Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore
Santa Maria Maggiore (Latin: Sanctae Mariae Maior, German Saint Mary Major ), also of Santa Maria della Neve ( St. Mary's German snow), the Liberian Basilica or Santa Maria ad is praesepe one of the four Papal Churches of Rome and one of the seven pilgrim churches. It is located in the extraterritorial possession of the Holy See. Current Archpriest of the Patriarchal 's Santos Abril y Castelló Cardinal.
- 3.1 chapels
- 3.2 tombs 3.2.1 tomb of Nicholas IV
- 3.2.2 Tomb of Pius V.
- 3.2.3 Tomb of Sixtus V.
- 3.2.4 Tomb of Clement VIII
- 3.2.5 Tomb of Paul V
- 3.2.6 Tomb of Clement IX.
History
Liberian Basilica
The Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore dates from the first half of the 5th century. A putative predecessor, said to have been built by 352 by the Roman Bishop Liberius, could not be confirmed during excavations. The Liberian basilica was probably at a different, though nearby point on the Esquiline. She is best known as the scene of street fighting after the election of Damasus ' I. Pope in the year 366 from the Libellus precum.
According to legend, the Virgin Mary was the Roman businessman John and his wife appeared on the night of the 5th of August and have promised that their desire for a son was going to pass, if ye would be built in honor of a church on the site where the next morning the snow lay. The couple went out to Liberius, who had the same dream. On the morning of August 5 the highest elevation of Esquilinhügels was colored white with snow. Therefore, this church still bears also the patronal feast of Santa Maria ad Nives ( German: Maria Schnee ). The Basilica is the largest of more than 40 Marie churches in Rome, it is therefore called Maria Maggiore.
The construction
The present church was under Pope Sixtus III. built after the 431 Council of Ephesus Mary, the mother of Jesus, had proclaimed as Theotokos. This led to a blossoming of the cult of Mary. The building was constructed from 432-440 and is preserved to this day essentially. There is a flat-roofed, three-nave pillar basilica, which is provided with numerous attachments. The transept was built in the 13th century as well as today's apse of the church. In the years 1584-1590 donated by Sixtus V. and designed by Domenico Fontana Sistine Chapel was added to the transept. In 1613, the Cappella Paolina followed by the architect Flaminio Ponzio, which was donated by Pope Paul V. Both leave the transept appear more pronounced. From the outside it does not recognize, as the Church through their other attachments such as the Baptistery ( 1605 ), the Cappella Sforza ( 1564-1573 ) and the Cappella Cesi ( 1550 ) as a single block appears.
Exterior architecture
Worth mentioning is already the front of the church. Here is a monumental, 14.3 m high pillar Marie. This comes from the Roman Basilica of Maxentius in the Forum and is the only remaining of the once 8 Cipollinosäulen; the term was in 1613 at the behest of Paul V here. The standing on the pillar statue comes from Guillaume Berthelot. Together with pedestal and statue reaches the Marian column has a height of 42 m.
The Liberian Basilica is surrounded by baroque buildings from the 16th to the 18th centuries that summarize belonging to the basilica buildings of different eras into one unit. In 1377, the 75 m high Campanile ( bell tower ) was completed in the Romanesque style. He is considered the tallest tower in Romanesque style in Rome and recalls the return of the Pope from Avignon to Rome. The ancient basilica is not clearly visible from the outside because her late Baroque façade is preceded, in the above the main portal in 1750 by Ferdinando Fuga a benediction loggia was added. Shaping the external appearance of Santa Maria Maggiore, also is the 1670 created, also baroque choir facade by Carlo Rainaldi.
Interior Design
In the vestibule to the left is the Porta Santa. The 36 pillars that mark the nave are made of Greek marble and come from the temple of Juno on the Aventine. In addition to 36 well-preserved Roman mosaics style are from the building time with scenes from the story of Moses. Byzantine style obliged, however, affect the mosaics of the triumphal arch of the same period, representing the birth of Christ. The most splendid mosaic in the apse shows the Coronation of the Virgin. The majestic canopy over the papal altar by Ferdinando Fuga was probably inspired by Gian Lorenzo Bernini's baldachin in St. Peter.
The interior is mainly determined by the floor with Cosmati Inlay from the 13th century, which considered the finest of its kind all the Roman churches applies. Unique are the mosaics from the 5th century, which can be found on the nave wall in the triumphal arch of the apse ( there by 1292 ) and represent a cycle of Old Testament narratives. In the 16th century wooden ceiling cassettes (as well as the interior of the Church of the Gesù ) was equipped with the first gold from America.
Side chapels
Two great bands from the main altar to replace the one originally envisaged transept right and left. The Cappella Borghese (or Pauline Chapel ) on the left, which was created at the time of the Borghese Pope Paul V, is considered most magnificent private chapel of all the Roman churches and contains Salus Populi Romani, the miraculous image, which was once regarded as Luke icon.
Opposite is the Sacrament Chapel by Domenico Fontana from the time of Sixtus V. The precious bronze ciborium is from L. Scalzo.
Tombs
The basilica was grave lay the popes Honorius III. (1216-1227), Nicholas IV (1288-1292), Pius V (1566-1572), Sixtus V (1585-1590), Clement VIII (1592-1605), Paul V (1605-1621) and Clement IX. ( 1667-1669 ). The tomb of Honorius III. was destroyed in the course of renovation work of later centuries and is not to be found today.
Tomb of Nicholas IV
On the left side of the nave, near the main entrance to the grave monument to Nicholas IV is was the end of the 16th century by Cardinal Felice Peretti, who later became Pope Sixtus V. instituted. The design for this monument is by Domenico Fontana; The statues were created by Leonardo Sormani ( 1530-1589 ). The main character is the blessing Nicholas IV, crowned with a triple tiara, as a seated figure is surrounded by two allegorical figures, of which the left the "truth" and the right represents "justice." Originally the tomb standing on the right side of the chancel, but was moved to its present location during a restoration of the Basilica of Fernando Fuga in the 18th century.
Tomb of Pius V.
The grave monument of Pius V can be found in the chapel of Sixtus V., and there takes up the entire left wall. The magnificent work here is somewhat at odds with the papacy of Pius V, who was thought to be an ascetic Pope. The Leonardo Sormani native, crowned with a triple tiara sitting figure perched in the middle and is shown with a cowl and cloak over it; the head is surrounded by a halo. The inset in the tomb reliefs represent important events of his reign, such as the papal coronation in the middle above the seated figure. The other reliefs on the left side reminiscent of the Battle of Lepanto, the set on the right side scenes from the Huguenot wars dar. Below the figure of Pius V. is since his canonization in 1712 a glass coffin in which the embalmed body is laid out. This glass coffin may be closed by a bronze plate, which represents the underlying Pius V.
Tomb of Sixtus V.
Is the tomb of Sixtus V., which is also called the "Sistine Chapel " On the right wall of the chapel of Sixtus V.. Domenico Fontana created according to the same scheme as the opposite tomb of Pius V. The kneeling figure of Sixtus V. was created by Jacopo Valsoldo and shows the Pope with folded hands and sides of stored tiara. The located next to the left statue reliefs show the " good deeds for the needy ," the about the " canonization of St. Diego ". On the right side is next to the Sixtus - figure, a relief representing the " fight against banditry in the countryside around the city of Rome ." The relief also recalls the " peace treaty between Austria and Poland." The relief on the figure of Sixtus V. shows his papal coronation.
Tomb of Clement VIII
In the Cappella Paolina is the grave of Clement VIII, which shows strong similarities to the grave monuments of his predecessors Pius V and Sixtus V. The seated figure represents the Pope dar. with raised right arm in blessing The reliefs on the left indicate the "Victory over the insurgency in Ferrara ," about the "peace concluded between King Henry IV and King Philip II " again. On the lower right side reliefs show the " storm of the papal troops in Gran " and about the " canonization of the Two Holy Giacinto and Raimondo ".
Tomb of Paul V
Also in the Pauline Chapel donated by him is the grave monument of Paul V, which occupies the entire left wall. The statue represents the kneeling Paul V. with folded hands and sides of stored Tiara after the figure of Sixtus V. scheme represents the reliefs on the left illustrate the "Papal military campaign against the Turks in Hungary," and about the " canonization of St.. Charles Borromeo and St.. Francesca Romana ". On the right side are below a relief with the " tour of the fortress of Ferrara by the pope ," about a relief scene with the "Reception of the Persian embassy ". Another relief over the pope figure shows the coronation of Paul V
Tomb of Clement IX.
Opposite the monument to Nicholas IV, shortly after the main gate of the Basilica, is located on the right side of the nave, designed by Carlo Rainaldi in 1671 tomb of Clement IX. ; the blessing seated figure was created by Domenico Guido. It is flanked by two allegorical female figures. The left, created by Ercole Ferrata figure symbolizes the "love", right out of the hand of the Cosimo Fancelli represents the " faith " dar. In marble medallions are attached to one address the papal Mass in St. Peter's Basilica, on the other hand, the Ponte Sant'Angelo, which design Clement IX. significantly promoted representing.
In the crypt, several members of the Borghese family are buried. Gian Lorenzo Bernini is buried right behind the papal altar.
Relics
In the Confessio beneath the Pope altar are the remains of a crib that should be part of the manger in Bethlehem. In front of it is a statue of Pope Pius IX is ..
Organ
The great organ with three manuals and 67 registers was built in 1955 by the company Mascioni. It stands on galleries on both sides of the presbytery. The console and the positive work are to the left of the altar in the crossing. The electro-pneumatic instrument has cone chests. The disposition is as follows:
- Pairing: Normal Couplers: II / I, III / I, III / II, I / P, II / P III / P
- Suboktavkoppeln: II / I, III / I, III / II, I / I, III / III
- Superoktavkoppeln: II / I, III / I, III / II, I / P, II / P III / P, I / I, II / II, III / III
Bells
The bells of Santa Maria Maggiore consists of five bells of the 13th, 14th, 16th and 19th century.
The Läuteordnung distinguishes between the ringing of a doppio, a rhythmic beating and a distesa, the swinging of the bells with falling lace. The ringing of a doppio is subject to the ordinary fairs on Sundays and working days. The daily Angelus prayer the great bell struck thirteen times.
A distesa is rung for the arrival of the Corpus Christi procession of the Pope, at the Easter Vigil and other extraordinary occasions. Also a distesa ringing every night by 21 clock the great bell La sperduta the so-called suonare a festa. This ringing is due to a foundation of a pilgrim, which owes its popular name of the bell.
Gallery
Holy Door ( Porta Santa )
Cappella Paolina Borghesiana
Crypt altar ciborium and sculpture Pius IX '.
Apse mosaic