Sant'Agnese fuori le Mura
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The church of Saint Agnes Outside the Walls ( it, Sant'Agnese fuori le mura) is a titulus
church Church may refer to: Religion * Church (building), a building for Christian religious activities * Church (congregation), a local congregation of a Christian denomination * Church service, a formalized period of Christian communal worship * C ...
,
minor basilica In the Catholic Church, a basilica is a designation given by the Pope to a church building. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectural sense (a rectangular ...
in
Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...
, on a site sloping down from the
Via Nomentana Via Nomentana is an ancient road of Italy, leading North-East from Rome to Nomentum (modern Mentana), a distance of . It originally bore the name "Via Ficulensis", from the old Latin village of Ficulea, about from Rome. It was subsequently extend ...
, which runs north-east out of the city, still under its ancient name. What are said to be the remains of
Saint Agnes Agnes of Rome () is a virgin martyr, venerated as a saint in the Catholic Church, Oriental Orthodox Church and the Eastern Orthodox Church, as well as the Anglican Communion and Lutheran Churches. St. Agnes is one of several virgin martyrs co ...
are below the high altar. The church is built over the Catacombs of Saint Agnes, where the saint was originally buried, and which may still be visited from the church. A large basilica with the same name was built nearby in the 4th century and its ruins can be seen near
Santa Costanza Santa Costanza is a 4th-century church in Rome, Italy, on the Via Nomentana, which runs north-east out of the city. It is a round building with well preserved original layout and mosaics. It has been built adjacent to a horseshoe-shaped church, n ...
, in the same site. The existing church was built by Pope
Honorius I Pope Honorius I (died 12 October 638) was the bishop of Rome from 27 October 625 to his death. He was active in spreading Christianity among Anglo-Saxons and attempted to convince the Celts to calculate Easter in the Roman fashion. He is chiefl ...
in the 7th century, and largely retains its original structure, despite many changes to the decoration. In particular the
mosaic A mosaic is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/mortar, and covering a surface. Mosaics are often used as floor and wall decoration, and were particularly pop ...
in the
apse In architecture, an apse (plural apses; from Latin 'arch, vault' from Ancient Greek 'arch'; sometimes written apsis, plural apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome, also known as an ''exedra''. In ...
of Agnes, Honorius, and another Pope is largely in its original condition. The current
Cardinal Priest A cardinal ( la, Sanctae Romanae Ecclesiae cardinalis, literally 'cardinal of the Holy Roman Church') is a senior member of the clergy of the Catholic Church. Cardinals are created by the ruling pope and typically hold the title for life. Col ...
of the ''Titulus S. Agnetis
Extra moenia Extra moenia (also: extra muros) is a Latin phrase that means ''outside the walls'' or ''outside the walls of the city''. The phrase is commonly used in reference to the original attributes of a building, usually a church, which was built outside ...
'' is
Camillo Ruini Camillo Ruini (; born 19 February 1931) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who was made a cardinal in 1991. He served as president of the Italian Episcopal Conference from 1991 to 2007 and as Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome fr ...
.


History

A very large basilica was built some metres from the present church in the 4th century, to which was attached the large private mausoleum for
Constantina Flavia Valeria Constantina (also sometimes called ''Constantia'' and ''Constantiana''; el, Κωνσταντίνα; b. after 307/before 317 – d. 354), later known as Saint Constance, was the eldest daughter of Roman emperor Constantine the Great ...
, the daughter of
Constantine I Constantine I ( , ; la, Flavius Valerius Constantinus, ; ; 27 February 22 May 337), also known as Constantine the Great, was Roman emperor from AD 306 to 337, the first one to Constantine the Great and Christianity, convert to Christiani ...
. The mausoleum was later converted into a church, which survives and is now known as
Santa Costanza Santa Costanza is a 4th-century church in Rome, Italy, on the Via Nomentana, which runs north-east out of the city. It is a round building with well preserved original layout and mosaics. It has been built adjacent to a horseshoe-shaped church, n ...
(she was venerated as a saint, even though she was not one officially). It contains very important 4th century
mosaic A mosaic is a pattern or image made of small regular or irregular pieces of colored stone, glass or ceramic, held in place by plaster/mortar, and covering a surface. Mosaics are often used as floor and wall decoration, and were particularly pop ...
s, especially large areas of ceiling in a secular style, but also two small apse mosaics, one including an early
depiction of Jesus The depiction of Jesus in pictorial form dates back to early Christian art and architecture, as aniconism in Christianity was rejected within Christianity in the ante-Nicene period, the ante-Nicene period.Philip Schaff commenting on Irenaeus, w ...
in what has become the standard style of long fair hair and a
halo Halo, halos or haloes usually refer to: * Halo (optical phenomenon) * Halo (religious iconography), a ring of light around the image of a head HALO, halo, halos or haloes may also refer to: Arts and entertainment Video games * ''Halo'' (franch ...
. The large basilica decayed during the decline of Rome, and was replaced in the 7th century by the present much smaller church, commissioned by Pope
Honorius I Pope Honorius I (died 12 October 638) was the bishop of Rome from 27 October 625 to his death. He was active in spreading Christianity among Anglo-Saxons and attempted to convince the Celts to calculate Easter in the Roman fashion. He is chiefl ...
. The lower part of the walls from about half of one side of the Constantinian basilica, and its
apse In architecture, an apse (plural apses; from Latin 'arch, vault' from Ancient Greek 'arch'; sometimes written apsis, plural apsides) is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome, also known as an ''exedra''. In ...
, can still be seen. The new church was over what was believed to be Agnes's grave. The floor level of the 7th-century church is some two metres above the level of the catacomb floor, and the public street entrances are at the level of the 2nd floor gallery. A long wide internal set of steps, lined with inscriptions from the catacombs and other ancient buildings set into the walls, leads down from the street level to the floor level of the church. The apse mosaic from Honorius's time is still present, and less affected by restoration than most mosaics of this date. On a
gold ground Gold ground (both a noun and adjective) or gold-ground (adjective) is a term in art history for a style of images with all or most of the background in a solid gold colour. Historically, real gold leaf has normally been used, giving a luxurious ...
, a central standing figure of Agnes in the costume of a Byzantine empress is flanked by Honorius, offering a model of the building, and another pope, whose identity is uncertain. The church was also built with a separate upper gallery for women (''matronaeum''), similar to that of
San Lorenzo fuori le mura The Basilica Papale di San Lorenzo fuori le mura (Papal Basilica of Saint Lawrence outside the Walls) is a Roman Catholic Minor papal basilica and parish church, located in Rome, Italy. The Basilica is one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome ...
. Saint
Emerentiana Saint Emerentiana was a Roman martyr, who lived around the start of the 4th century. Her feast day is January 23. Legend According to the legend of St. Agnes, Emerentiana was her foster-sister.lamb Lamb or The Lamb may refer to: * A young sheep * Lamb and mutton, the meat of sheep Arts and media Film, television, and theatre * ''The Lamb'' (1915 film), a silent film starring Douglas Fairbanks Sr. in his screen debut * ''The Lamb'' (1918 ...
s are specially blessed, usually by the
pope The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
after a pontifical high Mass; their
wool Wool is the textile fibre obtained from sheep and other mammals, especially goats, rabbits, and camelids. The term may also refer to inorganic materials, such as mineral wool and glass wool, that have properties similar to animal wool. As ...
is later woven into pallia, ceremonial neck-stoles sent by the
popes The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
to newly elevated Metropolitan-archbishops to symbolise their union with the
papacy The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
. The church was assigned to the
Canons Regular of the Lateran The Canons Regular of the Lateran (CRL), formally titled the Canons Regular of St. Augustine of the Congregation of the Most Holy Savior at the Lateran, is an international congregation of an order of canons regular, comprising priests and lay bro ...
by
Pope Innocent VIII Pope Innocent VIII ( la, Innocentius VIII; it, Innocenzo VIII; 1432 – 25 July 1492), born Giovanni Battista Cybo (or Cibo), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 29 August 1484 to his death in July 1492. Son of th ...
in 1489; and they continued to serve it after
Pope Clement XI Pope Clement XI ( la, Clemens XI; it, Clemente XI; 23 July 1649 – 19 March 1721), born Giovanni Francesco Albani, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 23 November 1700 to his death in March 1721. Clement XI w ...
made it a
parish church A parish church (or parochial church) in Christianity is the church which acts as the religious centre of a parish. In many parts of the world, especially in rural areas, the parish church may play a significant role in community activities, ...
in 1708. It is the headquarters of the primaria sodality of the
Children of Mary The Sodality of Our Lady, also known as the Sodality of the Blessed Virgin Mary (in Latin, ''Congregationes seu sodalitates B. Mariæ Virginis''), is a Roman Catholic Marian society founded in 1563 by young Belgian Jesuit Jean Leunis (or Jan) a ...
, founded here in 1864.


In legend and literature

The church is the topic of Canadian author and anthropologist Margaret Visser's book ''The Geometry of Love'', published in 2000, which describes it in exhaustive detail and discusses aspects of history, theology, architecture, symbolism and the emotional and aesthetic effects of visiting the church.


List of Cardinal Priests

The Church of S. Agnese fuori le mura was established as a titular church for a Cardinal Priest on 5 October 1654 by Pope
Innocent X Pope Innocent X ( la, Innocentius X; it, Innocenzo X; 6 May 1574 – 7 January 1655), born Giovanni Battista Pamphilj (or Pamphili), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 15 September 1644 to his death in January ...
: * Salvador Miranda, ''The Cardinals of the Holy Roman Church:'
''Cardinal Baccio Aldobrandini''
Retrieved: 2016-03-12.
(5 October 1654 – 1 April 1658) *
Girolamo Farnese Girolamo Farnese (1599–1668) was a Roman Catholic cardinal. Biography On 26 Apr 1639, was consecrated bishop by Giovanni Battista Scanaroli, Titular Bishop of ''Sidon'', with Tommaso Carafa, Bishop Emeritus of Vulturara e Montecorvino, and ...
(6 May 1658 – 18 February 1668) * Vitaliano Visconti (18 March 1669 – 7 October 1671) * Federico Borromeo (iuniore) (8 August 1672 – 18 February 1673) *
Toussaint de Forbin-Janson Toussaint de Forbin-Janson also known simply as Cardinal de Janson (1 October 1631 – 24 March 1713) was a French Catholic Cardinal and Bishop of Beauvais. Early life As a boy, Janson joined the Knights of Malta and then the army of th ...
(10 July 1690 – 28 September 1693) * Giambattista Spinola (20 February 1696 – 7 April 1698) * Rannuzio Pallavicino (25 June 1706 – 30 June 1712) * Giorgio Spínola (20 January 1721 – 15 December 1734) * Serafino Cenci (27 June 1735 – 24 June 1740) * Filippo Maria De Monti (23 September 1743 – 10 April 1747) *
Frédéric Jérôme de La Rochefoucauld Frédéric Jérôme de La Rochefoucauld (1701–1757) was a French cardinal. 1701 births 1757 deaths 18th-century French cardinals Archbishops of Bourges People of the Ancien Régime {{France-reli-bio-stub ...
(15 May 1747 – 29 April 1757) * Etienne-René Potier de Gesvres (2 August 1758 – 24 July 1774) *
Luigi Valenti Gonzaga Luigi Valenti Gonzaga (15 October 1725 – 29 December 1808) was a cardinal of the Catholic Church. He was elected to the Roman Curia and the Papal diplomacy, and was also nuntius of Switzerland and Spain. Valenti Gonzaga was born at Rove ...
(30 March 1778 – 29 November 1790) * Giuseppe Spina (24 May 1802 – 21 February 1820) * Dionisio Bardaxí y Azara (27 September 1822 – 3 December 1826) * Ignazio Nasalli-Ratti (17 September 1827 – 2 December 1831) *
Filippo Giudice Caracciolo Filippo Giudice Caracciolo was an Italian prelate who was archbishop of Naples from 1833 to 1844. Life Born into a noble family in Naples on 27 March 1785, he entered the Oratorian order in the late years of the 18th century. He was ordained ...
(30 September 1833 – 29 January 1844) * Hugues-Robert-Jean-Charles de la Tour d’Auvergne-Lauraquais (16 April 1846 – 20 July 1851) * Girolamo D’Andrea ''
in commendam In canon law, commendam (or ''in commendam'') was a form of transferring an ecclesiastical benefice ''in trust'' to the ''custody'' of a patron. The phrase ''in commendam'' was originally applied to the provisional occupation of an ecclesiastical ...
'' (18 March 1852 – 14 May 1868) * Lorenzo Barili (24 September 1868 – 8 March 1875) *
Pietro Giannelli Pietro Giannelli (11 August 1807 – 5 November 1881) was an Italian prelate who was elevated to the cardinalate The College of Cardinals, or more formally the Sacred College of Cardinals, is the body of all cardinals of the Catholic Chur ...
(31 March 1875 – 5 November 1881) * Charles-Martial Allemand-Lavigerie (3 July 1882 – 25 November 1892) *
Georg von Kopp Georg von Kopp (25 July 1837 – 4 March 1914) was a German Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church who served as Bishop of Fulda (1881–87) and Prince-Bishop of Breslau (1887–1914). He was known for his anti-Polish views and pursued the German ...
(19 January 1893 – 4 March 1914) *
Károly Hornig Károly Hornig (10 August 1840 – 9 February 1917) was a Hungarians, Hungarian Cardinal (Catholicism), Cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as Bishop of Veszprém from 1888 until his death, and was elevated to the Cardinal (Catholic ...
(28 May 1914 – 9 February 1917) *
Adolf Bertram Adolf Bertram (14 March 1859 – 6 July 1945) was archbishop of Breslau (now Wrocław, Poland) and a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. Early life Adolf Bertram was born in Hildesheim, Royal Prussian Province of Hanover (now Lower Saxony), ...
(18 December 1919 – 6 July 1945) * Samuel Alphonse Stritch (22 February 1946 – 26 May 1958) *
Carlo Confalonieri Carlo Confalonieri (25 July 1893 – 1 August 1986) was an Italian cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church. He served as prefect of the Congregation for Bishops from 1967 to 1973, and dean of the College of Cardinals from 1977 until his death. C ...
(18 December 1958 – 15 March 1972) * Louis-Jean Guyot (5 March 1973 – 1 August 1988) *
Camillo Ruini Camillo Ruini (; born 19 February 1931) is an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church who was made a cardinal in 1991. He served as president of the Italian Episcopal Conference from 1991 to 2007 and as Vicar General of the Diocese of Rome fr ...
(28 June 1991 – present)


References

;Additional sources * Marina Magnani Cianetti and Carlo Pavolini, ''La Basilica costantiniana di Sant'Agnese: lavori archeologici e di restauro'' (Milano: Electa, 2004). * * Friedrich Wilhelm Deichmann, ''S. Agnese Fuori le Mura und die byzantinische Frage in der frühchristlichen Architektur Roms'' (Leipzig 1941). * Carlo Cecchelli, ''S. Agnese fuori le mura e S. Costanza'' (Roma, Casa Editrice 1924) 'Le chiese di Roma illustrate'', no. 10


External links


Parish website
* {{DEFAULTSORT:Agnese fuori le mura, Sant' Basilica churches in Rome Titular churches 7th-century churches in Italy Roman Catholic churches in Rome Rome Q. XVII Trieste