San Teodoro (Rome)
Encyclopedia
San Teodoro is 6th century church in Rome
. It was given to the Orthodox community of Rome by Pope John Paul II
in 2004. It is dedicated to Theodore of Amasea
, and is located on an ancient route between the Roman Forum
and Forum Boarium
along the north-west foot of the Palatine Hill
.
. An ancient pagan altar may be seen in the atrium in front of the church, and a Christian mosaic of that date has been found on the site. The apse mosaic certainly dates to the 6th century, and shows Christ (in black clothing with gold lati clavi, indicating high rank on Roman garments) seated on an orb representing the heavens, flanked by Peter and Paul and by the two martyrs Theodore (a later addition, from Nicholas V's restoration) and Cleonicus.
It is also traditionally one of the seven original deacon
ries in Rome, being assigned to a deacon by Pope Agatho
(c. 678), though the first titular deacon known by name is Roberto, c. 1073, who died before 1099.
No definitive evidence exists for the church, however, before the 9th century. As the dedication to an eastern saint suggests, this places it in a period of strong Byzantine influence in Rome. It was rebuilt under Pope Nicholas V
, had its long-held titular-church status suppressed by Pope Sixtus V
, was renovated by Francesco Barberini
in 1643, and rebuilt and given to the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Pope Clement XI
and his architect Carlo Fontana
in 1703-1705.
Its titulus was reestablished on 2 December 1959 by Pope John XXIII
, with William Theodore Heard (1959-1970, pro hac vice presbyterial titular 1970-1973). The last titular of the church was Vincenzo Fagiolo
, who died on 22 September 2000.
announced in November 2000 that he was allowing the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
and the Greek Orthodox community in Rome to use the church, with the official inauguration occurring on 1 July 2004, presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople.
, where you can see stacked skulls and bones through a grille. The Capitoline Wolf
was kept in this church until the 16th century.
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...
. It was given to the Orthodox community of Rome by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
in 2004. It is dedicated to Theodore of Amasea
Theodore of Amasea
See also Theodore StratelatesSaint Theodore of Amasea is one of the two saints called Theodore who are venerated as Warrior Saints and Great Martyrs in the Eastern Orthodox Church. He is also known as Theodore Tiro...
, and is located on an ancient route between the Roman Forum
Roman Forum
The Roman Forum is a rectangular forum surrounded by the ruins of several important ancient government buildings at the center of the city of Rome. Citizens of the ancient city referred to this space, originally a marketplace, as the Forum Magnum, or simply the Forum...
and Forum Boarium
Forum Boarium
The Forum Boarium was the cattle forum venalium of Ancient Rome and the oldest forum that Rome possessed. It was located on a level piece of land near the Tiber between the Capitoline, the Palatine and Aventine hills. Here, too, is where the first bridges were built...
along the north-west foot of the Palatine Hill
Palatine Hill
The Palatine Hill is the centermost of the Seven Hills of Rome and is one of the most ancient parts of the city...
.
Catholic church
It may first have been built early as the 6th century in the ruins of the granaries of Agrippa. The unusual round shape suggests it may have been built into the ruined shell of a temple similar in construction to the well-preserved nymphaeum once identified as a Temple of Minerva MedicaTemple of Minerva Medica (nymphaeum)
The nymphaeum called the Temple of Minerva Medica is a ruin of late Imperial Rome, between the via Labicana and Aurelian Walls and just inside the line of the Anio Vetus. Once part of the Horti Liciniani on the Esquiline Hill, it now faces the modern Via Giolitti...
. An ancient pagan altar may be seen in the atrium in front of the church, and a Christian mosaic of that date has been found on the site. The apse mosaic certainly dates to the 6th century, and shows Christ (in black clothing with gold lati clavi, indicating high rank on Roman garments) seated on an orb representing the heavens, flanked by Peter and Paul and by the two martyrs Theodore (a later addition, from Nicholas V's restoration) and Cleonicus.
Deacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
ries in Rome, being assigned to a deacon by Pope Agatho
Pope Agatho
-Background and early life:Little is known of Agatho before his papacy. A letter written by St. Gregory the Great to the abbot of St. Hermes in Palermo mentions an Agatho, a Greek born in Sicily to wealthy parents. He wished to give away his inheritance and join a monastery, and in this letter...
(c. 678), though the first titular deacon known by name is Roberto, c. 1073, who died before 1099.
No definitive evidence exists for the church, however, before the 9th century. As the dedication to an eastern saint suggests, this places it in a period of strong Byzantine influence in Rome. It was rebuilt under Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V
Pope Nicholas V , born Tommaso Parentucelli, was Pope from March 6, 1447 to his death in 1455.-Biography:He was born at Sarzana, Liguria, where his father was a physician...
, had its long-held titular-church status suppressed by Pope Sixtus V
Pope Sixtus V
Pope Sixtus V , born Felice Peretti di Montalto, was Pope from 1585 to 1590.-Early life:The chronicler Andrija Zmajević states that Felice's family originated from modern-day Montenegro...
, was renovated by Francesco Barberini
Francesco Barberini (seniore)
Francesco Barberini was an Italian Catholic Cardinal. The nephew of Pope Urban VIII , he benefited immensely from the nepotism practiced by his uncle...
in 1643, and rebuilt and given to the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus by Pope Clement XI
Pope Clement XI
Pope Clement XI , born Giovanni Francesco Albani, was Pope from 1700 until his death in 1721.-Early life:...
and his architect Carlo Fontana
Carlo Fontana
Carlo Fontana was an Italian architect, who was in part responsible for the classicizing direction taken by Late Baroque Roman architecture.-Biography:...
in 1703-1705.
Its titulus was reestablished on 2 December 1959 by Pope John XXIII
Pope John XXIII
-Papal election:Following the death of Pope Pius XII in 1958, Roncalli was elected Pope, to his great surprise. He had even arrived in the Vatican with a return train ticket to Venice. Many had considered Giovanni Battista Montini, Archbishop of Milan, a possible candidate, but, although archbishop...
, with William Theodore Heard (1959-1970, pro hac vice presbyterial titular 1970-1973). The last titular of the church was Vincenzo Fagiolo
Vincenzo Fagiolo
Vincenzo Fagiolo S.T.D. J.C.D. was an Italian righteous among the nations, a Cardinal, and from 1990 until 1994 President of the Pontifical Council for Legislative Texts....
, who died on 22 September 2000.
Orthodox church
Pope John Paul IIPope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
announced in November 2000 that he was allowing the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople
The Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople , part of the wider Orthodox Church, is one of the fourteen autocephalous churches within the communion of Orthodox Christianity...
and the Greek Orthodox community in Rome to use the church, with the official inauguration occurring on 1 July 2004, presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople.
Interior
At the back of the atrium outside the church is an ossuaryOssuary
An ossuary is a chest, building, well, or site made to serve as the final resting place of human skeletal remains. They are frequently used where burial space is scarce. A body is first buried in a temporary grave, then after some years the skeletal remains are removed and placed in an ossuary...
, where you can see stacked skulls and bones through a grille. The Capitoline Wolf
Capitoline Wolf
The Capitoline Wolf is a bronze sculpture of a she-wolf suckling twin infants, inspired by the legend of the founding of Rome. According to the legend, when Numitor, grandfather of the twins Romulus and Remus, was overthrown by his brother Amulius, the usurper ordered the twins to be cast into...
was kept in this church until the 16th century.