DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.71133#0127
SS. GIOVANNI E PAOLO
87
Cornelius Dolabella, who built it in a.d. io. The window over
the arch shows the cell where St.John of Matha, founder of the
Order of the Trinitarians, died in 1213.
The spacious ruins about, belonging to some ancient edifice,
were transformed into a monastery of the Order in the thirteenth
century.
In a garden near the arch stands the little Church of
S. Tommaso (St. Thomas) in Formis, so called from the
aqueducts, Formee,” near to which it was built. It dates from
the eleventh century, and was presented by Innocent III to
St. John of Matha and the Trinitarians. The Saint’s body was
venerated here till the seventeenth century, when it was trans-
lated to Spain. His Order had formerly forty-three houses in
England.
67.—SS. GIOVANNI E PAOLO-CHURCH OF SS. JOHN AND
PAUL, BROTHERS, MARTYRS.
Following the picturesque road through the arch of Dolabella,
we come to the Church of SS. John and Paul.
These two brothers, officers in the service of Constantia,
daughter of Constantine, were beheaded for the faith in their
own house during the persecution of Julian the Apostate,
a.d. 362. Crispus, a priest, Crispinus, a deacon, and Benedicta,
a pious lady, while trying to secure the bodies in order to give
them honourable interment, were arrested and condemned to
death.
This church was originally the house of the two Saints, as
well as the place of their martyrdom. St. Pammachius, a
wealthy senator and the friend of St. Jerome, erected here a
church at the end of the fourth century, known as Titulus
Pammachii, the original house being filled in with earth, and
the new building made to rest on it as a foundation.
The church was restored by Adrian I and St. Leo III. In
1158 the present portico was erected by Adrian IV (Nicholas
Breakspear), the only Englishman elected Pope (d. 1159).1 In
1206, the beautiful campanile was built. The picturesque
arcaded apse and the mosaic pavement are probably of the
same period.
1 He was for a time an inmate of the monastery of St. Alban’s.
Going to France he entered the monastery of St. Rufus in Provence,
of which he was afterwards chosen Abbot. Eugenius III created him
a Cardinal in 1146, and in 1148 sent him as Legate to Denmark and
Norway, which nations he converted to the true faith. In 1154 he
was elected Pope, and Henry II of England sent the Abbot of
St. Alban’s with three Bishops, to congratulate him.
87
Cornelius Dolabella, who built it in a.d. io. The window over
the arch shows the cell where St.John of Matha, founder of the
Order of the Trinitarians, died in 1213.
The spacious ruins about, belonging to some ancient edifice,
were transformed into a monastery of the Order in the thirteenth
century.
In a garden near the arch stands the little Church of
S. Tommaso (St. Thomas) in Formis, so called from the
aqueducts, Formee,” near to which it was built. It dates from
the eleventh century, and was presented by Innocent III to
St. John of Matha and the Trinitarians. The Saint’s body was
venerated here till the seventeenth century, when it was trans-
lated to Spain. His Order had formerly forty-three houses in
England.
67.—SS. GIOVANNI E PAOLO-CHURCH OF SS. JOHN AND
PAUL, BROTHERS, MARTYRS.
Following the picturesque road through the arch of Dolabella,
we come to the Church of SS. John and Paul.
These two brothers, officers in the service of Constantia,
daughter of Constantine, were beheaded for the faith in their
own house during the persecution of Julian the Apostate,
a.d. 362. Crispus, a priest, Crispinus, a deacon, and Benedicta,
a pious lady, while trying to secure the bodies in order to give
them honourable interment, were arrested and condemned to
death.
This church was originally the house of the two Saints, as
well as the place of their martyrdom. St. Pammachius, a
wealthy senator and the friend of St. Jerome, erected here a
church at the end of the fourth century, known as Titulus
Pammachii, the original house being filled in with earth, and
the new building made to rest on it as a foundation.
The church was restored by Adrian I and St. Leo III. In
1158 the present portico was erected by Adrian IV (Nicholas
Breakspear), the only Englishman elected Pope (d. 1159).1 In
1206, the beautiful campanile was built. The picturesque
arcaded apse and the mosaic pavement are probably of the
same period.
1 He was for a time an inmate of the monastery of St. Alban’s.
Going to France he entered the monastery of St. Rufus in Provence,
of which he was afterwards chosen Abbot. Eugenius III created him
a Cardinal in 1146, and in 1148 sent him as Legate to Denmark and
Norway, which nations he converted to the true faith. In 1154 he
was elected Pope, and Henry II of England sent the Abbot of
St. Alban’s with three Bishops, to congratulate him.