Search this site

Anchor 1 SS. Fabiano e Venanzio •

Anchor 1 Presbytery Artist: Isaia da Pisa or Roman school Date: ca. 1430 • The monument is St. Catherine of Siena. The relics of her body are within except for her head which is in Siena • Although a lay woman (third order of St. Dominic) from a large poor family and illiterate for most of her life, St. Catherine (1347-1380) played a major role in the politics of her age. She encouraged the last Avignon Pope Gregory XI to return to Rome which he soon did. Later, during the Western Schism, Pope Urban VI invited her to Rome to enlist her aid • St. Catherine died down the street from this church on Via S. Chiara 14. The room where she died was reconstructed in this church adjoined to the Sacristy • She was proclaimed a Doctor of the Church in 1970 and her spiritual writings continue to be highly influential ▼

Anchor 1 Chapel of St. Helen ▲ ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ Right Aisle

Anchor 1 ▼ Canons' Chapel Artist: Carlo Maderno • The Canons' Chapel was designed by Maderno Artist: Pietro Bianchi (original) Date: Mosaic copy • The altarpiece is Immaculate Conception with Saints. The saints are Anthony of Padua, Francis of Assisi, and John Chrysostom • In 1626 the relics of St. John Chrysostom (347-407), patriarch of Constantinople and doctor of the church, were put under the altar • In front of the altar, on the floor, is an inscription noting the tomb of Pope Clement XI (1700-1721) who established the Vatican Museum • The ceiling stucco is by G. Caslani and S. D'Aria • The choir stalls (1622-1644) are designed by Bernini

Anchor 1 ▼ Ponziani Chapel Artist: Attributed to the school of Pinturicchio • This fresco is of the Eternal Father

Anchor 1 ▼ Central Bronze Doors Artist: Filarate (Antonio Arevulino) Date: 1433-1445 • The panel on the left is Life and Martyrdom of St. Paul. Filarate's signature can be seen above this left panel. The panel on the right is Life and Martyrdom of St. Peter • These doors were originally used at old St. Peter's by the gift of Pope Eugenius IV (1431-1447). They were cast in Florence ▲

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ ◀ Nave

Anchor 1 ▲ ◀ Holy Door • This is the holy year door. The holy door is opened on holy years at regular intervals as well as special occasions by the pope. Walking through the door during this time is a kind of prayer and asking for blessing from God • The first time a holy year was initiated was in 1300 by Pope Boniface VIII (1294-1303). The first time the holy year door was used was in 1500 during the reign of Pope Alexander VI (1492-1503). This door was last opened in 2000 ▼

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ ▶ ◀ St. Luke Artist: Giovanni De Vecchi • The medallion is St. Luke • The medallion diameter is 29 feet Artist: Cristoforo Roncalli • Outside of the medallion are Angels • The Latin inscription above reads: "You are Peter and on this rock I will build my church. I will entrust to you the keys of the kingdom of heaven" (Mt 16:18)

Anchor 1 ▼ Chapel of Christ's Passion Artist: Giuseppe Valeriano and Gaspare Celio • The painting is Way to Calvary ▲ ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ ▶ ◀ Chapel of St. Gregory the Great Date: 1683 ca. • The plaque is Funeral Monument of Attilio Pietrasanta. Attilio was of the Cistercian order and bishop of Vigevano

Anchor 1 ▼ Holy Family Chapel Artist: Niccolo Circignani • The lunette is Annunciation to the Shepherds • The pendentives are prophets ▲ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ Chapel of St. Francis Borgia Artist: Circignani • The vault is Pentecost ▲ ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ ◀ ▶ Ponziani Chapel Artist: Attributed to Antonio da Viterbo Date: 16th century • This fresco is of St. George

Anchor 1 ▼ ▲ Tomb of Pius VIII Artist: Pietro Tenerani Date: 1853-1866 • The relief is Prudence. This figure is connected with the Tomb of Pius VIII above and also to the left of the door

Anchor 1 Baldichin Artist: Barna da Siena Date: 1369 • The frescoes are of saints • There is a story that, behind the grille above, are the heads of St. Paul and St. Peter • Three of the columns of the baldachin are of granite and one is of marble ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ Vault Artist: Giovanni Caslani; Simone D'Aria Date: 1619 • The medallions have Scenes from Acts of the Apostles • The center coat of arms is of Pope Paul V (1605-1621) who built the vault Artist: Buonvicino Date: 1916 • The statues are of 36 popes that were martyred ▲ ▶ ◀

Anchor 1 ▼ Portico

Anchor 1 ▼ Portico Date: 1742-1743 • The relief is Pope Martin I Receives the Exarch Olympius • Each of the four reliefs in the portico are events related to this church ▶