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Anchor 1 ▼ Benediction Loggia

Anchor 1 ▼ Chapel of St. Ignatius of Loyola Artist: Various • The seven bronze reliefs within the verde antico altar all represent scenes connected with St. Ignatius ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▲ ▶ ◀ St. Stephen Chapel Artist: Rinaldo Rinaldi Date: 1800s • The statue is St. Stephen. St. Stephen is called the protomartyr because he is the first Christian martyr as recorded in Acts of the Apostles. He is remembered here because Paul was present at his stoning • This altar canopy has two porphyry columns that match the baldachin of the main altar • This chapel was completely destroyed by the fire and had to be rebuilt ▼

Anchor 1 ◀ St. Basil Artist: Pierre Subleyras Date: Mosaic copy • The altarpiece is Mass of St. Basil. On Epiphany, in 372, St. Basil (329-379 ca.) celebrated Mass in the basilica of Caesarea in Cappadoccia. The Arian emperor Valens (364-378) was present and fainted due to the awe he had over St. Basil's piety • The original painting is in S. Maria degli Angeli • The relics of St. Josaphat Kuncewycz (1580-1623 ca.) are under the altar. He was archbishop of Polotsk (Belrussia) and was martyred for his commitment to Christian unity ▼

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ St. Helen Relic Artist: Bernini Date: 1627 ca. • Each of the four piers are dedicated to an important relic that is housed in the balcony area above each statue. The decorations were designed by Bernini for Pope Urban VIII (1623-1644). Thus Urban's VIII's coat of arms is at the base. The spiral columns are from the altar of old St. Peter's • The relic for this pier is the true cross of St. Helena. The piece of the cross was given to St. Peter's by Pope Urban VIII. St. Helena was the mother of Constantine who legalized Christianity in 313. St. Helena traveled to Jerusalem in order to find the cross that Jesus was crucified on

Anchor 1 ▼ Chapel of Pius IX

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ◀ Chapel of St. Dominic • This was originally a smaller chapel which was built by the Arberini family and then given to the Iuperini and Amidei families. The Dominicans began a reconstruction project from 1649-1656 that can be seen in the eight black and white marble columns which are the colors of their order. Martino Longhi directed this project but it was halted for lack of funds. Fra Giuseppe Paglia enlarged the chapel in 1676 but this was not completed until around 1700. The Dominican Pope Benedict XIII renovated the entire chapel in 1725 with Filippo Bracci directing the project. Pope Benedict XIII was later buried here in 1730. The carved balustrade is of polychrome marbles. St. Dominic (1170-1221) was founder of the Order or Preachers

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ ◀ Portico

Anchor 1 ▼ Capranica Chapel • This is the sarcophagus that contained the body of St. Catherine of Siena from 1430-1855 . After 1855 her body was moved to the main altar where it currently lies ▲ ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ Holy Year Door Artist: Ludovico Consorti Date: 1949 • The top panels, from the left, are Christ Forgives a Sinner, Peter Asks Christ How Many Times We Must Forgive, Christ Forgives Peter after his Denial, Christ Forgives the Good Thief • The bottom panels, from the left, are St. Thomas' Unbelief, Institution of the Sacrament of Penance, Paul's Conversion, Pope Pius XII Opens the Holy Door in 1950 ▲

Anchor 1 ▼ Left Aisle ▲

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ ◀ Portico Artist: Enrico Manfrini Date: 2000 • The door is of gilded bronze • This is the holy door which is opened on certain years by the Pope

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ ◀ Annunciation Chapel Artist: Clemente Maioli Date: 1645 ca. • The painting is St. Lawrence with St. Agnes

Anchor 1 ▼ St. Benedict • St. Benedict lived from 480-546

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ ◀ Entrance

▲ Anchor 1 ◀ ▶ Nave

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ ◀ Tomb of Pius VII

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ◀ Main Altar Artist: Nicolas Cordier Date: 1600 ca. • The bust is St. Paul

Anchor 1 ▼ Papal Altar Date: 590s (Altar of St. Gregory the Great); 1120s (Altar of Pope Callistus II); 1594 (Altar of Pope Clement VIII) • The papal altar is directly above the tomb of St. Peter, the apostle of Jesus. Many sources point to St. Peter being buried here on Vatican Hill in the 60s • The papal altar that is visible is that of Pope Clement VIII. For the new St. Peter's he had the old altars of St. Gregory the Great and Pope Calliustus enclosed within his altar

Anchor 1 ▲ ▶ ◀ Nave