Santa Croce in Gerusalemme is a basilica in Rome. It is one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome.

The basilica was consecrated around 325 to house the Passion Relics brought to Rome by St. Helena of Constantinople, mother of Constantine I. In that occasion, the basilica floor was covered with ground from Jerusalem, thus acquiring the title in Hierusalem.

The current Cardinal Priest of the Titulus S. Crucis in Hierusalem is Miloslav Vlk.

History

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The church foundation is related to a room pertaining to St. Helena's palace, Palazzo Sessoriano, which she adapted to a chapel around the year 320. Some decennia later the chapel was turned into a true basilica, called Heleniana or Sessoriana. After a long age of decaying, the church was restored by Pope Lucius II (1144-1145). In the occasion it assumed a Romanesque appearance, with three naves, a belfry and a porch. The church was also modified in the 16th century, assuming the current appearance under Benedict XIV (1740-1758). New streets were also opened to connect the church to the two other Roman basilicas linked to Jesus' life, San Giovanni in Laterano and Santa Maria Maggiore. The façade of Santa Croce, designed by Corrado Giaquinto and Domenico Gregorini, shares the typical late Roman Baroque taste with the former basilicas.

Passion relics

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The famous relics, whose authenticity is disputed, are now housed in a Chapel (the Cappella delle Reliquie), built in 1930 by architect Florestano di Fausto. They include: a part of the Elogium or Titulus Crucis, i.e. the panel which was hanged to the Christ's Cross; two thorns of his crown; an incomplete nail; and three wooden pieces of the True Cross itself. There are also a finger of St. Thomas and fragments of the grotto of Bethlehem. The relics were once in the ancient St. Helena's Chapel, which is partly under gound level. Here the founder of the church had some earth from the Calvary dispersed, whence the name in Hierusalem of the basilica. In the vault is a mosaic designed by Melozzo da Forlì (before 1485), depicting Jesus Blessing, Histories of the Cross and various saints. The altar has a huge statue of St. Helena, which was obtained from an ancient statue of Juno discovered at Ostia. The mediaeaval pilgrim guides considered this chapel so holy that access to women was forbidden.

Other artworks

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The apse of church includes frescoes telling the Legends of the True Cross, attributed to Melozzo, to Antoniazzo Romano and Marco Palmezzano. The Museum of the Basilica houses a mosaic icon from the 14th century: according to the legend, Pope Gregory I had it made after a vision of Christ. Notable is also the tomb of Cardinal Francisco Quinones, by Jacopo Sansovino (1536).

Pieter Paul Rubens had been committed by cardinal Albert of Austria for three altarpieces, who had arrived in Rome from Mantua in 1601. These are now in France, in Grasse.

References

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• Paolo Coen, Le Sette Chiese, Newton Compton, Rome
• Claudio Rendina, La grande Enciclopedia di Roma, Netwon Compton, Rome

External links

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• www.basilicasantacroce.it, official website
• "Santa Croce in Gerusalemme" by Chris Nyborg

Basilica churches in Rome | Roman Baroque

Santa Croce in Gerusalemme (Kirche in Rom) | Santa Croce in Gerusalemme | Basílica de Santa Cruz de Jerusalém | Santa Croce in Gerusalemme