San Tommaso in Parione
Encyclopedia
San Tommaso in Parione is one of the two national church
es of Ethiopia
. It is dedicated to St Thomas the Apostle
.
The church is normally open to the public only between 20 and 28 September.
In 1449, Pope Nicholas V granted the church to the Company of Scriptors and Copyists of the Curia. St Philip Neri
was ordained to the priesthood in the church in 1551.
The present church is the result of a rebuilding in 1582. It was built to a design by Francesco Volterra by Mario and Camillo Cerrini.
It was made a titular church in 1517. This status was kept until 1937, when Pope Pius XI suppressed its status due to the state of disrepair the church was in; the title had then been vacant since 1914. The title was transferred to Chiesa Nuova
.
The church is served by the Cistercian Order. As it is also the national church of Ethiopia, and Mass is celebrated according to both Latin and Alexandrine (Coptic) rite.
Interior
The nave has three aisles separated by pilasters with Ionic
capitals
. The nave
has a visible tile roof, while the outer aisle
s have plaster
ceilings.
The high altar, set against the apse
wall, has two marble columns on the sides and is crowned by a tympanon
. The 17th century altarpiece
depicts St Thomas. On the sides are paintings of Cardinal Gregorio Barbarigo and St Philip Neri
. The latter was ordained in this church.
On the left wall are fresco
es from the pontificate of Innocent II (1130–1143). One of them depicts St Martin of Tours
Dividing his Cloak. There are also paintings from the 19th century, of which The Annunciation by Giuseppe Passeri
is the most notable.
National church
National church is a concept of a Christian church associated with a specific ethnic group or nation state. The idea was notably discussed during the 19th century, during the emergence of modern nationalism....
es of Ethiopia
Ethiopia
Ethiopia , officially known as the Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia, is a country located in the Horn of Africa. It is the second-most populous nation in Africa, with over 82 million inhabitants, and the tenth-largest by area, occupying 1,100,000 km2...
. It is dedicated to St Thomas the Apostle
Thomas the Apostle
Thomas the Apostle, also called Doubting Thomas or Didymus was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus. He is best known for questioning Jesus' resurrection when first told of it, then proclaiming "My Lord and my God" on seeing Jesus in . He was perhaps the only Apostle who went outside the Roman...
.
The church is normally open to the public only between 20 and 28 September.
History
The church has ancient origins, but the first documented date is 1139, when Pope Innocent II consecrated it. It seems certain that this was a reconsecration after a rebuilding or enlargement of the church.In 1449, Pope Nicholas V granted the church to the Company of Scriptors and Copyists of the Curia. St Philip Neri
Philip Neri
Saint Philip Romolo Neri , also known as Apostle of Rome, was an Italian priest, noted for founding a society of secular priests called the "Congregation of the Oratory".-Early life:...
was ordained to the priesthood in the church in 1551.
The present church is the result of a rebuilding in 1582. It was built to a design by Francesco Volterra by Mario and Camillo Cerrini.
It was made a titular church in 1517. This status was kept until 1937, when Pope Pius XI suppressed its status due to the state of disrepair the church was in; the title had then been vacant since 1914. The title was transferred to Chiesa Nuova
Chiesa Nuova
Chiesa Nuova may refer to:*Santa Maria in Vallicella, a church in Rome, Italy*Chiesa Nuova , a church in Assisi, Italy*Chiesa Nuova , a Franciscan performing arts ministry based in Chicago, Illinois...
.
The church is served by the Cistercian Order. As it is also the national church of Ethiopia, and Mass is celebrated according to both Latin and Alexandrine (Coptic) rite.
Exterior
The 16th century brick façade was designed by Jacopo del Duca. It has two stories, with the lower divided into three sections. The middle section has a doorway crowned by a triangular tympanon, and the outer sections have windows. On the upper level is a central window crowned by a rounded tympanon. The middle section is crowned by a tympanon; the outer sections consist only of volutes.Interior
The nave has three aisles separated by pilasters with Ionic
Ionic order
The Ionic order forms one of the three orders or organizational systems of classical architecture, the other two canonic orders being the Doric and the Corinthian...
capitals
Capital (architecture)
In architecture the capital forms the topmost member of a column . It mediates between the column and the load thrusting down upon it, broadening the area of the column's supporting surface...
. The nave
Nave
In Romanesque and Gothic Christian abbey, cathedral basilica and church architecture, the nave is the central approach to the high altar, the main body of the church. "Nave" was probably suggested by the keel shape of its vaulting...
has a visible tile roof, while the outer aisle
Aisle
An aisle is, in general, a space for walking with rows of seats on both sides or with rows of seats on one side and a wall on the other...
s have plaster
Plaster
Plaster is a building material used for coating walls and ceilings. Plaster starts as a dry powder similar to mortar or cement and like those materials it is mixed with water to form a paste which liberates heat and then hardens. Unlike mortar and cement, plaster remains quite soft after setting,...
ceilings.
The high altar, set against the apse
Apse
In architecture, the apse is a semicircular recess covered with a hemispherical vault or semi-dome...
wall, has two marble columns on the sides and is crowned by a tympanon
Tympanum (architecture)
In architecture, a tympanum is the semi-circular or triangular decorative wall surface over an entrance, bounded by a lintel and arch. It often contains sculpture or other imagery or ornaments. Most architectural styles include this element....
. The 17th century altarpiece
Altarpiece
An altarpiece is a picture or relief representing a religious subject and suspended in a frame behind the altar of a church. The altarpiece is often made up of two or more separate panels created using a technique known as panel painting. It is then called a diptych, triptych or polyptych for two,...
depicts St Thomas. On the sides are paintings of Cardinal Gregorio Barbarigo and St Philip Neri
Philip Neri
Saint Philip Romolo Neri , also known as Apostle of Rome, was an Italian priest, noted for founding a society of secular priests called the "Congregation of the Oratory".-Early life:...
. The latter was ordained in this church.
On the left wall are fresco
Fresco
Fresco is any of several related mural painting types, executed on plaster on walls or ceilings. The word fresco comes from the Greek word affresca which derives from the Latin word for "fresh". Frescoes first developed in the ancient world and continued to be popular through the Renaissance...
es from the pontificate of Innocent II (1130–1143). One of them depicts St Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours
Martin of Tours was a Bishop of Tours whose shrine became a famous stopping-point for pilgrims on the road to Santiago de Compostela. Around his name much legendary material accrued, and he has become one of the most familiar and recognizable Christian saints...
Dividing his Cloak. There are also paintings from the 19th century, of which The Annunciation by Giuseppe Passeri
Giuseppe Passeri
Giuseppe Passeri was an Italian painter of the Baroque period, active in his native city of Rome.Born the nephew of the painter Giovanni Battista Passeri, Giuseppe trained in the studio of Carlo Maratta. Among the paintings by Giuseppe is St...
is the most notable.