Wikipedia

Sant'Agnese fuori le mura

The church ofSaint Agnes Outside the Walls(Italian:Sant'Agnese fuori le mura) is atitularchurch,aminor basilicainRome,on a site sloping down from theVia Nomentana,which runs north-east out of the city, still under its ancient name.[1]What are said to be the remains ofSaint Agnesare below the high altar. The church is built over theCatacombs of Saint Agnes,where the saint was originally buried, and which may still be visited from the church. A large basilica with the same name was built nearby in the 4th century and its ruins can be seen nearSanta Costanza,in the same site. The existing church was built by PopeHonorius Iin the 7th century, and largely retains its original structure, despite many changes to the decoration. In particular themosaicin theapseof Agnes, Honorius, and another Pope is largely in its original condition. The currentCardinal Priestof theTitulus S. AgnetisExtra moeniaisCamillo Ruini.[2]

Church of Saint Agnes Outside the Wall
Sant'Agnese fuori le mura(in Italian)
S. Agnes extra moenia(in Latin)
Facade.
Map
Click on the map for a fullscreen view
41°55′23″N12°31′08″E/ 41.92292°N 12.51888°E/41.92292; 12.51888
Location349 Via Nomentana,Rome
CountryItaly
DenominationCatholic
TraditionRoman Rite
Religious orderCanons Regular of the Lateran
Websitewww.santagnese.com(Parish website)
www.santagnese.org(Archeological website)
History
StatusTitular church,minor basilica,parish church
DedicationSaint Agnes
Architecture
Architectural typeByzantine
Groundbreaking4th century AD
Completed7th century AD
Clergy
Cardinal protectorCardinalCamillo Ruini

History

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plan and elevation
The altar and apse
View from thematroneum
Catacomb of Saint Agnes.

A very large basilica was built some metres from the present church in the 4th century, to which was attached the large private mausoleum forConstantina,the daughter ofConstantine I.The mausoleum was later converted into a church, which survives and is now known asSanta Costanza(she was venerated as a saint, even though she was not one officially). It contains very important 4th centurymosaics,especially large areas of ceiling in a secular style, but also two small apse mosaics, one including an earlydepiction of Jesusin what has become the standard style of long fair hair and ahalo.

The large basilica decayed during the decline of Rome, and was replaced in the 7th century by the present much smaller church, commissioned by PopeHonorius I.The lower part of the walls from about half of one side of the Constantinian basilica, and itsapse,can still be seen. The new church was over what was believed to be Agnes's grave. The floor level of the 7th-century church is some two metres above the level of the catacomb floor, and the public street entrances are at the level of the 2nd floor gallery. A long wide internal set of steps, lined with inscriptions from the catacombs and other ancient buildings set into the walls, leads down from the street level to the floor level of the church. The apse mosaic from Honorius's time is still present, and less affected by restoration than most mosaics of this date. On agold ground,a central standing figure of Agnes in the costume of a Byzantine empress is flanked by Honorius, offering a model of the building, and another pope, whose identity is uncertain. The church was also built with a separate upper gallery for women (matronaeum), similar to that ofSan Lorenzo fuori le mura.SaintEmerentianawas also buried here.[3]

The catacombs are on three levels, dating from the 2nd to the 5th centuries; part of the highest level dating to the 2nd century can be visited by a guided tour. Though no paintings remain in place, there are a number of inscriptions and engraved images of interest. Many more inscriptions line the large staircase leading from the main convent above to the church.

It is in this church that on the feast day of St. Agnes (January 21), twolambsare specially blessed, usually by thepopeafter a pontifical high Mass; theirwoolis later woven intopallia,ceremonial neck-stoles sent by thepopesto newly elevatedMetropolitan-archbishopsto symbolise their union with thepapacy.

The church was assigned to theCanons Regular of the LateranbyPope Innocent VIIIin 1489; and they continued to serve it afterPope Clement XImade it aparish churchin 1708. It is the headquarters of the primaria sodality of theChildren of Mary,founded here in 1864.[4]

In legend and literature

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The church is the topic of Canadian author and anthropologistMargaret Visser's bookThe Geometry of Love,published in 2000, which describes it in exhaustive detail and discusses aspects of history, theology, architecture, symbolism and the emotional and aesthetic effects of visiting the church.

List of Cardinal Priests

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The Church of S. Agnese fuori le mura was established as a titular church for a Cardinal Priest on 5 October 1654 by PopeInnocent X:[5]

References

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  1. ^"S. Agnese fuori le mura".Retrieved25 October2016.
  2. ^abActa Apostolicae Sedis(PDF).Vol. LXXXIII. 1991. p. 630.
  3. ^David Farmer, Oxford Dictionary of Saints Oxford University Press, 1996, p. 157
  4. ^Catholic Encyclopedia,1922,s.v.canons, p. 153
  5. ^David M. Cheney,Catholic-Hierarchy:S. Agnese fuori le mura.Retrieved: 2016-03-12.
  6. ^Salvador Miranda,The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church:Cardinal Baccio Aldobrandini.Retrieved: 2016-03-12.
Additional sources
  • Marina Magnani Cianetti and Carlo Pavolini,La Basilica costantiniana di Sant'Agnese: lavori archeologici e di restauro(Milano: Electa, 2004).
  • Visser, Margaret(2001).The Geometry of Love: Space, Time, Mystery, and Meaning in an ordinary church(1st American ed.). New York: North Point Press.ISBN0-86547-618-7.
  • Friedrich Wilhelm Deichmann,S. Agnese Fuori le Mura und die byzantinische Frage in der frühchristlichen Architektur Roms(Leipzig 1941).
  • Carlo Cecchelli,S. Agnese fuori le mura e S. Costanza(Roma, Casa Editrice 1924) [Le chiese di Roma illustrate,no. 10].
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Media related toSant'Agnese fuori le mura (Rome)at Wikimedia Commons

Preceded by
San Lorenzo fuori le mura 		Landmarks of Rome
Sant'Agnese fuori le mura 		Succeeded by
Sant'Agostino
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