Sant'Atanasio

For other uses, seeSt. Athanasius' Church (disambiguation).

Church of Saint Athanasius
S. Athanasii(in Latin) Sant’Atanasio(in Italian)
Εκκλησία Αγίου Αθανασίου των Ελλήνων(in Greek)
Facade of Sant'Atanasio.
Click on the map for a fullscreen view
41°54′28″N12°28′46″E
Location	150Via del Babuino,Rome
Country	Italy
Denomination	Catholic
Tradition	Byzantine rite
Website	Official website
History
Status	Titular church, national church
Dedication	Athanasius of Alexandria
Architecture
Architect(s)	Martino Longhi the Elder
Architectural type	Church
Style	Baroque,Neo-Byzantine
Groundbreaking	1580
Completed	1583
Administration
Province	Diocese of Rome
Clergy
Cardinal protector	Lucian Mureșan

TheChurch of Saint Athanasius(Italian:Sant’Atanasio,Latin:S. Athanasii), also known asSant'Atanasio dei Greci(Greek:Εκκλησία Αγίου Αθανασίου των Ελλήνων,Ekklisia Agiou Athanasiou ton Ellinon), is aGreek Catholictitularchurch located on Via del Babuino 149, near theSpanish steps,in therioneCampo MarzioofRome,Italy.

History

The church was built in 1577 for use of aGreek Collegefor the formation of Catholic clergy in theEastern Rite.Construction was patronized by thePope Gregory XIIIand theJesuitorder to promulgate and serve the interests forming a Congregation of the Greeks.

In 1872 the church was entrusted to theCongregation for the Oriental Churches.On 22 February 1962Pope John XXIIImade it acardinalitialtitular church.At present theTitulus San Athanasiiis held byLucian Cardinal Mureșan.

Architecture

The main layout was designed byGiacomo della Porta,although the facade was attributed toMartino Longhi the Elder.The facade is placed between two towers covered with domes, which is divided into two horizontal bands by a marble ledge. Either side of a large window is written an inscription, one in Greek and the other in Latin in honor ofSaint Athanasius of Alexandria.On the left stands a tower clock, donated byPope Clement XIVin 1771, which faces the palace of the Pontifical Greek College.

The interior was frescoed byFrancesco Tibaldi,and contained altarpieces byCavalier d'Arpino.In the past, the library was said to hold the library ofLeo Allatius.

List of Cardinal priests

• Gabriel Acacius Coussa(22 March 1962 - 29 July 1962)
• Josyf Ivanovyce Slipyj(25 February 1965 - 7 September 1984)
• Lucian Mureșan(18 February 2012 - present)

In the novel and film,Shoes of the Fisherman,Ukrainian Kiril Lakota, Eastern rite Metropolitan Archbishop of Livov, is appointed cardinal priest with Saint Athanasius as his titular church (before being elected Pope).

Sources

• M. Armellini,Le chiese di Roma dal secolo IV al XIX,Roma 1891,pp. 339
• F. Titi,Descrizione delle Pitture, Sculture e Architetture esposte in Roma,Roma 1763,p. 381
• C. Rendina,Le Chiese di Roma,Newton & Compton Editori, Milano 2000, p. 40
• M. Quercioli,Rione IV Campo Marzio,in AA.VV,I rioni di Roma,Newton & Compton Editori, Milano 2000, Vol. I, pp. 264–334

External links

• Pages about the church (it)