DOI Page / Citation link:
https://doi.org/10.11588/diglit.71133#0471
SS. APOSTOLI
377
The venerable Archconfraternity of the Most Holy Name
of Mary, which has its centre in the first of these two churches,
took its rise from the marvellous victory of the Christian troops
under John Sobieski of Poland, Leopold of Austria, and Charles
of Lorraine, over the Turkish forces under the walls of Vienna
in A.D. 1683. Innocent XI established the confraternity to per-
petuate the memory of this signal instance of the power of our
Lady’s intercession. The Holy Father was the first to be
inscribed on the roll of members : his example was followed by
Leopold, Emperor of Austria, and his son Joseph I, who took
the confraternity under their protection. Other Pontiffs and
Sovereigns of succeeding times were enrolled among its
associates. Every year till 1870, on the feast of the Holy Name
■of Mary (?'.<?., on the Sunday within the octave of her Nativity),
the members of this confraternity walked in procession to the
Church of S. Maria della Vittoria, entering the courtyard of
the Quirinal Palace on their way, to receive the Pope’s blessing.
The present church was built in 1738, to replace an ancient
one dedicated to St. Bernard. The picture of our Lady above
the high altar was formerly venerated in the chapel “ Sancta
Sanctorum ” (at the head of the Scala Santa), and was crowned
by the Vatican Chapter in 1703.
The beautiful church of Our Lady of Loreto is the work of
Antonio San Gallo. The painting over the high altar is
esteemed one of Perugino's best.
326.—THE CHURCH OF THE SS. APOSTOLI.
The street near S. Maria di Loreto leads to the Via
Nazionale, on the opposite side of which are the piazza and
Church of the SS. Apostoli. This is one of the largest religious
edifices of Rome, and has belonged to the Conventual Friars
for many centuries. The original building, begun by Pelagius I
in the sixth century, was completed by his successor John III
(564), and restored by Stephen V (891), who placed a great
number of relics in the Confession, and among them the
remains of SS. Chrysanthus and Daria. In 1348 the church
was so badly damaged by an earthquake, that it had to be
abandoned till Martin V (Colonna) restored it in 1420. That
Pope had his palace near the church, probably where the
Colonna palace now stands.
The present building dates only from 1702, and retains
nothing of the ancient one except the porch.
The interior is impressive from its vastness and its rich
decorations. On the ceilings are wonderful frescoes by
377
The venerable Archconfraternity of the Most Holy Name
of Mary, which has its centre in the first of these two churches,
took its rise from the marvellous victory of the Christian troops
under John Sobieski of Poland, Leopold of Austria, and Charles
of Lorraine, over the Turkish forces under the walls of Vienna
in A.D. 1683. Innocent XI established the confraternity to per-
petuate the memory of this signal instance of the power of our
Lady’s intercession. The Holy Father was the first to be
inscribed on the roll of members : his example was followed by
Leopold, Emperor of Austria, and his son Joseph I, who took
the confraternity under their protection. Other Pontiffs and
Sovereigns of succeeding times were enrolled among its
associates. Every year till 1870, on the feast of the Holy Name
■of Mary (?'.<?., on the Sunday within the octave of her Nativity),
the members of this confraternity walked in procession to the
Church of S. Maria della Vittoria, entering the courtyard of
the Quirinal Palace on their way, to receive the Pope’s blessing.
The present church was built in 1738, to replace an ancient
one dedicated to St. Bernard. The picture of our Lady above
the high altar was formerly venerated in the chapel “ Sancta
Sanctorum ” (at the head of the Scala Santa), and was crowned
by the Vatican Chapter in 1703.
The beautiful church of Our Lady of Loreto is the work of
Antonio San Gallo. The painting over the high altar is
esteemed one of Perugino's best.
326.—THE CHURCH OF THE SS. APOSTOLI.
The street near S. Maria di Loreto leads to the Via
Nazionale, on the opposite side of which are the piazza and
Church of the SS. Apostoli. This is one of the largest religious
edifices of Rome, and has belonged to the Conventual Friars
for many centuries. The original building, begun by Pelagius I
in the sixth century, was completed by his successor John III
(564), and restored by Stephen V (891), who placed a great
number of relics in the Confession, and among them the
remains of SS. Chrysanthus and Daria. In 1348 the church
was so badly damaged by an earthquake, that it had to be
abandoned till Martin V (Colonna) restored it in 1420. That
Pope had his palace near the church, probably where the
Colonna palace now stands.
The present building dates only from 1702, and retains
nothing of the ancient one except the porch.
The interior is impressive from its vastness and its rich
decorations. On the ceilings are wonderful frescoes by