Basilica di San Silvestro

The church that holds a relic of Saint John the Baptist

The church was built at the place where Pope Stephen II and Paul I lived. Three popes are buried here, Saint Sylvester I, Stephen I, and Denis. The bell tower attached to the back was built by Greek monks, who also did other work on the church to restore it. In 1285, the church was given to the Poor Clares. This church holds a relic of Saint John the Baptist ( in the chapel to the left of the entrance). It also is one of the churches that the eyes of Mother Mary were seen to move in the paintings The Immaculate Conception ( in the chapel near the altar to the left), and The Descent of the Holy Spirit ( in the chapel across from the other painting) in 1796. Other relics that can be seen is an inscription talking about Saint Tarsicius, martyred under Emperor Valerian. It reads, Whoever you are who reads this', that as the prize of martyrdom was granted to the deacon Saint Stephen, who died by stoning, so might it be accorded to Tarsicius, who, though wounded, chose death rather than betray into the hands of 'rabid dogs' the Precious Body he was carrying. In small letters at the end of this inscription are the words: ex antiquis manuscriptis, meaning, 'taken from an old manuscript'. Saint Tarsicius was just a boy when he died, his love for the Eucharist led him to his death. He was the only person willing to bring the Eucharist to christian prisoners. While on his way, he was joined by his pagan friends who discovered what he was holding and beat him to death. Even in the midst of being beaten, Tarsicius never let Him go. 

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