The Pontifical Academy of Martyrs (''Pontificia Academia Cultorum Martyrum'', originally ''Collegium Cultorum Martyrum'') is one of the ten
Pontifical Academies established by the
Holy See
The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic episcopal see of the Diocese of R ...
. It serves to advance the
cult of saints
In religious belief, a saint is a person who is recognized as having an exceptional degree of holiness, likeness, or closeness to God. However, the use of the term ''saint'' depends on the context and denomination. In Catholic, Eastern Orth ...
and
martyrs
A martyr (, ''mártys'', "witness", or , ''marturia'', stem , ''martyr-'') is someone who suffers persecution and death for advocating, renouncing, or refusing to renounce or advocate, a religious belief or other cause as demanded by an external ...
and the study of related early
Christian history,
including the
catacombs. It operates with guidance and support from the
and the
Roman Curia.
History
The Academy was established on 2 February 1879 by four distinguished scholars of sacred antiquity:
Mariano Armellini
Mariano Armellini (7 February 1852 – 24 February 1896) was an Italian archaeologist and historian. Born in Rome, he was one of the founders of the Pontifical Academy of Martyrs.
He is the author of ''Gli antichi cimiteri cristiani di Roma e d' ...
, Adolfo Hytreck,
Orazio Marucchi
Orazio Marucchi (1852 - January 1931, Rome) was an Italian archaeologist and author of the ''Manual of Christian Archaeology''. He served as Professor of Christian Archaeology at the University of Rome and director of the Christian and Egyptian mu ...
, and Enrico Stevenson.
With Pope Francis' reorganization of the
Roman Curia as of 5 June 2022 as provided for in the apostolic constitution ''
Praedicate evangelium'', the new
Dicastery for Culture and Education
The Dicastery for Culture and Education is an administrative unit of the Roman Curia. It began operations on 5 June 2022 as established by the apostolic constitution ''Praedicate evangelium'' promulgated on 19 March 2022. It was formed through t ...
became responsible for coordinating the work of this Academy with its own work and that of a number of other bodies.
Functions
The Academy is tasked with promoting the cult of the
holy martyrs and increasing, through study, knowledge of the
saints, including their example as "witnesses of the Faith".
It is also responsible for the monuments to these saints from the first centuries of
Christianity
Christianity is an Abrahamic monotheistic religion based on the life and teachings of Jesus of Nazareth. It is the world's largest and most widespread religion with roughly 2.38 billion followers representing one-third of the global pop ...
, including the
catacombs beneath
Rome
, established_title = Founded
, established_date = 753 BC
, founder = King Romulus (legendary)
, image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg
, map_caption ...
. The Academy organises and promotes celebrations of ancient Christian cemeteries, the catacombs, and other sacred places, as well as religious functions and archaeological conferences. To this end it works closely with the
Pontifical Academy of Archaeology The Pontifical Academy of Archaeology (''Pontificia Accademia Romana di Archeologia'') is an academic honorary society established in Rome by the Catholic Church for the advancement of Christian archaeological study. It is one of the ten such Pont ...
.
The Academy holds at least two
general meetings each year, close to the Papal Institute of Christian Archaeology and the
Collegio Teutonico
The Collegio Teutonico (German College), historically often referred to by its Latin name Collegium Germanicum, is one of the Pontifical Colleges of Rome. The German College is the Pontifical College established for future ecclesiastics of German ...
in
Vatican City
Vatican City (), officially the Vatican City State ( it, Stato della Città del Vaticano; la, Status Civitatis Vaticanae),—'
* german: Vatikanstadt, cf. '—' (in Austria: ')
* pl, Miasto Watykańskie, cf. '—'
* pt, Cidade do Vati ...
.
[
During Lent, the Academy also supports the celebration of the station days, which combine fasting with processions to certain Roman churches, a practice revived by Carlo Respighi, who was magister from 1931 to 1947.][
]
Membership and leadership
The Academy's membership consists of "Sodales" and "Associates" of both sexes. At the age of 80 a sodales becomes a soldales emeritus. A cardinal or bishop
A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution.
In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for the governance of dioceses. The role or office of bishop is c ...
sodales is appointed "Defences".
The title of the Academy's administrator is "magister", an office appointed and renewed by the pope
The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
. The magister, in accordance with the Academy's "Guiding Advice", can collaborate with other pontifical academies which have business related to a particular martyr's sanctuary.
Since 16 September 2022, the magister has been Dr. Raffaella Giuliani. She previously held the title "arcarius" (treasurer).
See also
* Index of Vatican City-related articles
* Roman Academies
References
;Attribution
*
External links
*
{{Authority control
Religious organizations established in 1879
Dicastery for Culture and Education