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San Sebastiano Fuori Le Mura




San Sebastiano fuori le mura, or '''San Sebastiano ''ad Catacumbas''''', is a Basilica in Rome . Up to the Great Jubilee of 2000, San Sebastiano was one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches Of Rome .


HISTORY

Built originally in the 4th century, the basilica is dedicated to St. Sebastian , a popular Roman martyr of the 3rd century. The name ''ad catacumbas'' refers to the catacombs of St Sebastian, on which the church was built, while "fuori le mura" refers to the fact that the church is built outside the Aurelian Walls , and is used to differentiate the basilica from the church of San Sebastiano Al Palatino . In 258, during the Valerian Persecutions , the catacombs were temporarily used as place of sepulture of two other saints martyrized in Rome, Peter and Paul , whose remains were later transferred to the two basilicas carrying their names: whence the original name of the church, ''Basilica Apostolorum'' ("Apostles Basilica").

Sebastian's remains were moved here around 350. They were transferred to (858-867), while the marty's altar was reconsecrated by Honorius III , by request of the Cistercenses who had received the place.

The current edifice is largely a 17th construction, commissioned by Cardinal Scipio Borghese to Flaminio Ponzio and, after the former's death, Giovanni Vasanzio .


OVERVIEW

The Relics Chapel houses a stone carrying the alleged prints of Jesus's fingers, one of the arrows who struck St. Sebastian and column on which he was tied during the martyrdom. Noteworthy is the Albani Chapel, built in 1716 and designed by Maratta , Specchi , Barigioni and Carlo Fontana .


SEE ALSO


  • Paolo Coen, ''Le sette chiese. Le basiliche giubilari romane'', Newton Compton, Rome, 1994.

  • Claudio Rendina, ''Enciclopedia di Roma'', Newton Compton, Rome, 2000.

  • "San Sebastiano fuori le Mura" , by Chris Nyborg.