Anchor 1 ▼ Chapel of the Relics of the Passion ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ S. Gregorio VII Papa al Gelsomino •

Anchor 1 ▶ ◀ First Courtyard

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Anchor 1 ▼ ◀ S. Sebastiano •

Anchor 1 ▼ ◀ Entrance

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ ◀ Lante della Rovere Chapel • This chapel was dedicated to St. James the Greater by the Confraternity of Our Lady of the Annunciation and then given to Lucrezia Salviati in the 16th century. On acquiring the chapel in the 1800s the Lante della Rovere family renovated the chapel retaining only the altar structure and altar painting of St. James the Greater • Facing opposite of the chapel, on the interior of the right pillar, is Funeral Memorial of Maria Raggi (1647-1653) by Gian Lorenzo Bernini

Anchor 1 ▼ ◀ Chapel of St. Helen • The doorway leads to the Chapel of St. Helen • When St. Helen returned from Jerusalem with the cross she also brought soil from Calvary. This chapel is built on top of that soil. Thus the name of this church: Holy Cross in Jerusalem

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ ◀ Excavations • A remains of few early Roman houses are visible • There is also a few Christian sarcophagi

Anchor 1 ▼ First Courtyard Artist: Tuscan school Date: 1588 • On the left is Birth of the Virgin • On the right is Presentation of Mary in the Temple • When the ceiling of the portico was reduced in 1632 it harmed the paintings ▶

Anchor 1 ▲ ▶ Chapel of St. Dominic • ▼

Anchor 1 ▼ Cesi Chapel Artist: Giacomo Della Porta Date: 1560 ca. • This chapel is dedicated to St. Catherine of Alexandria. Much of the art refers to scenes of her life • The benefactor for the chapel was Cardinal Federico Cesi. His tomb is on the right wall ▲ ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ Right Aisle ▲ ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ Left Transept Artist: Paris Nogari Date: Late 1500s • On the lower right is Image of the Savior Appears in the Basilica. All of the lower frescoes in both transepts tell the history of St. John Lateran and Constantine. The story begins on the left side of the left transept and moves around to the left Artist: Giovanni Baglione Date: Late 1500s • At the lower left is Constantine Presents Gifts to the Basilica ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ Chapel of St. Thomas Aquinas Artist: Filippino Lippi Date: 1489-1492 • The lunette is the Miracle of the Crucified Christ Praising St. Thomas. On the left, this recalls the event when he hears the crucifix say "Thomas, you have written well of me" • On the right, the other figures have been variously interpreted but may include Christ in red in the background, the women representing the church, and the dog as the devil ▲ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ ◀ Aisle

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ ◀ Central Bronze Doors

Anchor 1 ▼ Medallion Date: 1700s • The medallion is Angel with the Inscription of the Cross. Each of the four medallions in the nave have a relic of the passion of Jesus

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ ◀ Pendentives Artist: Baciccia Date: 1675-1676 • The pendentive is Lawgivers and Leaders of Israel. The pendentives were Baciccia's second work in the church • Below each pendentive is the Farnese coat of arms

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ ◀ Left Aisle