The early Christian imperial basilica of the Saints Martyrs Vitale, Valeria, Gervasio and Protasio known more commonly as the

basilica In Ancient Roman architecture, a basilica (Greek Basiliké) was a large public building with multiple functions that was typically built alongside the town's forum. The basilica was in the Latin West equivalent to a stoa in the Greek Eas ...

of San Vitale and Compagni Martiri in Fovea (Roman Parish) or more simply as San Vitale al

Quirinale The Quirinal Palace ( ) is a historic building in Rome, Italy, the main official residence of the President of the Italian Republic, together with Villa Rosebery in Naples and the Tenuta di Castelporziano, an estate on the outskirts of Rome, som ...

. It is the oldest Catholic place of worship in the historic center of Rome, located in via Nazionale. The imperial basilica of San Vitale al Quirinale, built under the pontificate of

Pope Siricius Pope Siricius ( – 26 November 399) was the bishop of Rome from December 384 to his death on 26 November 399. In response to inquiries from Bishop Himerius of Tarragona, Siricius issued the ''Directa'' decretal, containing decrees of baptism, ...

after 386 and consecrated and richly decorated by

Pope Innocent Pope Innocent may refer to: * Pope Innocent I (saint; 401–417) * Pope Innocent II (1130–1143) ** '' Antipope Innocent III'' (1179–1180) * Pope Innocent III (1198–1216) * Pope Innocent IV (1243–1254) * Pope Innocent V (blessed; 1276) * Pope ...

in 402 (Luigi Hutter and Vincenzo Golzino) is the first public Christian basilica with a baptistery (still not found) not founded on pre-existing pagan temples, mentioned in the

Liber pontificalis The ''Liber Pontificalis'' (Latin for 'pontifical book' or ''Book of the Popes'') is a book of biography, biographies of popes from Saint Peter until the 15th century. The original publication of the ''Liber Pontificalis'' stopped with Pope Adr ...

, built by the

Emperor Theodosius Theodosius I ( ; 11 January 347 – 17 January 395), also known as Theodosius the Great, was Roman emperor from 379 to 395. He won two civil wars and was instrumental in establishing the Nicene Creed as the orthodox doctrine for Nicene ...

at the behest of

Saint Ambrose Ambrose of Milan (; 4 April 397), venerated as Saint Ambrose, was a theologian and statesman who served as Bishop of Milan from 374 to 397. He expressed himself prominently as a public figure, fiercely promoting Roman Christianity against Ari ...

of Milan, in honor of the miraculous discovery of the bodies of martyrs

Gervasius and Protasius Gervasius and Protasius (also Gervase and Protase, Gervasis and Prothasis and in French ''Gervais and Protais'') are venerated as Christian martyrs, probably of the 2nd century. They are the patron saints of Milan and of haymakers and are invok ...

in Milan. It is the most frescoed basilica in Rome.

History

The basilica was built in 400 with funds provided by Vestina, a wealthy widow, and was consecrated by

Pope Innocent I Pope Innocent I () was the bishop of Rome from 401 to his death on 12 March 417. From the beginning of his papacy, he was seen as the general arbitrator of ecclesiastical disputes in both the East and the West. He confirmed the prerogatives of ...

in 401/402. It was dedicated to Ss. Gervasius and Protasius, and called the "titulus Vestinae". The dedication to St. Vitalis and his family ( Saint Valeria, his wife, and Sts.

, their sons) is dated to 412. This church is recorded as ''Titulus Vestinae'' in the acts of the 499 synod of

Pope Symmachus Pope Symmachus (died 19 July 514) was the bishop of Rome from 22 November 498 to his death on 19 July 514. His tenure was marked by a serious schism over who was elected pope by a majority of the Roman clergy. Early life He was born on the Medi ...

, and three priests from the church subscribed their names. San Vitale was restored several times, most importantly when it was extensively rebuilt by

Pope Sixtus IV Pope Sixtus IV (or Xystus IV, ; born Francesco della Rovere; (21 July 1414 – 12 August 1484) was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 9 August 1471 until his death in 1484. His accomplishments as pope included ...

before the Jubilee of 1475. Other interventions took place in 1512 under Cardinal del Monte; in 1598, in 1859 by the generosity of

Pope Pius IX Pope Pius IX (; born Giovanni Maria Battista Pietro Pellegrino Isidoro Mastai-Ferretti; 13 May 1792 – 7 February 1878) was head of the Catholic Church from 1846 to 1878. His reign of nearly 32 years is the longest verified of any pope in hist ...

; in 1938 and 1960. Because of changes in the city over the centuries, the floor level of the church is now several metres below the level of the street on which it is located, the present-day via Nazionale.

Customs

Free bread was distributed to the poor by the church every Friday, according to the will of a gentleman from the Marches, Francesco Silla.

Architectural and Artistic Features

Exterior

The

portico A portico is a porch leading to the entrance of a building, or extended as a colonnade, with a roof structure over a walkway, supported by columns or enclosed by walls. This idea was widely used in ancient Greece and has influenced many cu ...

is the most ancient part of the church, possibly dating back to the 5th century. It was altered at the end of the 16th century. The inscription on the portico, with the arms of Pope Sixtus IV, dates from this time.

built the staircase to the 5th century portico in 1859.

Interior

The church has a single nave, with walls frescoed with scenes of martyrdom, among which a '' Martyrdom of St Ignatius of Antioch'', in which a ruined

Colosseum The Colosseum ( ; , ultimately from Ancient Greek word "kolossos" meaning a large statue or giant) is an Ellipse, elliptical amphitheatre in the centre of the city of Rome, Italy, just east of the Roman Forum. It is the largest ancient amphi ...

is depicted. The apse, a surviving part of the original 5th century church, is decorated with a fresco by

Andrea Commodi Andrea Commodi (1560–1638) was an Italian painter of the early-Baroque period. Born in Florence, but mostly active in Rome Rome (Italian language, Italian and , ) is the capital city and most populated (municipality) of Italy. It is also t ...

, ''The Ascent to Calvary''.

Cardinal Priests

Among the cardinals who previously took their title from the church were:

John Fisher John Fisher (c. 19 October 1469 – 22 June 1535) was an English Catholic prelate who served as Bishop of Rochester from 1504 to 1535 and as chancellor of the University of Cambridge. He is honoured as a martyr and saint by the Catholic Chu ...

, executed for treason in 1535 by

Henry VIII of England Henry VIII (28 June 149128 January 1547) was King of England from 22 April 1509 until his death in 1547. Henry is known for his Wives of Henry VIII, six marriages and his efforts to have his first marriage (to Catherine of Aragon) annulled. ...

; and

Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte Pope Julius III (; ; 10 September 1487 – 23 March 1555), born Giovanni Maria Ciocchi del Monte, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 22 February 1550 to his death, in March 1555. After a career as a disting ...

, who became Pope Julius III (1550–1555). The titulus was suppressed by

Pope Clement VIII Pope Clement VIII (; ; 24 February 1536 – 3 March 1605), born Ippolito Aldobrandini, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 30 January 1592 to his death in March 1605. Born in Fano, Papal States to a prominen ...

in 1596. It was united with the nearby Jesuit church of S. Andrea. The titulus was restored by

Pope Leo XIII Pope Leo XIII (; born Gioacchino Vincenzo Raffaele Luigi Pecci; 2March 181020July 1903) was head of the Catholic Church from 20 February 1878 until his death in July 1903. He had the fourth-longest reign of any pope, behind those of Peter the Ap ...

in 1880, with the appointment of Cardinal Andon Bedros IX Hassoun. The current

Cardinal Priest A cardinal is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. As titular members of the clergy of the Diocese of Rome, they serve as advisors to the pope, who is the bishop of Rome and the visible head of the worldwide Catholic Church. Ca ...

is Cardinal

Adam Maida Adam Joseph Maida (born March 18, 1930) is an American Catholic prelate who served as Archbishop of Detroit from 1990 to 2009, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1994. He previously served as Bishop of Green Bay from 1984 to 1990. Biogr ...

. *Caelius Januarius (attested 499) ::... *Lictifredus (attested 1128–1130; 1133–1140) *Matthaeus (1130) *Thomas (1141–1146) *

Theodinus Theodinus, O.S.B. (died c. 1186) was a Benedictine monk, and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He was a native of Arrone, a hilltop town 15 km east of Terni. He became a cardinal priest, and then cardinal bishop of Porto. He served as ...

(1166–1179) ::... *Gregorius (1202–1207) *Joannes de Castrocoeli (1294–1295) *Petrus de Capella (1305–1306) * Jacques Duèse (1312–1313) *

Bertrand de la Tour Bertrand de la Tour (1265? – 1332 or 1333), also known as Bertrand de Turre, was a French Franciscan theologian and cardinal. De la Tour was born in Camboulit in the old province of Quercy, France. Serving as a provincial minister in Aquitai ...

, O.Min . (1320–1323) *Joannes de Convenis (Jean de Comminges) (1327–1331) *Elias de Nabinalis, O.Min. (1342–1348) * Nicolaus Capocci (1350–1361) *

Guillaume de Chanac Guillaume de Chanac (died December 30, 1383) was a French Benedictine who became a Cardinal. He was abbot at Bèze Abbey, and then was abbot at Saint-Florent from 1354 to 1368. He was Bishop of Chartres and then Bishop of Mende The Diocese of ...

, O.S.B. (1371–1383) *Jean de Muriolo (Murol) (1385–1399) (Avignon Obedience) *

Peter von Schaumberg Peter von Schaumberg (22 February 1388 – 12 April 1469) was Prince-Bishop of Augsburg in the 15th century. A member of the nobility, he studied at the Universities of Heidelberg and of Bologna. The bishop was a skilled diplomat and negotiator ...

(1440−1469) *

Ausiàs Despuig Ausias Despuig (born in Xàtiva in Spain, died 3 September 1483 in Rome) was a cardinal of the Catholic Church. Biography He was made cardinal on the 7 May 1473 by Pope Sixtus IV. He was then archbishop of Monreale in Sicily. He became arch ...

(1473–1477) * Cristoforo della Rovere (1477–1478) *

Domenico della Rovere Domenico della Rovere (1442 – 23 April 1501) was an Italian cardinal and patron of the arts. Life He was born in Vinovo, near Turin, and was not a relative of Pope Sixtus IV (Francesco Della Rovere), who, however, favoured him in the hope ...

(1478–1479) *

Ferry de Clugny Ferry de Clugny, Cardinal and Bishop of Tournai (Autun ca. 1430 – Rome 7 October 1483) was a highly placed statesman and ecclesiastic in the service of the Dukes of Burgundy. He was born at Autun, Burgundy, of a distinguished house that produc ...

(1480–1482) *

Joan Margarit i Pau Joan Margarit i Pau, or in Spanish Juan Margarit y Pau (died 21 November 1484), was a prominent Catalan prelate, a bishop of Girona and a cardinal. Biography Joan Margarit i Pau was born in Girona, around 1424, the son of an aristocratic famil ...

(1483–1484) * Giovanni Conti (1489–1493) *

Raymond Peraudi Raymond Peraudi (1435–1505) was a French Augustinian, papal legate, and Cardinal. He was a perpetual traveler, engaging in diplomatic negotiations at various times for the pope, the emperor and the king of France. He was an effective administra ...

(1496–1499) *

Jaime Serra i Cau Jaume Serra i Cau (, ; died 1517) was a Spanish Valencian cardinal, from the city of Valencia. He was tutor to the young Giovanni Borgia, and a close associate of his father Pope Alexander VI. He was archbishop of Oristano in 1492, and was cr ...

(1500–1502) * Gianstefano Ferrero (1502–1505) *

Antonio Ferrero Antonio Ferrero (died 1508) (called the Cardinal of Gubbio) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. Biography Antonio Ferrero was born into a poor family in Savona. As a youth, he was a squire of Cardinal Girolamo Basso della Rover ...

(1505–1508) *

René de Prie René de Prie (1451–1519) was a French Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. Biography René de Prie was born in Touraine in 1451, the son of Antoine de Prie, baron of Buzançais, and Madeleine d'Amboise. He was a cousin of Cardinal Georges d' ...

(1509–1511) *

Antonio Maria Ciocchi del Monte Antonio Maria Ciocchi del Monte San Savino (September 1461 - 20 September 1533) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. Early years, ca. 1462–1503 Antonio Maria Ciocchi del Monte San Savino was born in Monte San Savino sometime b ...

(1511–1514) * Francesco Conti (1517–1521) * Marino Grimani (1528–1532) * Esteban Gabriel Merino (1533–1534) *

(1535) *

Gasparo Contarini Gasparo Contarini (16 October 1483 – 24 August 1542) was an Italian diplomat, cardinal, and Bishop of Belluno. He advocated for dialogue with Protestants during the Reformation. Born in Venice, he served as the Republic's ambassador to Charle ...

(1535–1537) *

(1537–1542) *

Giovanni Morone Giovanni Morone (or Moroni) (25 January 1509 – 1 December 1580) was an Italian cardinal. He was named Bishop of Modena in 1529 and was created Cardinal in 1542 by Pope Paul III. As a cardinal, he resided in the Vatican's Apostolic Palace a ...

(1542–1549) *

Filiberto Ferrero Filiberto Ferrero (1500–1549) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. Biography Filiberto Ferrero was born in Biella in 1500, the son of Goffredo Ferrero, marquis of Bordolano, and his second wife Margherita Sanseverino, marchiones ...

(1549) * Giovanni Ricci (1551–1566) *

Luigi Pisani Luigi Pisani (1522 – 3 June 1570) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. He was the son of Giovanni Pisani, an Ambassador of Venice to France. His uncle, his mother's brother was the Doge of Venice, and another uncle, his father's br ...

(1566–1568) * Luigi Cornaro (1568–1569) * Gaspar Cervantes (June 1570) * Pietro Donato Cesi (1570–1584) * Costanzo da Sarnano, O.Min.Conv. (1587) *

Antonio Sauli Antonio Maria Sauli (sometimes Antonio Sauli) (1541–1623) was the Archbishop of Genoa and later a Roman Catholic Cardinal, serving as the dean of the College of Cardinals for the last three years of his life. Sauli was born in Genoa. He was a ...

(1588–1591).

Restored title

Andon Bedros IX Hassoun Andon Bedros IX Hassoun (15 June 1809 – 28 February 1884) was an Ottoman prelate of the Armenian Catholic Church, the Armenian rite Catholic Church, who was the Patriarch of Cilicia from 1866 to 1881; he was at the center of a schism that la ...

(1880–1884) *

Guglielmo Massaia Guglielmo Massaia, OFM Cap. (born Lorenzo; 9 June 1809 - 6 August 1889) was an Italian cardinal of the Catholic Church who served as a missionary and a Capuchin friar. Pope Francis named him Venerable on 1 December 2016. Life Guglielmo Massa ...

, O.F.M.Cap. (1884–1889) * Albin Dunajewski (1891–1894) * Jan Puzyna de Kosielsko (1902–1911) *

Louis-Nazaire Bégin Louis-Nazaire Bégin (January 10, 1840 – July 18, 1925) was a Canadian cardinal of the Catholic Church. Begin held a doctorate in Sacred Theology from the Pontifical Gregorian University in Rome and was later appointed Archbishop of Quebec by ...

(1914–1925) * Vicente Casanova y Marzol (1925–1930) *

Karel Kašpar Karel Boromejský Kašpar (16 May 1870 – 21 April 1941) was a Czech Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Archbishop of Prague from 1931 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1935. Biography Born in Mirošov ...

(1935–1941) * Manuel Arce y Ochotorena (1946–1948) *

Benjamín de Arriba y Castro Benjamín Akoto Asamoah (born 4 January 1994) is a Ghanaian footballer who plays for Saudi club Al-Tuhami as a midfielder. Club career Born in Accra, Benjamín arrived at the youth academy of Atlético Madrid from the Rayo Majadahonda counte ...

(1953–1973) *

František Tomášek František Tomášek (30 June 1899, in Studénka, Moravia – 4 August 1992, in Prague, Czechoslovakia) was a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church in Bohemia, the 34th Archbishop of Prague, and a Roman Catholic theologian. His "cautious bu ...

(1977–1992) *

(1994–present)Bräuer, p. 566.

References

Bibliography

* * * * * * Forcella, Vencenzo (1877). ''Le inscrizioni delle chiese e d'altri edifici di Roma'' Volume XI (Roma: L. Cecchini 1877). (in Latin and Italian) * *

External links

Official website of the Basilica di San Vitale
{{DEFAULTSORT:San Vitale 401 establishments Vitale 5th-century establishments in Italy 5th-century establishments in the Roman Empire 15th-century Roman Catholic church buildings in Italy Vitale Vitale Vitale