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Sant' Agnese fuori le Mura is an ancient church dedicated to the martyr St Agnes, located at Via Nomentana 349 in the Trieste district and the centre of a very important palaeo-Christian funerary complex. The entrance to the Catacombe di Sant'Agnese is in the church, which is parochial and has the dignity of a minor basilica.
More pictures of the church at Wikimedia Commons. [1] There is an English Wikipedia article. [2]
History
Origins
St Agnes was a late martyr, and it is unlikely that she was buried on her own on this site in about 304 instead of a in a pre-existing catacomb. It is thought that the catacombs that now exist may date back as far as the mid 3rd century, but dating evidence has been elusive. The earliest dated inscription is from 341, and there are no paintings which could date the catacombs on stylistic grounds. Nothing whatever exists in the documentary sources about the origins of the Christian funerary arrangements here, although a pagan cemetery existed in the 2nd century on the site now occupied by the Basilica Constantiniana. This was discovered in archeological investigations. Christians and pagans could share cemeteries and catacombs in the very early days, as evidenced from the excavations under San Pietro in Vaticano.
The saint
The site emerges into history when St Agnes was buried in the catacombs in 304. She is one of the great Roman virgin martyrs, but unfortunately the earliest references to her are not easy to reconcile. The complete legend that has come down to us, and which obviously influenced the works of art featuring her, is from the early 5th century and was published in both Greek and Latin. It seems to be a romance derived from the hints in the earlier sources, and hence unreliable.
The earliest evidence is from St Ambrose, whose homily in her honour describes her as just approaching marriageable age, which was twelve in ancient Rome.
The Constantinian period
According to the Liber Pontificalis[1], the first basilica dedicated to St Agnes was founded at the site of her grave by emperor Constantine's daughter Constantina in 342. (Her name was mistakenly rendered as "Constantia" in later centuries.) The foundation was attested in an inscription, which is now lost. Like San Lorenzo fuori le Mura it was built partly in the side of the hill and partly out in the open.
Dark ages
In the 7th century, under pope Honorius I (625–638), a new church was built at a nearby site.
Pope Hadrian I (772–795) restored the church, and it has since been restored several times.
Middle ages
It is listed in the Catalogue of Turin, c. 1320, as having 40 religious sisters.
Modern times
One of the most comprehensive restorations was ordered by Giuliano della Rovere.
The last major work done on the church was under Pope St Pius IX (1846–1878).
Sant'Agnese has been a titular church since October 1654, when Baccio Aldobrandini became the first titular priest. The present titular priest is Camillo Ruini.
In 1708 it was made a parish church by Pope Clement XI, and responsibility for the parish was given to the Canons Regular of San Giovanni in Laterano. They still serve the parish.
Exterior
Façade of basilica
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You approach the forecourt through a 16th century portico followed by marble steps from 1590. Notice that you walk down the stairs - the church was built at catacomb level. You can see fragments if inscriptions and sculpture from the catacomb, including part of the first shrine of St Agnes. In 1603, soil was removed from around the church, allowing freestanding chapels to be built.
There are remains in the garden of a great cemeterial basilica built by Constantine. It may not have been a church, but rather a covered cemetery. The only part that is well preserved is the mausoleum of Costanza, Constantine's daugther. The circular building has a well preserved 4th century mosaic. Her porphyry sarcophagus has been moved to the Vatican Museums, and a copy stands here.
Interior
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The church has a nave and two aisles, on a basilical plan. The wooden coffered ceiling, from 1606, is richly decorated.
The columns in the nave are of precious marble; the four by the choir in the rare Portasanta, the two next of pavonazetto and the last eight of breccia from Serravezza.
The lower part of the apse is covered in marble and porphyry. The Byzantine-style mosaic in the upper part is from c. 625, and depicts St Agnes being given the crown of martyrdom from the hand of God. She is dressed as an Augusta, a Byzantine empress - according to legend she appeared like this eight days after her death, holding a white lamb. She is flanked by Pope Honorius, holding a model of the church, and Pope St Symmachus.
The Baroque canopy at the high altar is from 1614, and the statue of St Agnes is also from the 17th century. You must ask if you wish to be admitted to St Agnes' tomb beneath the high altar. She rests with her 'milk-sister' Emerentiana, the daughter of her wet-nurse.
The episcopal throne behind the high altar is ancient.
The church has a gallery, which was either built for the use of women in the Eastern tradition, or to provide an entrance from a higher level since the church was built against the side of a hill.
Liturgy
On 21 January, the feast day of St Agnes, lambs are blessed here (agnus is Latin for lamb). They are then taken to the Benedictine nuns of Santa Cecilia in Trastevere, who care for them and cut their wool when a new pallium is needed. If you wish to attend the ceremony, it is best to apply for a reserved place. It used to be that the lambs were shorn and slaughtered just before Easter every year, and the Pope would have them roasted for his Easter Day banquet. This no longer happens.
The feast of St Emerentiana is celebrated on 23 January.
References
- ↑ Liber Pontificalis, XXIII, Sylvester, ch. 23
Bibliography
La basilica costantiniana di Sant’Agnese: lavori archeologici e di restauro. A cura di Marina Magnani Cianetti, Carlo Pavolini. Milano: Electa, 2004. 175 p.
"I Restauri Romani Promossi Dal Cardinale Fabrizio Veralli in Sant'Agnese E Santa Costanza E La Cappella in Sant'Agostino" by Maria Barbara Guerrieri Borsoi. Published in: Bollettino d'Arte v. 91 (July/December 2006) p. 77-98
External links
Italian WIkipedia page on the church