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Santa Maria Maggiore, one of the first churches built to celebrate the Virgin Mary, was erected in the immediate aftermath of the Council of Ephesus of 431, which proclaimed Mary Mother of God. Pope Sixtus III built it to commemorate this decision.
Welcome to St Mary Major, the spiritual heart of Christianity and Marian devotion, one of the four Papal Basilicas in Rome. Plan your pilgrimage or visit to the most important and oldest Marian Shrine in the West, a shrine that houses the icon of the Salus Populi Romani and the Sacred Cradle of Jesus.
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Be stunned by the shimmering mosaics, some dating as far back as the 5th century.Admire the mix of architectural styles. Can you guess which parts were built during which periods?Find an ancient relic said to have been a part of the baby Jesus’ manger.Santa Maria Maggiore presents a fascinating example of overlapping Christian art and architecture throughout history. Every inch of the church is decorated. Sometimes when there’s so much to see you don’t know where to begin! Below is a list of some of the highlights to get you started.
Santa Maria Maggiore is located in the center of Rome, very close to the Termini train station, and is very easily accessible by public transport, or on foot from other major sites. Termini station also has a bus terminal that is used by all major routes in Rome. The church is a 5-10 minute walk from there. Address:Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore, 0...
Every year on August 5th, a cascade of white petals falls from the ceiling of the basilica in memory of the miraculous snowfall.Although located inside the city of Rome, the basilica enjoys extraterritorial status, as it is owned by the Holy See.It’s said that if one were to walk through all four holy doors of the patriarchal basilicas in a single day during a jubilee, they would be granted an indulgence and absolved of all their sins.According to legend, in 352 CE, the Virgin Mary appeared to Pope Liberius in a dream. She instructed him to build a church on the site of a miraculous snowfall. The next day, August 5th, Liberius w...In 431 CE, the Council of Ephesus confirmed the belief that Mary was the true mother of God. One year later, the actual Santa Maria Maggiore was founded, becoming the first great church of Mary in...It was consecrated on the 5th of August 434 by Pope Sixtus III.Over the centuries the church underwent numerous restorations and extensions by various popes, but it still retains the core of its original structure.Santa Maria Maggiore is one of four papal basilicas in Rome and the largest of the Marian churches (dedicated to the Virgin Mary) in the city. Founded in 432 CE, the basilica houses what is believed to be a relic of the manger in which the infant Jesus was laid in Bethlehem as well as the Marian icon Salus Populi Romani.
Santa Maria Maggiore is a Papal major basilica and the largest Catholic Marian church in Rome. How to Visit, Opening Hours, History.
Dec 20, 2021 · Santa Maria Maggiore is the only one of the four Patriarchal Basilicas in Rome to have retained its paleo-Christian plan. The central nave is flanked by two series of columns in the Ionic style, typical of classic architecture.
The Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore is an ancient Catholic basilica that is considered to be the largest of the churches dedicated to the Virgin Mary in Rome. It is one of the city’s four major basilicas.
