Santa Anastasia

Santa Anastasia is a basilica church in Rome.

Santa Anastasia was built in the late 3rd century - early 4th century, possibly by a Roman woman named Anastasia. The church is listed under the "titulus Anastasiae" in the acts of the 499 synod. Later the church was entitled to the martyr with the same name, Anastasia of Sirmium.

The church was restored several times: Pope Damasus I (366-383), Pope Hilarius (461-468), Pope John VII (705-707), Pope Leo III (795-816), and Pope Gregory IV (827-844). The current church dates back to Pope Urban VII restoration 17th century.

Traditionally, the church is connected to the cult of St Jerome, who possibly celebrated mass here. The saint is depicted over the altar, by Domenichino.

The current Cardinal Priest of the "Titulus S. Anastasiae" is Godfried Danneels. Past holders have included John Morton, an Archbishop of Canterbury.

Art and architecture

The last restoration, after the restoration during the papacy of Sixtus IV, occurred in 1636, when the facade, with lower doric and upper ionic order, was reconstructed in 1636, after the cyclone of 1634. The nave recycles antique columns. The ceiling is frescoed with a "martyrdom of the saints" (1722) by Michelangelo Cerruti.

The chapel to the right, has a painting of "St. John the Baptist" by Pier Francesco Mola. While the last chapel on the right has a fresco of "Scenes of the life of Saints Carlo Borromeo and Filippo Neri" by Lazzaro Baldi. The right transept has a painting of "S.Toribio" (1726) by Francesco Trevisani. The high altar has a "Nativity" by Lazzaro Baldi and below the altar is a statue of Saint Anastasia by Ercole Ferrata. It clearly shows the influence of Bernini's Beata Ludovica Albertoni. The left transept has a "Madonna of the Rosary" by Baldi. The last chapel to the left, by Domenichino depicts a "St. Jerome". The other chapel has a "Ss.Giorgio e Publio" by Etienne Parrocel.

External links

References

* [http://roma.katolsk.no/anastasia.htm "Sant'Anastasia"]
* [http://www.romecity.it/Santanastasia.htm| Romecity entry]