Santi Giovanni e Paolo

Santi Giovanni e Paolo is an ancient basilica church in Rome, located on the Celian Hill. It is also called Santi Giovanni e Paolo al Celio or referred to as SS Giovanni e Paolo.. Church dedicated to two martyrs of Julian the Apostate's persecution in the 4th century. History Below the church, there are 2nd and 3rd century Roman houses in which Christian's worshipped, and according to tradition one of these houses belonged to the two martyrs in the 4th century. They were martyred on the night of January 26th/27th 361, and buried in secret in their house. This was not only a transgression against the edicts of Emperor Julian the Apostate, but also a violation of Roman burial laws. To prevent disease, all burials had to take place outside city walls. That they were buried here is a strong reminder of the important place relics have held and still hold in Catholic religious practice. The first church here was built in the 4th century shortly after the deaths of the two martyrs, and remains of it can be seen in the present church, which was built in the medieval period. The first church was known as Titulus Bizantiis after Senator Byzantius. His son Pammachius built a basilica on the site, which was known as Titulus Pammachii and was one of the first parish churches in Rome. The synod listing from 499 uses this name. An inscription frome the 5th century names Pammachius as the founder. He was a personal friend of St Jerome, and after several years of public service, as a senator like his father had been, he gave his money to the poor and retired to a life of seclusion and prayer; undoubtedly a result of St Jerome's influence. The synod listing of 595 also mentions the church, but by this time it is known as SS. Johanis e Pauli. Exterior The 12th century fa�ade was restored, with good results, by Cardinal Spellman, Archbishop of New York, who was titular priest of the church. The portico is from 1158, and was built on orders from Pope Hadrian IV. On the architrave, an inscription mentions Cardinal Conti de Sutri who had completed the restoration a few years earlier. The gallery above the architrave was constructed c. 1216, and has some later modifications. The Romanesque bell tower, c.1150, rests on travertine from the Temple of Claudius. The plates among the bricks on the walls of the bell tower are copies of Moorish ceramic tiles with Arabic lettering. The originals, which were brought from Malaga in Spain, have been moved to the excavation museum in the church. The side buttresses are from the 13th and 14th century. The apse is unique in Rome. It is influenced by the Lombard Romanesque style. At third-floor level of the monastery, a pair of windows mark the room of St Paul of the Cross, the 18th century founder of the Passionist Congregation. Blessed Dominic Barberi, apostle to England, also lived here for some time. Interior The 13th century cosmatesque pavement is intact. Behind the chapel left of the high altar is a fresco of Christ with Apostles, in the Byzantine style, which has been dated to 1255. The door is locked, but if you wish to see it the sacristan will let you in. It is interesting to all because of its beauty, and especially interesting to art scholars since it is a rare example of a fresco surviving from that period. If you ask the sacristan to see this, you might also want to ask him to show you the sacristy, where there is a painting of The Madonna and Child with Sts John and Paul by Antoniazzo Romano, painted in 1455. The coffered ceiling dates from 1598. An ancient porphyry urn beneath the altar contains the relics of St John and St Paul. They were moved to the upper church in 1558, and placed beneath the altar in 1726. The apse has a fresco by Pomerancio, The Redeemer in Glory from 1588. Below are three paintings from the 18th century: Sts John and Paul Decapitated by Giacomo Triga in the middle, Sts John and Paul Give Their Goods to the Poor and The Conversion of Terentianus by G.D. Piastrani on the sides. The latter painting commemorated the imperial official who supervised the execution of Sts John and Paul. His son was later healed through their intercession, and he converted. Off the right aisle is a domed chapel, built to house the relics of St Paul of the Cross. Construction was started in 1862. It is decorated with paintings of incidents in the life of the saint. By the entrance are two chapels. In the one on the right-hand side, the 4th century martyr Saturnius is interred. On the left side are the relics of eleven martyrs from Scillium, North Africa. They were martyred in Carthage in 180 after refusing to hand over one of St Paul's letter. The houses beneath the church, known as the "Case Romane", have been excavated, and the entrance to the excavations can be found just after the chapel of St Paul of the Cross. Work was begun by Fr. Germano Stanislaus in 1887, and completed in 1958. In 2001, administration was taken over by the Comune di Roma. They contain a number of paintings, both Christian and pagan, including frescoes of the 2nd and 3rd century. There is also an early medieval oratory under the church. An "Antiquarium" holds many artifacts found during the excavations. The houses can be entered from the street running alongside the basilica, the Clivo di Scauro.