Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls

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Basilica facade

Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura — known in English as the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls or St Paul-without-the-Walls — is one of five churches considered to be the great ancient basilicas of Rome. The Roman Catholic Church counts among them St. John Lateran, St. Lawrence outside the Walls, St. Mary Major, and St. Peter's. Cardinal Andrea Cordero Lanza di Montezemolo, named in 2005, is the current archpriest of this basilica.

1 History
2 Reconstruction
3 Excavation of the tomb of St. Paul
4 External links
5 References

[edit] History

In 386, Emperor Theodosius I began the erection of a much larger and more beautiful basilica, but the work including the mosaics was not completed till the pontificate of Leo I. The Christian poet Prudentius describes the splendours of the monument in a few, expressive lines. As it was dedicated also to Saints Taurinus and Herculanus, martyrs of Ostia in the 5th century, it was called the basilica trium Dominorum 'basilica of three lords'.

Of the ancient basilica there remain only the interior portion of the apse with the triumphal arch and the mosaics of the latter; the mosaics of the apse and the tabernacle of the confession of Arnolfo di Cambio belong to the 13th century. In the old basilica each pope had his portrait in a frieze extending above the columns separating the four aisles and naves.

In 937, when Saint Odo of Cluny came to Rome, Alberic II of Spoleto, Patrician of Rome, entrusted the monastery and basilica to his congregation and Odo placed Balduino of Monte Cassino in charge. Pope Gregory VII was abbot of the monastery and in his time Pantaleone of Amalfi presented the bronze doors of the basilica maior, which were executed by Constantinopolitan artists. Pope Martin V entrusted it to the monks of the Congregation of Monte Cassino. It was then made an abbey nullius. The jurisdiction of the abbot extended over the districts of Civitella San Paolo, Leprignano and Nazzano, all of which formed parishes; the parish of San Paolo in Rome, however, is under the jurisdiction of the cardinal vicar.

Cloister of the monastery of San Paolo fuori le mura

The graceful cloister of the monastery was erected between 1220 and 1241. The sacristy contains a fine statue of Pope Boniface IX. In the time of Gregory the Great there were two monasteries near the basilica: St. Aristus's for men and St. Stefano's for women. Services were carried out by a special body of clerics instituted by Pope Simplicius. In the course of time the monasteries and the clergy of the basilica declined; Pope Saint Gregory II restored the former and entrusted the monks with the care of the basilica.

The popes continued their generosity toward the monastery; the basilica was again injured during the Saracen invasions in the 9th century. In consequence of this Pope John VIII fortified the basilica, the monastery, and the dwellings of the peasantry, forming the town of Joannispolis, which was still remembered in the 13th century.

From 1215 until 1964 it was the seat of the Latin Patriarch of Alexandria.

The current Superior is Edmund Power, Order of Saint Benedict

[edit] Reconstruction

In 1823 a fire, started through the negligence of a workman who was repairing the lead of the roof, resulted in the destruction of the basilica. Alone of all the churches of Rome, it had preserved its primitive character for 1435 years. The whole world contributed to its restoration. The Viceroy of Egypt sent pillars of alabaster, the Emperor of Russia the precious malachite and lapis lazuli of the tabernacle. The work on the principal facade, looking toward the Tiber, was completed by the Italian Government, which declared the church a national monument. The interior of the walls of the nave are adorned with scenes from the life of Saint Paul in two series of mosaics.

[edit] Excavation of the tomb of St. Paul

The Basilica di San Paolo fuori le Mura, founded by the Roman Emperor Constantine I is, according to tradition, the burial place of Saint Paul Apostle. After his execution and burial, it is claimed, Saint Paul's followers erected a memorial called a cella memoriae over the grave. In A.D. 433 part of the building collapsed during an earthquake. In the course of renovations the floor was elevated. The sarcophagus was buried and covered by a marble tombstone. In 1823 the fire completely destroyed the ancient basilica, and the modern Saint Paul's Outside-the-Walls was built on the site. Pilgrims to the basilica during the Jubilee year of 2000 expressed disappointment at not being able to see and pray at the tomb of the apostle [1]. On December 6, 2006, Vatican archaeologists announced that they had discovered a sarcophagus dating to at least A.D. 390 believed to contain the remains of the Apostle. They also announced that they would present their findings at a press conference on Monday, Dec. 11. The original discovery by Giorgio Filippi, archaeology specialist with the Vatican Museums, was reported on February 17, 2005. Work since then has involved more complete excavation of the sarcophagus itself, but the sarcophagus has not been opened. An inscription on the top of the sarcophagus reads: Paulo Apostolo Mart - Latin for "Paul Apostle Martyr". A decision is pending on whether to examine the contents of the sarcophagus.