San Bartolomeo all'Isola
Encyclopedia
The Basilica of St. Bartholomew on the Island is a titular minor basilica
, located in Rome
, Italy. It was founded at the end of the 10th century by Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor
. It contains the relics of St. Bartholomew the Apostle, and is located on Tiber Island
, on the site of the former temple of Aesculapius, which had cleansed the island of its former ill-repute among the Romans and established its reputation as a hospital, continued under Christian auspices
today.
The Cardinal priest of the Titulus S. Bartholomaei in Insula is Cardinal Francis George, the Archbishop
of Chicago
.
. It was renovated by Pope Paschal II
in 1113 and again in 1180, after its rededication upon the arrival of the relics of the apostle Bartholomew. The relics were sent to Rome from Benevento
, where they had arrived from Armenia
in 809. The relics are located within an ancient Roman porphyry bath with lions' heads, under the main altar. The marble wellhead bears the figures of the Savior, Adalbert and Bartholomew and Otto III.
The church was badly damaged by a flood in 1557 and was reconstructed, with its present Baroque
façade, in 1624, to designs of Orazio Torriani
. Further restorations were undertaken in 1852. The interior of the church preserves fourteen ancient Roman columns and two lion supports that date from the earliest reconstruction of the basilica.
In 2000, it was dedicated by John Paul II to the memory of the new martyr
s of the 20th and 21st century. This memorial is taken care of by the Community of Sant'Egidio
, who also painted the icon on the main altar.
San Bartolomeo all'Isola is a titulus (Titulus S. Bartholomaei in Insula) of a Cardinal Priest, at present Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago.
The 12th-century tower near the church, the Torre dei Caetani
, is all that remains of the medieval castello erected on the island by the Pierleoni
.
Minor basilica
Minor basilica is a title given to some Roman Catholic churches. By canon law no Catholic church can be honoured with the title of basilica unless by apostolic grant or from immemorial custom....
, located in Rome
Rome
Rome is the capital of Italy and the country's largest and most populated city and comune, with over 2.7 million residents in . The city is located in the central-western portion of the Italian Peninsula, on the Tiber River within the Lazio region of Italy.Rome's history spans two and a half...
, Italy. It was founded at the end of the 10th century by Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto III, Holy Roman Emperor
Otto III , a King of Germany, was the fourth ruler of the Saxon or Ottonian dynasty of the Holy Roman Empire. He was elected King in 983 on the death of his father Otto II and was crowned Holy Roman Emperor in 996.-Early reign:...
. It contains the relics of St. Bartholomew the Apostle, and is located on Tiber Island
Tiber Island
The Tiber Island , is a boat-shaped island which has long been associated with healing. It is an ait, and is one of the two islands in the Tiber river, which runs through Rome; the other one, much larger, is near the mouth. The island is located in the southern bend of the Tiber. It is...
, on the site of the former temple of Aesculapius, which had cleansed the island of its former ill-repute among the Romans and established its reputation as a hospital, continued under Christian auspices
Christianization
The historical phenomenon of Christianization is the conversion of individuals to Christianity or the conversion of entire peoples at once...
today.
The Cardinal priest of the Titulus S. Bartholomaei in Insula is Cardinal Francis George, the Archbishop
Archbishop
An archbishop is a bishop of higher rank, but not of higher sacramental order above that of the three orders of deacon, priest , and bishop...
of Chicago
Chicago
Chicago is the largest city in the US state of Illinois. With nearly 2.7 million residents, it is the most populous city in the Midwestern United States and the third most populous in the US, after New York City and Los Angeles...
.
History
Emperor Otto built this church, which was initially dedicated to his friend Adalbert of PragueAdalbert of Prague
This article is about St Adalbert of Prague. For other uses, see Adalbert .Saint Adalbert, Czech: ; , , Czech Roman Catholic saint, a Bishop of Prague and a missionary, was martyred in his efforts to convert the Baltic Prussians. He evangelized Poles and Hungarians. St...
. It was renovated by Pope Paschal II
Pope Paschal II
Pope Paschal II , born Ranierius, was Pope from August 13, 1099, until his death. A monk of the Cluniac order, he was created cardinal priest of the Titulus S...
in 1113 and again in 1180, after its rededication upon the arrival of the relics of the apostle Bartholomew. The relics were sent to Rome from Benevento
Benevento
Benevento is a town and comune of Campania, Italy, capital of the province of Benevento, 50 km northeast of Naples. It is situated on a hill 130 m above sea-level at the confluence of the Calore Irpino and Sabato...
, where they had arrived from Armenia
Armenia
Armenia , officially the Republic of Armenia , is a landlocked mountainous country in the Caucasus region of Eurasia...
in 809. The relics are located within an ancient Roman porphyry bath with lions' heads, under the main altar. The marble wellhead bears the figures of the Savior, Adalbert and Bartholomew and Otto III.
The church was badly damaged by a flood in 1557 and was reconstructed, with its present Baroque
Baroque architecture
Baroque architecture is a term used to describe the building style of the Baroque era, begun in late sixteenth century Italy, that took the Roman vocabulary of Renaissance architecture and used it in a new rhetorical and theatrical fashion, often to express the triumph of the Catholic Church and...
façade, in 1624, to designs of Orazio Torriani
Orazio Torriani
Orazio Torriani was an architect who worked in Rome. In 1602 he rebuilt the church of San Lorenzo in Miranda within the cella of the Temple of Antoninus and Faustina. In 1624 he built the façade for the ancient basilica of San Bartolomeo all'Isola on the Tiber Island, a work commissioned by...
. Further restorations were undertaken in 1852. The interior of the church preserves fourteen ancient Roman columns and two lion supports that date from the earliest reconstruction of the basilica.
In 2000, it was dedicated by John Paul II to the memory of the new martyr
Martyr
A martyr is somebody who suffers persecution and death for refusing to renounce, or accept, a belief or cause, usually religious.-Meaning:...
s of the 20th and 21st century. This memorial is taken care of by the Community of Sant'Egidio
Community of Sant'Egidio
The Community of Sant'Egidio is a Christian community that is officially recognized by the Catholic Church as a "Church public lay association". It claims 50,000 members in more than 70 countries...
, who also painted the icon on the main altar.
San Bartolomeo all'Isola is a titulus (Titulus S. Bartholomaei in Insula) of a Cardinal Priest, at present Francis George, Archbishop of Chicago.
Exterior
In the center of the piazzetta before the church is a four-sided guglia with saints in niches by the sculptor Ignazio Jacometti, erected here in 1869.The 12th-century tower near the church, the Torre dei Caetani
Caetani
Caetani, or Gaetani, is the name of an Italian noble family princely family which played a great part in the history of Pisa and of Rome, principally via their close links to the papacy.-Origins:...
, is all that remains of the medieval castello erected on the island by the Pierleoni
Pierleoni family
The family of the Pierleoni, meaning "sons of Peter Leo", was a great Roman patrician clan of the Middle Ages, headquartered in a tower house in the Jewish quarter, Trastevere. The heads of the family often bore the title consul Romanorum, or "Consul of the Romans," in the early days.The family's...
.
Further reading
- Richiello, Maria. S. Bartolomeo all'Isola: storia e restauro (Rome) 2001.