalska's funds are not sufficient ... "As a result, the widow did not receive permission (the Russian ambassador was a Lutheran, and with no less efficiency prevented the construction of an Orthodox church in Florence).
Archimandrite Kliment (later - Bishop of Vinnitsa) from the very beginning of his rectorship declared "the need to have an Orthodox church that meets the dignity of Orthodoxy and the greatness of the Fatherland." Already in 1898, fundraising began, which in 1900 was officially authorized by Nicholas II, who made a "royal contribution" of 10 thousand rubles. In total, 265,000 Italian liras were collected. Count L. A. Bobrinsky (+ 1915) promised to donate his house and garden in the center of Rome (Villa Malta) for the construction of the temple.
The new rector appointed in 1902, Archimandrite Vladimir (in the world Vsevolod Putyata), questioned the value of the Bobrinsky site (Villa Malta went to the heirs of Bobrinsky, and then to the Jesuit fathers) and suggested looking for another place. He rejected the initial candidacy of the architect, M. T. Preobrazhensky, the builder of the Russian church in Florence, and began to promote his own candidate, the architect A. Yu. Yagn. Disputes divided the participants in church construction, but the matter still continued: in 1906, a Construction Committee was formed, which included Russian diplomats in Italy, members of the Russian colony, and Archimandrite Vladimir.
The name of Archimandrite Vladimir is associated with the first attempt in the history of the Russian Church to establish a Western European episcopal see. This question was first raised in 1897 by Archbishop Anthony of Finland (Vadkovsky), later Metropolitan of St. Petersburg. Ambassador to Italy A. I. Nelidov, through the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, actively supported the idea. The establishment of such a cathedra in Rome could “shine brighter the apostasy of the Pope and restore the “fulfillment of the Church,” which is spoken of in the prayer behind the ambo,” wrote the rector of the Florentine church, Fr. Vladimir Levitsky. At the same time, a practical goal was pursued - the unification of the Russian clergy abroad.
In the summer of 1907, Archimandrite Vladimir was consecrated bishop of Kronstadt, vicar of the St. Petersburg diocese, and became in charge of all Russian churches abroad (with the exception of Constantinople and Athens). In 1911, by order of the Holy Synod, he left the banks of the Tiber, and the young Western European diocese was abolished.
Bishop Dionysius (Valedinsky). In the period 1912-1914. was rector of the Roman parish. In the period 1912-14. Archimandrite Dionisy (Valedinsky) served in the Roman church, who, in particular, published Companion to a Russian Orthodox Pilgrimage in Rome (1912; republished in 1999). Under him, the construction business did not stop: in the fall of 1913, Nicholas II allowed the collection of donations throughout Russia, and in the summer of 1914, the State Bank opened a special account in the St. Petersburg office. Subsequently, Archimandrite Dionisy became the primate of the Orthodox Church in Poland.
The second priest at the turn of the 19th-20th centuries was Fr. Christopher Flerov.
From 1914 to 1916, Archimandrite Philip, who was killed after the revolution in Russia, was the rector of the church. In 1915, he formed a new composition of the Construction Committee, with Prince S. S. Abamelek-Lazarev at the head. The prince imposed on the Committee another, already the third, architect - Vincenzo Moraldi. The project of the Italian was subjected to examination and serious criticism by the architect V.A. Subbotin, who then oversaw the construction of the Russian church in Bari. At the same time, another project was drawn up by a prominent connoisseur of ancient Russian architecture V.A. Pokrovsky. In the end, the committee nevertheless accepted Moraldi's project and, with his assistance, acquired a site on the Tiber embankment, near Ponte Margherita (Lungotevere Arnaldo da Brescia) in the name of the Russian embassy. The death of Prince Abamelek-Lazarev in 1916 and the events in Russia interrupted the temple construction that had begun (in 1924 the land was seized by the Soviet embassy and then sold).
Archimandrite Simeon (Narbekov). Rector of the church from 1916 to 1969. A new stage in the history of the church is associated with the appointment to Rome in 1916 of Archimandrite Simeon (in the world Sergey Grigoryevich Narbekov). Father Simeon served here for half a century: he died in 1969 (buried in the Testaccio cemetery).
In the spring of 1921, Archimandrite Simeon founded the Roman parish, which included about a hundred full members, and organized the Parish Council, headed by the former Consul General G. P. Zabello. Thus, the house church at the Russian (in the future - Soviet) embassy, which was under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, became an independent, parish church. According to L.V. Ivanova, the community at that time consisted "mainly of old monarchist aristocrats." Queen Olga Konstantinovna of Ellinov from the House of Romanov also entered the parish as an honorary member (she died in 1926; her funeral was Archimandrite Simeon).
A special event for the Russian parish in Rome was the approval of the status of a legal entity for the parish by royal decree of November 14, 1929. The next important event was the entry into the possession of the parish's mansion by M. A. Chernysheva ("Palazzo Czernycheff").
Princess Maria Chernysheva (+ 1919) bequeathed her house on Via Palestro to the Russian Church as early as 1897, but due to legal complications, the parish officially inherited only in 1931. On April 10, 1932, a newly built church was consecrated in it - the decoration was transferred from the Palazzo Menotti from Piazza Cavour. The project of the church was drawn up by the architect Prince V. A. Volkonsky and the engineer F. Poggi. Princess S. N. Baryatinsky (in memory of her late husband V. V. Baryatinsky), Princess S. V. Gagarina (in memory of her late parents), and Queen of Italy Elena Chernogorskaya financially helped to build a new church.
By decree of St. Tikhon, Patriarch of All Russia, dated May 5, 1922, Metropolitan Evlogy was entrusted with the administration of Russian parishes abroad. At the same time, Archimandrite Simeon became the dean of the Russian churches in Italy. However, in 1927, as Metropolitan Evlogy wrote, "out of personal devotion to Metropolitan Anthony", he came under the omophorion of the Synod of Bishops of the ROCOR (Russian Orthodox Church Outside of Russia). Due to the special position of the Orthodox community in Rome, until 1985 it was directly subordinate to the Chairman of the Synod.
In the post-revolutionary period, the community was helped a lot by Princess M. P. Abamelek-Lazareva, nee Demidov Princess San Donato (+ 1955), who lived in Pratolino, near Florence, and also at the late husband’s villa in Rome (now Villa Abamelek is the residence of the Russian ambassador) . The princess paid maintenance to the rector and several parishioners. In 1921, she received the honorary title of "temple patron". Some material support was also provided by the Serbian and Bulgarian embassies.
The Second World War brought to Italy many "displaced persons" (DP), whom the community helped in every possible way. Church life was also temporarily revived by the Orthodox from the Allied Forces.
Since 1946 Archimandrite Simeon was co-served in Rome by Abbot (later Archimandrite) Kallistos, who was rector at San Remo from 1935 to 1945, and Archimandrite Zosima (+ 1960). When in the mid-1950s the aged Archimandrite Simeon retired, Archimandrite Kallistos became rector of the church. This priest was also Dean of the Russian parishes of ROCOR and Vice-Chairman of the Roman Committee of the Red Cross. Hegumen Kallistos regularly held divine services in the camps of "displaced persons", in Trieste, in Latino, in Naples and near Turin (Villa Olanda) and distributed allowances and donations among the interned compatriots. After his death in 1964, Archpriest Viktor Ilyenko, a graduate of the Irkutsk Theological Seminary, was appointed to St. Nicholas Parish in 1966 church watchman). In the 1960s and 70s The community was under the omophorion of the Rev. Anthony, Archbishop of Geneva.
If you are going to Rome, you are surely preparing for an encounter with ancient history and beautiful art. After all, in Rome, before the astonished travelers, the history of the formation of the entire European civilization comes to life. Moreover, numerous architectural, sculptural and artistic masterpieces do not necessarily “hide” in or palaces. Works of art can be found in almost any part of the city, in almost any lane! And the special "custodians" of the cultural and historical treasures of the Eternal City are the cathedrals and churches of Rome. You can find everything in them - the richest history, and expressive architecture, and unique paintings and sculptural masterpieces, and, of course, priceless Christian relics. We invite you to take a look at the most famous and interesting basilicas and churches of Rome with us and find out what treasures they hold.
Among the many Roman churches, the Catholic Church highlights several of the most significant. These are the so-called "papal basilicas" (Basilica Papale), which have a special status in the Catholic world and are directly subordinate to the Pope. Officially, they are part of the Vatican, wherever they are geographically located. Let's "look" into some of them - the most famous and interesting for tourists.
St. Peter's Basilica in the Vatican is the largest Christian cathedral in Rome and one of the largest in the world. But he is famous not only for his grandiose size. The architectural harmony and luxury of the decoration of the temple are amazing. And this is not surprising, because such masters as Michelangelo (the author of the famous dome of the cathedral), Bernini (the creator of the amazing colonnade in the square), Raphael, Bramante and many other outstanding architects, sculptors and painters worked on the construction and decoration of the cathedral.
St. Peter's Basilica is the heart of the Vatican. And the heart of the cathedral itself is the tomb of St. Peter the Apostle. It is above it that the main altar of the basilica is located, it was because of it and for its sake that a temple was built on this site in the 4th century. In addition, St. Peter's Basilica houses many other relics and, of course, unique works of art.
The Cathedral of St. Peter is so large that, according to legend, a whole army of soldiers was somehow "lost" in it - they say that the commander who was late for the service simply did not notice them. What can we say about tourists who find it so difficult to understand all the variety of interesting artifacts of the cathedral! In order not to get lost in the cultural and historical richness of this temple, explore it with our audio guide! We have created a fascinating audio tour "" so that St. Peter's Cathedral opens up for you, reveals some of its secrets, stories and legends. Download the Travelry guide with audio guide so you don't miss out on the highlights and most important relics of St. Peter's Basilica.
Opening hours of St. Peter's Basilica: from October 1 to March 31 - 7.00-18.30 (closed on January 1 and 6); from April 1 to September 30 - 7.00-19.00.
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The Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, or the Lateran Basilica of St. John, is one of the first Christian churches in the Eternal City. This majestic cathedral was founded in the 4th century, under Emperor Constantine the Great. It is also called the "archibasilica", that is, the main basilica. Yes, yes, it is this cathedral of Rome that, according to its official status, is the main one in the Catholic world, even more important than St. Peter's Cathedral in the Vatican! After all, it was here, in Laterano, that the residence of the popes was once located. And right up to 1870, the erection to the papal rank took place in this cathedral.
The interior of this grandiose basilica impresses with its grandeur and solemnity. An attentive traveler will find a lot of interesting things in it, especially if with him. Mosaic floor, beautiful statues of the apostles, a 13th century mosaic behind the central altar, a 16th century organ, magnificent reliquaries…. Important shrines are kept in the temple - the heads of the holy apostles Peter and Paul, as well as part of the table at which Christ and the apostles ate the Meal at the Last Supper.
Address: Piazza di S. Giovanni in Laterano, 4
Opening hours: 7.00 - 18.30 (without lunch).
Learn many interesting facts and stories about the Lateran Basilica with the audio tour " ”, which is available in our guide to Rome for iPhone.
There is a beautiful legend about the construction of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore. This fragment of ours is just about him:
Built in the 4th century, Santa Maria Maggiore is not only one of the oldest, but also the fourth largest church in Rome. However, despite its grandeur, the cathedral keeps very touching relics. Among them are fragments of a wooden manger, in which, according to legend, the baby Jesus lay. Another shrine of the temple is the ancient miraculous image of the Virgin. It is believed that it was written by the holy evangelist Luke. The icon is called “The Salvation of the Roman People”, which is associated with one of the many miracles - the salvation of Rome from the plague, which took place in the 6th century through prayers to the Mother of God.
Of particular note in the cathedral are the ancient mosaics of the 5th century, the luxurious decoration of the side chapels (especially the Borghese chapel), the ancient mosaic floor, the majestic coffered ceiling of the 15th century and many other amazing and beautiful details that make up the majestic appearance of the temple.
Above the cathedral rises a 75-meter Romanesque bell tower, which is considered the highest in Rome.
Address: Piazza di S. Maria Maggiore, 42
Opening hours: 7.00 - 18.45 (without lunch).
If you are going to visit the Church of Santa Maria Maggiore and are traveling around Rome with your iPhone, we recommend downloading the audio tour " ”, in which a detailed and interesting story is dedicated to this cathedral.
One of the main papal basilicas in Rome. The basilica was founded during the reign of Emperor Constantine in the 4th century on the resting place of the holy Apostle Paul. It is this most important Christian relic that attracts many pilgrims to this day. In the courtyard of the temple (created back in the 13th century), many other shrines are kept. And the luxurious interior of the basilica impresses with an abundance of beautiful works of art.
Address: Piazzale di San Paolo, 1
Opening hours: 7.00-18.30.
One of the oldest Roman churches, built in the 3rd century, even before the official adoption of Christianity! This church is considered the first official Christian church in Rome. The basilica acquired its Baroque façade at the beginning of the 17th century. However, despite a number of reconstructions, the elements of medieval decoration are well preserved in the church. In particular, the beautiful mosaics of the 12th century that adorn the facade of the church, as well as the frescoes of Pietro Cavallini inside.
Address: Piazza di Santa Maria in Trastevere
Opening hours: 7.30 - 21.00, in August 8.00-12.00 and 16.00-21.00.
The Church of San Clemente is also one of the oldest in Rome. Looking around this church, you can study different eras, plunging deep into the centuries. The fact is that under the main building of the XI-XII century (which in itself deserves attention), an older church, built back in 385, has been preserved. And even lower, under the early Christian basilica, you can see a piece of antiquity! At the lowest level, the ruins of a pagan temple dating from the 3rd century and the ruins of an ancient city from the 1st century are preserved - what remains after the great fire of 64, attributed to Nero. An underground river still flows there - part of the ancient Roman aqueduct.
To descend to the lower levels, you must purchase a ticket.
Address: Via Labicana, 95
Opening hours: weekdays 9.00-12.30 and 15.00-18.00; Sundays and holidays 12.00 - 18.00.
Among the oldest churches in Rome, the church of St. Pudenziana also stands out. It was built on the site where once stood the house of the Roman senator Puda, the father of Saint Pudentiana. The remains of an ancient 1st century house belonging to Pud (Palazzo di San Pudente) are located under the church. It was in this house that the first Christian community of Rome gathered. Senator Pud received the apostles Peter and Paul, as well as other believers, in his house. An ancient tradition calls him "a friend of the apostles." Subsequently, Pud himself was numbered among the 70 holy apostles. And the church is dedicated to one of his daughters - St. Pudentiana.
In the second century, baths were built on the site of the Puda house. And at the end of the 4th century, after the adoption of Christianity, one of the first Roman churches appeared here. The church has been rebuilt several times over the centuries. In the church, the ancient mosaic above the main altar in the semi-dome is remarkable - it dates from the end of the 4th - the beginning of the 5th century and is considered one of the oldest in Rome. In addition, old paintings and frescoes attract attention.
Now the Church of Santa Pudenziana is the national church of the Philippine community in Rome.
Address: Via Urbana, 160
Opening hours: 8.30 - 12.00 and 15.00 - 18.00 (break from 12 to 15.00)
The church was built in the 9th century by Pope Paschal and is dedicated to Pudenciana's sister, another daughter of Pud, Saint Praxeda. According to legend, together with her sister Pudenziana, Saint Praxeda sheltered persecuted Christians in her house (they lived during times of cruel persecution, in the 1st century), took care of them, and buried the martyrs. The relics of the holy sisters rest in the underground crypt of the church.
In this temple, one cannot pass by the amazing chapel of St. Zeno. It is decorated with amazing colorful mosaics created by Byzantine craftsmen who took refuge in Rome from iconoclastic persecution.
On the right side of the Zeno Chapel there is a great Christian relic - "Colonna della Flagellazione", the upper part of the pillar to which Jesus Christ was tied during the scourging. This relic was brought in 1223 from Constantinople. Two other parts of the same pillar are in Jerusalem and in Constantinople.
Address: Via di Santa Prassede, 9/a
Opening hours: weekdays 7.30 - 12.00 and 16.00 - 18.30, weekends 8.00 - 12.00 and 16.00 - 18.30.
http://www.romaspqr.it/
We visit all three churches mentioned above - San Clemente, Santa Praxeda and Santa Pudenziana - in an audio tour " » with travel guide for iPhone Travelry. In it, we recall both the amazing history, and the shrines of these places, and their cultural treasures.
The church dedicated to St. Cecilia, the patroness of music, has existed since the 5th century and, according to legend, was built on the site of the house in which the saint lived. It is impossible to ignore and pass by the sculpture of Stefano Maderno, amazing in its beauty and tenderness, depicting Saint Cecilia as, according to legend, she was discovered when she was uncovered her relics.
The church is also decorated with ancient mosaics of the 9th century, frescoes by Pietro Cavallini, a Gothic canopy of the 13th century. And in the crypt of the basilica (underground part) you can see a piece of antiquity - the remains of ancient buildings have been preserved there. In addition, under the altar is a sargophagus with the relics of St. Cecilia.
Address: Piazza di Santa Cecilia, 22
Opening hours: 10.00-13.00 and 16.00-19.00.
A visit to the basilica is free, the entrance to the underground crypt is € 2.50.You can see the medieval frescoes by Pietro Cavallini from 10.00 to 12.30 (€ 2.50).
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The Church of Santa Maria della Victoria, built in the 17th century, houses the famous masterpieces of Baroque art. One of them is a sculptural composition by Bernini " Ecstasy of Saint Teresa". Looking at this amazing sculpture, one involuntarily recalls the words of Bernini himself: “I defeated marble and made it flexible like wax, and in this way I was able to combine sculpture with painting to a certain extent.” It sounds bold, but… look at the work of this sculptor and decide for yourself how true this statement is.
Also in the interior of the church is remarkable cornaro chapel- its design is distinguished by deliberate theatricality, characteristic of the Baroque style.
Address: Via XX Settembre, 17
Opening hours: 8.30-12.00 and 15.30-18.00
The Basilica of Santa Maria del Popolo, in its current form, is an example of the Roman Renaissance and modestly houses many cultural treasures. Among them - paintings by Caravaggio with scenes from the life of the holy apostles: "The Conversion of the Apostle Paul" and "The Crucifixion of St. Peter." They are in the Cherazi Chapel.
Also in the church you can see the sculptures of the Baroque master Bernini, painting according to sketches Raphael, frescoes Pinturicchio, work Sebastiano del Piombo and other famous artists.
Address: Piazza del Popolo, 12
Opening hours: all days except Friday and Saturday 7.30 - 12.30, 16.00 - 19.00, Fri. and Sat. 7.30 – 19.00 (without lunch).
We visit the Church of Santa Maria del Popolo in an audio tour " ". Exploring the city with an audio guide, you will not miss the most interesting places and learn the most interesting stories about it.
In the church of San Luigi dei Francesi, built in the 16th century, you can see famous paintings of mature Caravaggio. As many as three outstanding works of this master of light and shadow are in the Contarelli Chapel, in the left nave: "The Calling of the Apostle Matthew", "St. Matthew and the Angel", "The Martyrdom of St. Matthew". In addition, it is worth paying attention to the frescoes. Domenichino.
The Church of San Luigi dei Francesi is included in the route of the audio tour " » with travel guide for iPhone Travelry. In it, we will talk about the amazing canvases of the painter, and about the history and features of the church, and about many other interesting places in the center of Rome.
Address: Piazza di San Luigi dei Francesi, 5
Opening hours: 10.00-12.30, after a break 15.00-19.00, closed on Thursdays after lunch.
The Church of San Pietro in Vincoli, or "St. Peter in Chains", was built in the 5th century specifically to store an important shrine - the chains of the Apostle Peter. The iron chains with which Saint Peter was bound when he was kept in custody for preaching about Christ are kept in a special reliquary under the main altar.
And in the 16th century, a masterpiece by the famous master of the Renaissance appeared here. Michelangelo – Moses sculpture. For her sake, many art lovers flock to this church. The sculptor conceived a grandiose composition, however, he failed to fully realize it, since Michelangelo was "distracted" to work on St. Peter's Cathedral in the Vatican. The project was completed by the master's students, but even one mighty sculpture of Moses, created by his hands, is worthy of attention. In addition, the frescoes of the masters of the 17th and 18th centuries are interesting in the church.
The temple is located a little away from the well-known hiking trails, and therefore not all independent tourists manage to find it. But for this purpose, it was created to help travelers quickly find their way around the city and find places of interest to them, as well as learn a lot of interesting things about them (currently the application is only available for iPhone).
We tell more about the history and treasures of this church, as well as about the famous creation of Michelangelo in the audio tour "".
Address: Piazza S. Pietro in Vincoli, 4a
Opening hours: from April to September 8.00-12.30, 15.00-19.00; from October to March 8.00-12.30, 15.00-18.00.
Jean-Christophe BENOIST , Wikimedia Commons
The Basilica of Santa Maria Sopra Minerva, built in the 13th century, is considered the only Gothic church in Rome. In the basilica you can see the frescoes by Filippo Lippi and the sculpture of Christ by Michelangelo (1521)
Address: Piazza della Minerva, 42
Opening hours: 07.10-19.00, Sun. 08.00-12.00 and 14:00-19.00
Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva we visit on a guided tour " » with Travelry audio guide.
The magnificent Pantheon is not only a unique architectural and engineering monument of antiquity, but also a Christian church. Once, back in 27 BC, a pagan sanctuary was built here. The temple acquired its famous architectural appearance after perestroika in the 2nd century. It was then that an amazing dome with a hole (“eye of the Pantheon”) and a round building appeared - the rotunda. Until now, this grandiose building is considered a miracle of engineering and a masterpiece of ancient architecture.
And in 609, the pagan “temple of all gods” turned into the Church of the Mother of God “At the Martyrs” (Santa Maria ad Martyres). Probably, thanks to this, he survived to this day almost unchanged. Why "At the Martyrs"? The name is due to the fact that 28 carts with the relics of the holy martyrs were transported here from the Roman catacombs. And in later centuries, the Pantheon became the tomb of famous people, among them Raphael, the first king of United Italy, Vittorio Emmanuele II and his son Umberto I. The second name of the church, Santa Maria della Rotonda, is associated with the round shape of the building.
Address: Piazza della Rotonda
Opening hours: Mon.-Sat. 08.30-19.30, Sun. 09.00-18.00.
Tourist visits are not allowed during church services (on Sundays and holidays at 10.30, on Saturdays at 17.00)
Listen to the amazing history and unique features of the ancient Pantheon in the audio tour “ “.
The Church of St. Ivo is one of the brightest examples of Baroque art and the unusual, even extravagant, architectural style of Borromini. Dynamic architecture with bizarre curves creates the impression of movement, a swift impulse, in which the building seems to freeze for a moment. The amazing graceful dome also attracts attention.
The church is located on Corso del Rinassimento, but is almost invisible from the street. In order to see it, you need to go into the courtyard.
Address: Corso del Rinascimento, 40 (entranceWithstreetsCorso del Rinasimento)
You can visit the church only on Sundays from 9.00 to 12.00. From July to August it is closed even on Sunday.
The Church of Sant'Ivo alla Sapienza is included in the route of our audio tour " ”, which is available in the Travelry mobile guide.
The Jesuit Church, called del Gesù, is a brilliant example of Mannerism and opulent Roman Baroque. The elegant church with luxurious decoration was built in the 16th century by the architects Vignola and della Porta. Curiously, the design proposed for this building by Michelangelo was rejected by the cardinal. The architecture of Il Gesu has become canonical for Jesuit temples around the world. Churches of the so-called "Society of Jesus" are built on its model in Poland, Lithuania, Portugal, and Latin America. The founder of the Jesuit order, Ignatius Loyola, is buried in the church.
Address: Piazza del Gesu
Opening hours: 7.00-12.30 / 16.00-19.45
The amazing Church of San Carlo, or San Carlino, is located near the intersection of the Four Fountains. Not every tourist gets to this place, and loses a lot! After all, this is one of the main masterpieces of the architect Borromini. The dynamic forms of the facade, the amazing play of light and shadow, undulating curves and other architectural features make this building an outstanding example of the Baroque style. Moreover, in the performance of the talented and unfortunate architect Francesco Borromini, this style is completely unique and original. No wonder many foreign architects, stunned by the work of Borromini, tried to get sketches and copies of the building plan.
Address: Piazza Navona - Via S.Maria dell'Anima, 30/A - 00186 ROMA
Opening hours: weekdays 9.30-12.30, after a break 15.30-19.00, weekends and holidays 9.00-13.00, after a break 16.00-20.00, closed on Sunday.
On the south side of the square, opposite the arch of Porta del Popolo, two twin temples stand out: Santa Maria dei Miracoli and Santa Maria in Montesanto, built by architect C. Rainaldi in the 17th century. The buildings are mirrored and are an important part of the overall architectural ensemble of the square. They are incredibly similar, however, if you look at them very carefully (and especially if you see them in plan), you will notice that Santa Maria dei Miracoli is round, and Santa Maria in Montesanto is oval. This is due to the fact that the architect had to somehow fit the building into the complex of already existing buildings.
Address: Piazza del Popolo
We will see the twin churches at the very beginning of the audio tour " ».
Today Rome is known as the capital of the Catholic world. But this city is much older than the Catholic Church itself, and its significance for the entire Christian world is much greater and more important than it might seem. Indeed, long before the division of the churches into Catholic and Orthodox (and this tragic event took place in 1054), Rome was the ancient cradle of all Christianity. It was in Rome that the holy apostles Peter and Paul preached, it was in it that they suffered and were martyred. In times of persecution, Rome revealed to the world countless Christian martyrs. And later, after the legalization of Christianity under Emperor Constantine the Great, it was here that magnificent Christian churches and basilicas began to grow, which became models for later buildings. It is not surprising that today in Rome a great number of common Christian relics are kept, which are revered by both Catholics and Orthodox.
Many shrines came to Rome thanks to the active work of the holy Empress Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine. Already at a very advanced age, Elena undertook a long and difficult journey to the Holy Land, to Jerusalem, in order to find the shrines associated with the earthly life of Jesus Christ. In those days, this was an incredibly difficult task, because Jerusalem was completely destroyed in the 1st century. Nevertheless, Elena was able to find and brought to Rome many important relics.
Among them - shrines associated with the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. This is a part of the Cross on which the Savior was crucified, a thorn from the crown of thorns, a nail that was used during the execution, a plate with the inscription of guilt, which was attached to the Cross. The Basilica of the Holy Cross in Jerusalem (Santa Croce in Gerusalemme) was built especially for the storage of these relics brought by Empress Helena. In addition, the finger of the holy Apostle Thomas, the cross of the “prudent robber”, as well as a full-size copy of the Shroud of Turin are kept in the cathedral.
There was also a staircase from Jerusalem to Rome, which was once in the palace of Pontius Pilate. Jesus Christ, condemned by Pilate to execution, ascended and descended several times along it. Holy Stairs (ScalaSanta) That's what they call her in Rome. It is allowed to climb these steps only on your knees. The relic is stored in a special building next to the Lateran Basilica of San Giovanni, which we mentioned above. There was also the chapel "Holy of Holies" (Sancta Sanctorum), which got its name because of the many relics that were in it.
The relics of Queen Helena rest in Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli on Capitol Hill. We visit it with By the way, this basilica is also interesting in itself - the severe appearance will take you to the Middle Ages, and the interior decoration will amaze you with wealth and beauty.
The church of Santa Prassede also houses the so-called " Flagellation Column”- part of the pillar to which Christ was tied during the scourging.
And in the Basilica of San Giovanni in Laterano, high under the ceiling, you can see the tabletop on which the legendary "Last Supper" was celebrated.
Most of the shrines brought to Rome from Jerusalem, we will see on the tour “ ” with the Travelry audio guide. In this audio tour, we will visit the unique ancient churches of Rome and learn a lot of interesting things about them.
The capital of the great ancient empire at one time was the center of European civilization, and therefore Christian preachers flocked here. Many of them met their death in Rome and are still buried in the Eternal City. saint's tomb Apostle Peter(whom Catholics consider the first Pope) is located in St. Peter's Cathedral in. And above the grave apostle paul a large basilica of St. Paul "Outside the city walls" was built, which we also spoke about above.
Heads of the Apostles Peter and Paul kept separately, in a special reliquary in the church of St. John (San Giovanni) in Laterano. We talk a lot and interestingly about this church on an excursion with an audio guide ““.
Ancient fresco in the Basilica of San Clemente (life of St. Alexis, Man of God)
Christian pilgrims in Rome are also attracted by churches in which the relics of early Christian martyrs and saints rest. There are a great many of them in the Eternal City. In particular, in Rome rest:
Great Martyr George the Victorious(Church of St. George in Velarbo - San Giorgio in Velarbo)
St. Alexis the Man of God and St. Boniface(Church of St. Boniface and Alexy on the Aventine Hill - SS. Bonifacio e Alessio)
St. Cosmas and Damian(under the main altar of the Church of Cosmas and Damian on Fori Imperiali - Chiesa di Santi Cosma e Damiano). This church is included in the route of the audio tour ““.
Saint Cyril, one of the creators of the Slavic alphabet and educator of the Slavs (the Basilica of San Clemente - Basilica di San Clemente, which we visit on the excursion ““)
Hieromartyr Clement(Basilica of San Clemente -)
St. Eustathius Plakida(Church of Sant'Eustakio near the Pantheon - Chiesa di S. Eustachio in Campo Marzio). We talk about this church, as well as about St. Eustathius, in the audio tour ““.
Holy Martyrs Archdeacons Stephen and Lawrence(Church of St. Lawrence "Beyond the Walls" - Basilica di S. Lorenzo fuori le mura)
St. Cyprian and Justina(Lateran Baptistery - Battistero Lateranese, which is included in the audio tour “ “)
Holy Martyrs Chrysanthus and Darius, patrons of matrimony (Church of the Twelve Apostles - Basilica dei SS. XII Apostoli, included in the free audio tour ““)
St. Eugenia and her mother Claudia(- Basilica dei SS. XII Apostoli)
Holy Martyr Agnia(The head of the saint is kept in the church of Sant'Agnese in Agone on Piazza Navona, and the body is kept in the church of St. Agnes "Behind the Walls", Chiesa di S. Agnese fuori le mura). About the church of St. Agnes on Piazza Navona and about the life of the saint herself, we tell in the excursion “” with an audio guide.
Saint Cecilia of Rome, patroness of music (Church of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere - Santa Cecilia in Trastevere)
Saint Anastasia of Sirmia(Church of Santa Anastasia al Palatino)
Saint Chrysogon(Church of St. Chrysogon in Trastevere - Basilica di San Crisogono)
St. Praxedus, Pudentianus and many martyrs(Church of St. Praxeda - Santa Prassede, which we visit on an excursion with an audio guide ““)
St. Anna(in a reliquary located in the courtyard - Chiostro - St. Paul's Cathedral "Behind the Walls", San Paolo fuori le mura).
Despite the fact that the icon-painting tradition was developed mainly in the Eastern Orthodox Church, several amazing ancient icons can be seen in the Eternal City. Some of them, according to legend, were written by the holy evangelist Luke.
One of the most famous and revered icons in Rome is the icon of the Mother of God, which is called "The Salvation of the Roman People" here. According to legend, the image was painted by the holy evangelist Luke. It is stored in Basilica of Santa Maria MaggioreSantaMariaMaggiore).
Miraculous image "Salvation of the Roman people"
About the amazing history of this icon and the miracles associated with it, as well as other relics and treasures of the church of Santa Maria Maggiore, we tell in the excursion “” with an audio guide in Rome.
And on the beautiful Aventine Hill, in Churches of Saints Boniface and Alexy (Santi Bonifacio e Alessio), the ancient miraculous icon of the Mother of God "Edessa" is kept, which came to Rome presumably in the 10th century. The Romans call her Madonna di San Alessio.
Icon of the Mother of God “Edessa” (Madonna di San Alessio)
At the top of Capitol Hill Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli, above the main altar is a revered Byzantine icon of the Virgin, dating from the 10th century. You can learn about the history and features of this place in the audio tour ““.
The miraculous image of the Mother of God in the Basilica of Santa Maria in Aracoeli (Madonna Aracoeli)
The miraculous icon of the Mother of God, dating from the 10th century, is quietly kept in Church of Santa Maria in Via Lata (SantaMariainvialata) on Corso street. We visit it in the free audio tour "".
Orthodox tourists and pilgrims are often interested in questions: are there Russian Orthodox churches in Rome, and how to find them. Yes, and even two! One of them - Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker- is located in the old building of the mansion of Princess M. A. Chernysheva (Palazzo Czernycheff), who in 1897 bequeathed her house to the Russian Church on Via Palestro. Since the church is located in a residential mansion, it is easy to miss it: there is neither a dome nor external signs characteristic of temples, only a modest sign at the entrance. But once inside, Russian visitors, no matter where they come from, feel "at home".
Another Russian church in Rome is still quite young, but you definitely won’t confuse it with any other: the characteristic “onion” domes and the general appearance of the building clearly indicate that in front of you is a Russian Orthodox church. it Church of Saint Catherine located near the Vatican.
Church of St. Nicholas the Wonderworker in Rome
Address: via Palestro, 69/71
www.romasannicola.it
Russian Church of St. Catherine
Address: Via del Lago Terrione, 77/79
www.stcaterina.com
If you are traveling with an iPhone, we recommend downloading . It will help you not get lost and easily find the churches we mentioned, as well as other attractions in Rome. In addition, in the guide you will find information about the opening hours of many places, their photos and other useful information. And our Masterpieces and relics "and find out:
By Manfred Heyde , via Wikimedia Commons
Some of the ancient churches of Rome are decorated with incredibly beautiful mosaics created by Byzantine masters. How did these masters suddenly end up in Rome? It was during the time of iconoclastic persecution in Byzantium, when the creators and admirers of any iconographic images were severely persecuted. But Pope Paschal I accepted and sheltered in Rome Byzantine masters who fled from the Eastern Empire. Gathering them under his wing, he began to decorate Roman churches with Byzantine mosaics.
By Livioandronico2013 , via Wikimedia Commons
The first basilicas appeared in ancient Rome. This was the name of the structures (in the ancient period they were administrative buildings), arranged inside in the form of a rectangular space, divided by columns into an odd number of parts. The ancient Romans, in turn, borrowed this way of organizing space from the Greeks. And later, architects began to use such a device in the construction of Christian churches. The rectangular spaces of the church, separated by rows of columns, are called naves. In Christian basilicas, the main nave is crossed perpendicularly by the so-called transept (transverse nave). Thus, a cruciform arrangement of space is formed.
Initially, the concept of "basilica" meant precisely the architectural device. But over time, this name has also turned into a special title that is given to important churches in the Catholic Church. Only the Pope can confer such an honorary title on a church.
Orthodox Rome
appeared after the great empire borrowed the religious model from the Greeks. Most of the gods that existed among the Greeks received new Roman names and Orthodox Rome acquired its own Olympus.
Several centuries passed, he became disillusioned with his deities, at the end of the 1st century AD. e. Christianity appeared in Italy - a new religion.
Christianity confidently occupied a leading position and gradually forced out other beliefs from the territory of Rome and the whole country. But two centuries later, Flavius Claudius Julian, the Roman emperor, banned Christianity. In 313 AD Constantine the Great, by his decree, called for respect for all religions.
Orthodox Rome received the support of the state and began the construction of one of the oldest churches - the Lateran Basilica, you can see this ancient building in Rome today. By the end of the IV century. pagan faith practically disappeared from the life of the Romans, Christianity entered the life of the Romans. At this time, a huge number of temples were erected, called basilicas by the Romans, for the most part you can admire now. They erected buildings on the site of the destroyed pagan ones, so Orthodox Rome appeared.
The Orthodox shrine is located on the territory of the Vatican. - an incredible and amazing building. The cathedral is majestic, leaving an unforgettable impression on everyone who is nearby.
The idea of Orthodox Rome would be incomplete without St. Paul's Basilica. This is the great papal basilica that every believer dreams of seeing. They visit this Orthodox place in Rome in order to receive the absolution of sins in a rite called the “Holy Door”. This action takes place during the Jubilee year in Orthodox Rome, previously such an event took place once every 100 years. The traditions of this event suggest that the pilgrim must go around the 7 temples in the Jubilee year in which these events take place.
In Orthodox Rome, such temples include St. Peter's Basilica, the Church of the Virgin Mary Maggiore and the Lateran Basilica. The Basilica of St. Paul is located on the site of the alleged burial place of the Apostle Paul. The first temple here was built by Emperor Constantine, but in 386 Theodosius I, the last emperor of the unified Roman Empire, decided that the basilica was too simple decoration and decided to build an architecturally impressive building. Construction was completed only under Pope Leo I in the 5th century.
Orthodox Rome has preserved the basilica almost in its original form, the fashionable changes of the Renaissance and the Baroque style did not touch this temple.
July 15, 1823 A tragedy occurred, the temple was badly damaged by fire. The cause of the fire was the human factor, the workers who worked on the roof did not properly extinguish the fire, as a result, the building was seriously damaged. The recovery process was very long. The reconstruction of the temple was completed only in the nineteenth century.
A special feature is the gallery of portraits of all the Popes, which runs along the perimeter inside the building. If you find yourself in this Orthodox church, you will see that several places for portraits remain empty for now. And in this place of Orthodox Rome, you will be told the legend that at the moment when all the places are filled, the End of the World will happen.
In this Orthodox church in Rome, the main treasure revered by believers is kept - a sarcophagus with the relics of St. Paul. The only one who can serve the liturgy in this place is the Pope.
In Orthodox Rome, there is another place of worship that leaves an indelible impression on pilgrims. This is the Basilica of Saint Clement. This temple is located east of the Colosseum. As a rule, all aspiring here remember the burial in this place of the fourth Roman bishop Clement, as well as Cyril and Methodius (part of the relics), who gave us the Cyrillic alphabet.
This temple in Orthodox Rome has one more peculiarity, upon closer acquaintance with this Orthodox place, you will find that the temple consists of three different buildings erected at different times. The lowest level is a building that belongs to the 1st - 3rd centuries. The second level is a Christian Basilica of the 4th century, and finally, the upper tier was built in the 11th century, it is this level that is available during today's inspection of this Orthodox place in Rome. When the lowest layer was discovered, the shock was the fact that it was in this place that
Titus Flavius Clement, a Christian who was exiled to Chersonese for his sermons. The level that is available for inspection today was built according to the traditions of the construction of Orthodox churches. The decoration of the basilica was a unique mosaic on the floor, as well as frescoes on the walls and ceiling. Pay attention to the mosaic "The Cross - the Tree of Life", depicting Christ surrounded by flowers, birds and grapes. This mosaic is different in that for the first time Christ was crucified on it, before that in churches he was depicted resurrected. Here are the tombs of the fourth bishop and the Russian Cyril.
Orthodox Rome received this church in 2009. It was erected on the territory of the Russian embassy. The Orthodox Church is named after the brave girl Catherine, who defended Christianity. Catherine's propaganda and the power of her words were so great that she managed to convert the emperor's wife and part of his army to Orthodoxy. Catherine was executed because she managed to get ahead of the great sages in a philosophical dispute.
Catherine lived in the 4th century. And three centuries later, her imperishable relics were found on Mount Sinai. The church, built in honor of Catherine, keeps part of the relics of the saint. This Orthodox church was built in 4 years, today it has a functioning children's parish school.
Orthodox church in Rome, which has a difficult history. The address of the church changed many times until it received the final location in the M.A. mansion. Chernyshevsky. 1932 is the year of the consecration of this Orthodox place in Rome. This temple today is a three-story building, which houses the Iberian Icon of the Mother of God, brought here from Sergiev Posad.
Orthodox Rome honors another of the seven most famous temples. The first church appeared on the site where the palace of Helena, the mother of Emperor Constantine, used to stand, respectively, was first named in her honor. Interestingly, Elena herself wanted the construction of a basilica. At first, there was a palace on this site, later, during the construction of the basilica, a huge amount of earth brought from Jerusalem itself was poured under the floor of the future building. This fact became the basis for adding the prefix "in Jerusalem" to the name of the temple.
Only in the 17th-18th centuries did the basilica become the way we can see it now in Orthodox Rome. This Orthodox place keeps many relics, including the nail with which Jesus was nailed to the cross, pieces of wood from the cross on which the Savior was crucified, a title, a phalanx of the finger of Thomas the Unbeliever. You can see Orthodox relics if you come to the basilica.
The church has the relics of Venerable Antonietta Meo, a six-year-old girl who died in 1937, but in her short life wrote many letters to God, many of which are considered prophetic.
Orthodox Rome is impossible to imagine without the main cathedral of the city. The Cathedral of Rome in importance is higher than all the described Orthodox churches of the Eternal City. The place on which the temple stands belonged to the second wife of Constantine, he became Orthodox three days before his death. Pope Sixtus V ordered the destruction of the Lateran Palace and outbuildings, and slightly expanded its apsidal part. This cathedral is famous for the trial of the corpse of Pope Formosus. Also in this Orthodox church you can appreciate the mosaic of Jacopo Torrisi, which dates back to 1300.
The Orthodox papal altar of this cathedral faces east, and only the Pope of Rome has the right to worship here. Above this altar, in a 16th-century tabernacle, are the heads of the apostles Peter and Paul.
Among other Orthodox relics of this temple, one can name a piece of the Robe of the Virgin and a small part of a sponge, with visible traces of blood. That sponge, according to legend, was watered with vinegar by Jesus Christ before the execution.
Santa Maria Maggiore is one of the most important cathedrals in Orthodox Rome. There is a legend associated with the construction of the basilica. In 352, Pope Liberius and one of the richest inhabitants of Rome dreamed of the Madonna, who showed them the place where the future temple would be built. The place was also chosen at the behest of the Madonna - the snow lying in the morning hid the future foundation of the basilica. Orthodox Rome, in the person of each Pope of Rome, was constantly engaged in decorating this temple. As a result of such changes, today the Basilica of the Virgin Mary is one of the most beautiful Orthodox places in Rome.
A manger is kept here, where the newborn Christ was, a piece of the relics of the Apostle Matthew, the relics of Blessed Jerome of Stridon and an ancient icon of the Mother of God.
The Orthodox basilica in Rome dates back to the 6th century. The building of the basilica was badly damaged during the earthquake of 1348, and then forgotten for a long time. Pope Martin V only in 1417 thought about restoring this church of Rome. However, the restoration work carried out was not final, the Orthodox Church was restored and modified many times.
In this Orthodox place, you can see a painting by Baccio, located in the very center of the interior, as well as several frescoes.
Here in the marble sarcophagus in the chapel under the main altar are the relics of the Apostles Philip and James the Younger. In the inner courtyard of the monastery, there is a marble sarcophagus in the wall with a sculpture by Michelangelo Buonarotti above it. The Orthodox Church was the burial place of Michelangelo, but now there is no body in the sarcophagus. He was once taken to Florence by the master's nephew.
Orthodox building, one of the most famous treasures of Orthodoxy. The mention of the appearance of this church in Rome dates back to the VIII century.
Who erected this Orthodox building in Rome is unknown, but the Holy Staircase is kept here, according to legend, Jesus Christ climbed it several times to be executed.
Restoration of the stairs takes place regularly. But such a stream of pilgrims passes daily along the steps that even the wooden top protection cannot withstand. The Orthodox honor the story that Jesus, who was being led up this staircase to be crucified, dropped drops of blood on the steps. Today, these marks are glazed and located on the 2nd, 11th and 28th steps.
The Church of the Holy Great Martyr Catherine is a functioning Orthodox shrine of modern times in Rome, subordinate to the Moscow Patriarchate. Located on the territory of the residence of the Embassy of the Russian Federation.
Catherine's Cathedral is interesting by the very fact of its existence - the center of the Russian Orthodox faith in the heart of the papal Catholic diocese. Confessional friction is softened by the personality of the great martyr herself, because she was revered by Christians in an era when Catholics and Orthodox were united.
During her lifetime, Catherine was a noble resident of Alexandria, received a decent education and at the beginning of the 4th century. accepted Christ. Wanting to open her contemporaries' eyes to paganism, Catherine entered the imperial palace and participated in a theological dispute with the court sages, as a result, they all believed in Christ.
Such a daring act led to the imprisonment and speedy execution of the girl, but before that, with her ardent speeches and unshakable faith, she converted the emperor’s wife and part of his army to Christianity - all of them were also executed.
Three centuries after these bloody events, Catherine's followers found her incorruptible remains on Mount Sinai and transferred them to a new church.
The idea of founding an Orthodox church in Italy appeared at the end of the 19th century. The first step was taken at the beginning of the 20th century, when the Russian embassy bought a plot on the embankment for the construction of a church, but the revolution turned the whole way of society upside down and such a factor as religion disappeared from the life of Soviet people for a long time. The Diaspora at that time also could not provide significant assistance.
In the 90s of the last century, many immigrants from those countries that make up the canonical territory of the Moscow Patriarchate arrived in Italy. The idea of creating a symbol of the Russian Orthodox Church in a foreign land has gained new strength. The initiative quickly gained support among the clergy, and in 2001 Patriarch Alexy II of Moscow solemnly blessed the creation of the Church of St. Catherine the Great Martyr. The construction of the main part took only 4 years.
In 2006, the temple was consecrated for the first time, and since then regular services have been held there, and a children's parish school functions at the temple.
In May 2009, the world Christian community observed the solemn Great consecration of the shrine, a great celebration of faith and unity of the Russian Orthodox people, who dared to take a desperate step and did not stop at any difficulties.
Andrey Obolensky became the chief architect, whose team was able to create the perfect harmony between the Orthodox tradition and Roman architectonics. The territory is located on a hill, which predetermined the architectural composition of the temple, starting from the foot of the Gianicolo hill and ending at its top. In order not to be dissonant with Roman architecture, the main church is built in the form of a tent, and all the walls are lined with travertine, traditional for the original Roman architecture.
The lower aisle of the church complex is marked with a faience iconostasis in honor of Constantine and Helena. And the main part, the so-called upper church, is the main marble iconostasis. The project of the latter was created and mostly implemented by Alexander Soldatov, a teacher at the Moscow Icon Painting School. Being unconventional for the Russian church, the iconostasis consists of only two rows. The lower one is made in a modest manner without frills and inappropriate brilliance using the fresco technique. The top row is already made in the usual medallion technique with gilding and rich decoration, paying tribute to Russian Orthodox traditionalism.
In 2012, painting began on the inside of the temple, which is a picture of the path of the Great Martyr Catherine from birth to ascension. Within the walls of the temple there are a number of Orthodox relics that attract hundreds of parishioners every day, both on their own initiative and as part of pilgrimage tours of Orthodox Christians from Russia and around the world.
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