Basilica of San Clemente
95 Via Labicana Roma
An early 12th Century church that was built over a pre-existing 4th Century church and a previous pagan temple, the Basilica of San Clemente is dedicated to the fourth pontiff, Pope St. Clement I, who was martyred in Crimea and whose relics have been placed under the main altar.
Every November 23, on the feast day of St. Clement, the Irish Dominicans, custodians of Rome’s Basilica of St. Clement, make a procession with the saint’s relics through the surrounding neighborhood.
The procession recalls the transfer of the relics of Saint Clement from Crimea to Rome by the brother-Saints Cyril and Methodius in the year 868. The relics were enshrined here in the Basilica, held to be erected over the house of St. Clement in Rome.
Visits to the underground can be made by purchasing a ticket at the kiosk at the side of the church.
Prayer
Heavenly Father,
As I step into this both ancient and medieval church,
a tapestry of faith woven through the centuries,
I bring my heart before You in humility and hope.
Through the intercession of Pope Saint Clement I,
draw me closer to Your eternal love.
Guide me to deeper conversion,
and let this holy Jubilee Year be a time of renewal for my soul.
May the layers of history beneath my feet remind me
of Your enduring presence in all times and seasons.
Bless my pilgrimage, Lord, and grant me the grace
to leave here strengthened to share Your light with the world.
Amen.
Recommended Nearby:
Basilica of Santo Stefano Rotondo
An early Christian church dedicated to deacon and first martyr St. Stephan, is located on the Celio, one of the highest of the legendary seven hills of Rome.
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Early Christian Underground
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