Saints In Rome
First Class Relics
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Adalbert, bishop and martyr (April 23rd) and Bartholomew, apostle (August 24th)
St Adalbert [Wojciech in Polish] (d. 997) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Prague, Czech Republic; Gniezno, Poland)
St Bartholomew (Relics: Rome, Italy; Benevento, Italy; Lipari, Sicily; Frankfurt, Germany)
According to the Roman Martyrology St Bartholomew suffered martyrdom in the Roman province of Armenia. It is recorded that he was first skinned alive and then put to death by decapitation. Five centuries later and half-way across the Mediterranean his relics were found in Lipari, Sicily. Most likely they arrived here through normal means; however, a pious tradition contends that this transfer occurred miraculously. This tradition claims that the sarcophagus of St Bartholomew was thrown into the sea by infidels. It then floated upon the water until it finally and miraculously came to the shores of the tiny island of Lipari. Regardless, how the relics arrived they remained on this island until the middle of the 9th century. At this time they were transferred to Benevento, Italy and then in the latter part of the 10th century they were brought to Rome by the Holy Roman Emperor, Otto III, where they were interred in the church of San Bartolomeo all’Isola on Tiber Island. This final transfer, however, is contested by the city of Benevento which continues to claim possession of the true relics of St Bartholomew.
San Bartolomeo all'Isola
(Saint Bartholomew on the Island)
Piazza San Bartolomeo, Tiber Island
Rome, Italy
*An arm of St Adalbert is currently enshrined in the chapel to the left of the main sanctuary. It rests within a little metal box placed under the altar of this chapel.
*Relics of the apostle, St Bartholomew, rest within the red porphyry basin that supports the main altar.
Agnes, virgin and martyr (January 21st)
St Agnes (d. 304, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Sant’Agnese in Agone
(Saint Agnes in Agone)
Piazza Navona
Rome, Italy
*According to tradition St Agnes was martyred at this location in 304 AD. A relic of her skull is present in a chapel located to the left of the main sanctuary.
Sant’Agnese Fuori le Mura
(Saint Agnes Outside the Walls)
Via S Agnese 315
Rome, Italy
*This church is northeast of the Aurelian Walls and is located on Via Nomentana.
*The bones of St Agnes rest in the crypt under the main sanctuary.
Aloysius Gonzaga, religious (June 21st) and Robert Bellarmine, bishop and doctor (September 17th)
St Aloysius Gonzaga (d. 1591, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Castiglione delle Stiviere, Italy)
St Robert Bellarmine (d. 1621, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Sant’Ignazio (Saint Ignatius)
Via del Caravita 8/a
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of the Pantheon.
*The remains of St Aloysius Gonzaga rest under the altar in the right transept. His rooms are next to the church and can be visited by appointment.
*The body of St Robert Bellarmine, a prominent cardinal and theologian of the Counter-Reformation, rests under the altar in the third chapel on the right side of the nave.
*The remains of St John Berchmans (d. 1621), the patron saint of altar servers, rest under the altar in the left transept.
Blaise, bishop and martyr (February 3rd)
St Blaise (d. 316, Armenia) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Maratea, Italy; Dubrovnik, Croatia)
San Carlo ai Catinari
(Saint Charles at the Catinari)
Piazza Benedetto Cairoli 117
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Largo di Torre Argentina. It is dedicated to St Blaise as its full name Santi Biagio e Carlo ai Catinari indicates.
*On February 3rd several relics of St Blaise are presented within this church for veneration. Of special note is a reliquary which contains a bone from the throat of St Blaise. This relic is used to bless the throats of the faithful.
*The second chapel on the right side of the nave is also dedicated to St Blaise.
Bridget, religious (July 23rd)
St Bridget (d. 1373, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Vadstena, Sweden)
Santa Brigida a Campo de' Fiori
(Saint Bridget at the Field of Flowers)
Piazza Farnese 96
Rome, Italy
*This church is at Piazza Farnese.
*Following the death of her husband, St Bridget of Sweden devoted herself completely to a life of prayer and service. After founding the Bridgettine Sisters in Sweden she felt compelled to visit Rome in order to seek official approval for her community. Her visit resulted in her permanently remaining in the city for the next twenty-four years until her passing in 1373. Today a few of her relics rest within this Bridgettine convent which still to this day is occupied by members of her community. Her body was returned to Sweden shortly after her death.
Callistus I, pope and martyr (October 14th) and Cornelius, pope and martyr (September 16th)
St Callistus I (d. 222, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Cornelius (d. 253, Civitavecchia, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Aachen, Germany)
St Cornelius died in the Italian city of Civitavecchia in 253 AD. His remains were then transferred south to Rome and placed in the Catacombs of San Callisto on the Appian Way. Five centuries later his relics, along with those of St Callistus I, were transferred to the Roman church of Santa Maria in Trastevere by Pope Adrian I (772-795). Pope Gregory IV (827-844) then had their remains placed under the main altar of this same church during his pontificate. From here a tradition claims that the remains of both St Cornelius and the bishop, St Cyprian, were transferred to Compiègne, France. Some of the sources conflict, however, with regard to this tradition. For instance, the Martyrology of Ado mentions the transfer of St Cyprian but not the transfer of St Cornelius. As a result two separate traditions have arisen with regard to St Cornelius’ relics. The Roman tradition holds that some of his relics still remain under the main altar in Santa Maria in Trastevere. In the 18th century some of these relics were transferred to the Roman church of Santi Celso e Giuliano. A sarcophagus with these relics can still be found in this church. On the other hand the highly venerated relic of St Cornelius’ head in the Kornelimünster Abbey near Aachen, Germany demonstrates that the purported transfer of his relics to Compiègne in the 9th century may also have credence.
Santa Maria in Trastevere
(Our Lady in Trastevere)
Via della Paglia 14 / Piazza Santa Maria in Trastevere
Rome, Italy
*This church is in Trastevere.
*Relics of the two popes St Callistus I and St Cornelius rest under the main altar of this church. These relics are joined by others in particular those of the priest and martyr St Calepodius (d. 232).
Santi Celso e Giuliano
(Saints Celsus and Julian)
Vicolo del Curato 12 / Via del Banco Santo Spirito
Rome, Italy
*This church is located across the Tiber River from Castel Sant’Angelo. The main entrance to the church is on Via del Banco Santo Spirito.
*Some relics of St Cornelius were transferred to this church in the 18th century. These relics are located in an urn to the right of the entrance.
Camillus de Lellis, priest* (July 18th)
St Camillus de Lellis (d. 1614, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
La Maddalena (The Magdalene)
Piazza della Maddalena 53
Rome, Italy
*This church is just north of the Pantheon.
*In the chapel in the right transept is a miraculous crucifix that is said to have spoken to St Camillus de Lellis.
*In the third chapel on the right side of the nave are the remains of St Camillus de Lellis. He lived in the adjacent monastery and died here in 1614. His rooms can be visited by asking the sacristan. One of these rooms has been transformed into a chapel and contains the relic of his heart.
Catherine of Siena, virgin and doctor (April 29th)
St Catherine of Siena (d. 1380, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Siena, Italy; Venice, Italy)
Santa Maria sopra Minerva
(Our Lady Above Minerva)
Via del Beato Angelico 35
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Pantheon.
*The body of St Catherine of Siena rests under the main altar. She spent the last two years of her life in Rome before her passing in 1380. A devotional chapel made out of the room where she died can be visited by entering the sacristy. Originally this room was located a few blocks away at Via Santa Chiara, 14. However, in the 1630s it was reconstructed and brought here.
Monastero della Madonna del Rosario a Monte Mario
(Monastery of Our Lady of the Rosary at Monte Mario)
Via Alberto Cadlolo 51
Rome, Italy
*This monastery is on Monte Mario northwest of the Aurelian Walls.
*The left hand of St Catherine of Siena rests within the church at this monastery.
Cecilia, virgin and martyr (November 22nd)
St Cecilia (d. Sicily) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Santa Cecilia in Trastevere
(Saint Cecilia in Trastevere)
Piazza di Santa Cecilia 22
Rome, Italy
*This church is in the southern part of Trastevere. It is built over the ruins of the house that St Cecilia had lived in prior to her martyrdom.
*In 821 the body of St Cecilia was exhumed from the Catacombs of San Callisto by Pope St Paschal I (d. 824) and returned to this church. Today her remains rest within the crypt under the main altar.
*The recumbent statue of St Cecilia below the main altar was completed by Stefano Maderno in the late 16th century. A gash on her neck recalls the miraculous events surrounding her martyrdom. Tradition claims that St Cecilia was condemned to execution first by drowning and then by decapitation. Both attempts failed. The second method, however, left her greatly wounded. The executioner struck her neck three times with a sword but being unable to sever her head fled in fear. She survived for three days, offered all she had to the poor, and then expired.
Charles Borromeo, bishop (November 4th)
St Charles Borromeo (d. 1584, Milan, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Milan, Italy)
San Carlo al Corso
(Saint Charles on the Corso)
Via del Corso 437
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Spanish Steps.
*The dedication for this church is to the great 16th century Archbishop of Milan, St Charles Borromeo. A relic of his heart rests within a reliquary in an altar located behind the main sanctuary.
Clement I, pope and martyr (November 23rd), Cyril, monk (February 14th), and Ignatius of Antioch, bishop and martyr (October 17th)
St Clement I (d. 97) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Cyril (d. 869, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Ignatius of Antioch (d. 107, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Cyril is believed to have discovered both an anchor and the relics of St Clement I in Crimea in 861 AD. St Cyril then carried these relics to Rome in 868 AD. He died in Rome a year later. His brother, St Methodius, wished to return the body of St Cyril to his homeland in Thessalonica; however, Pope Adrian II would not allow this. As a result the body of St Cyril was kept in Rome and buried in the Basilica of San Clemente, the same church where he had deposited the relics of St Clement I a year prior. The remains of St Cyril remained in this church until their removal and disappearance during the French establishment of the Roman Republic in the late 18th century. In the 1960’s, a fortunate discovery by an Irish Dominican led to the retrieval of a small relic of St Cyril. This relic is now within this church as noted below.
Basilica di San Clemente
(Basilica of Saint Clement)
Via di San Giovanni in Laterano
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of the Colosseum.
*The remains of St Clement I and of St Ignatius of Antioch rest beneath the main altar. On the feast of St Clement I a reliquary bust containing his skull is festively carried in procession through the streets of Rome.
*A chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to Saints Cyril and Methodius (d. 885). The relic of St Cyril found in the 1960’s rests within the altar of this chapel.
Cosmas and Damian, martyrs (September 26th)
Saints Cosmas and Damian (d. 287, Syria) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Munich, Germany)
Santi Cosma e Damiano
(Saints Cosmas and Damian)
Via dei Fori Imperiali 1
Rome, Italy
*This church is located next to the Roman Forum.
*Relics of Saints Cosmas and Damian rest under the altar in the lower church. Each year for the feast of Saints Cosmas and Damian these relics are brought out for public veneration.
Damasus I, pope (December 11th)
St Damasus I (d. 384, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
San Lorenzo in Damaso
(Saint Lawrence in Damaso)
Piazza della Cancelleria 1
Rome, Italy
*This church is at the Palazzo della Cancelleria near Campo de' Fiori. It is believed to have been founded in the very home of St Damasus I whose remains now rest under the main altar.
Fabian, pope and martyr (January 20th) and Sebastian, martyr (January 20th)
St Fabian (d. 250, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Sebastian (d. 288, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
A major part of the relics of St Gregory the Great and the body of St Sebastian are said to have been taken to Soissons, France in 826 AD. Alban Butler in The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints claims that in 1564 these relics were stolen and thrown into a ditch by Calvinists. This tradition then maintains that some of these desecrated relics were recovered and subsequently placed into surrounding churches in that area. Despite this tradition the veneration of their relics in Rome has been maintained for centuries.
San Sebastiano Fuori Le Mura
(Saint Sebastian Outside the Walls)
Via Appia Antica 136
Rome, Italy
*This church is southeast of the Aurelian Walls.
*The last chapel on the right side of the nave is dedicated to the pope, St Fabian. Also a reliquary chapel near the center of the church on the right side of the nave contains relics of the saint. St Fabian was originally buried in the Catacombs of San Callisto but later his remains were moved to this church. Also within this same chapel are the column to which St Sebastian was tied, an arrow that pierced his flesh, and some small relics from a number of other saints including St Peter, St Paul, and St Andrew.
*Directly across from this chapel and on the left side of the nave is a chapel dedicated to St Sebastian. St Sebastian was originally buried in the catacombs located under this church. At some point, however, these remains were removed. Some of these remains are now located within an urn in this chapel below the very impressive statue of St Sebastian created by Giuseppe Giorgetti.
*This church has an ancient tradition connecting it to St Peter and to St Paul. The Depositio Martyrum shows that in the year 258 pilgrims came to San Sebastiano Fuori Le Mura on June 29th, the Feast Day of Saints Peter and Paul, to honor these two great saints. Therefore, it is presumed that at one time this church housed the remains of both St Peter and St Paul.
*Tradition also claims that within the catacombs located under this church St Philip Neri (d. 1595) experienced such an enlargement of his heart due to a supernatural infusion of God’s love that two of his ribs cracked.
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
Treasury Museum
*The skull of St Sebastian is placed within a glass-sided reliquary in this museum.
Santi Quattro Coronati
(Four Holy Crowned Ones)
Piazza dei Santi Quattro Coronati 20
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of the Colosseum.
*For centuries the skull of St Sebastian was venerated within the crypt of this church. Signage at an altar on the left side of the nave continues to indicate its presence. However, at some point in the last century the skull was removed. It can now be found within a reliquary in the Treasury Museum of St Peter’s Basilica as noted above.
Frances of Rome, religious (March 9th)
St Frances of Rome (d. 1440, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Santa Francesca Romana
(Saint Frances of Rome)
Piazza di Santa Francesca Romana 4
Rome, Italy
*This church is next to the Roman Forum.
*The remains of St Frances of Rome are in the crypt below the main sanctuary. Her skeleton is vested in the habit of the Oblate Sisters.
*To the right of the sanctuary is the tomb of Pope Gregory XI (d. 1378). He returned the papal seat to Rome after the exile in Avignon. St Catherine of Siena (d. 1380) was instrumental in persuading him to return. A relief depicting her involvement can be seen on the tomb.
Frances Xavier Cabrini, virgin* (November 13th)
St Frances Xavier Cabrini (d. 1917, Chicago, Illinois, USA) (Relics: New York City, New York, USA; Chicago, Illinois, USA; Rome, Italy; Codogno, Italy; Sant’Angelo Lodigiano, Italy)
Chiesa del Santissimo Redentore e Santa Francesca Cabrini
(Church of the Most Holy Redeemer and St Frances Cabrini)
Via Sicilia 215
Rome, Italy
*This church is north of Piazza della Repubblica.
*The skull of St Frances Xavier Cabrini rests within this church. It is placed within a statue of her likeness that reposes within an urn on the right side of the nave.
Francis Xavier, priest (December 3rd), Ignatius of Loyola, priest (July 31st), and Peter Faber, priest
St Francis Xavier (d. 1552, Shangchuan Island, China) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Goa, India; Antwerp, Belgium)
St Ignatius of Loyola (d. 1556, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Peter Faber (d. 1546, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Il Gesu (The Jesus)
Via degli Astalli 16
Rome, Italy
*This church is located along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele. It honors a number of Jesuit saints.
*An arm of St Francis Xavier rests within a reliquary above the altar in the right transept. With this arm he baptized thousands of individuals in India and the Far East.
*St Ignatius of Loyola, the founder of the Jesuits, is buried under the altar in the left transept. His rooms are located in the Generalate next to the church and may be visited.
*The remains of St Peter Faber (d. 1546), an early companion of St Ignatius, are also located here. They are said to rest below the main entrance to this church having been placed here when the church was built in the 16th century. During the placement of these relics it was impossible to separate the bones of St Peter Faber from the bones of other individuals; therefore, his bones are buried together with theirs.
George, martyr (April 23rd)
St George (d. 303, Lydda, Palestine) (Relics: Lod, Israel; Rome, Italy)
San Giorgio in Velabro
(Saint George in Velabro)
Via del Velabro 19
Rome, Italy
*This church is just east of the Tiber Island.
*Part of the skull of St George rests beneath the main altar.
*History is filled with legends surrounding this early Christian martyr. The most famous involves him slaying a dragon. Critical research in the last century has upheld the existence of St George; however, it has cast doubts upon many of his legendary accounts. (Note: Other shrines throughout the world also claim to have the relic of his skull.)
Gregory Nazianzen, bishop and doctor (January 2nd)
St Gregory Nazianzen (d. 389, Cappadocia) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Istanbul, Turkey; Mount Athos, Greece; Lisbon, Portugal)
The body of St Gregory Nazianzen was first buried near his hometown in Cappadocia and then later transferred to Constantinople. In the 8th century his remains were removed from Constantinople and brought to Rome by a group of Basilian nuns who were escaping the Iconoclastic persecutions in the East. These nuns were given residence in the Campo Marzio district just north of the Pantheon in Rome. They then placed the remains of St Gregory Nazianzen within their church.
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
Altar of Our Lady of Succour
*Located on the right side of the nave just after the entrance to the confessional area.
*Beneath this altar are some relics of St Gregory Nazianzen. In 2004 a major part of these relics were returned to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
Santa Maria della Concezione in Campo Marzio
(Our Lady of the Conception in Campo Marzio)
Piazza Campo Marzio 45
Rome, Italy
*This church is north of the Pantheon.
*As noted above Basilian nuns brought the relics of St Gregory Nazianzen to Rome in the 8th century. They were kept in Rome at Campo Marzio and eventually placed within this church.
*With the exception of one arm the remains of St Gregory Nazianzen were transferred to St Peter’s Basilica in 1580. This arm remained at Santa Maria della Concezione as compensation and was eventually placed in the nearby church of San Gregorio. This relic, however, is not accessible to the general public since San Gregorio is the church used by the Deputies of the Italian Parliament.
Gregory the Great, pope and doctor (September 3rd)
St Gregory the Great (d. 604, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
A major part of the relics of St Gregory the Great and the body of St Sebastian are said to have been taken to Soissons, France in 826 AD. Alban Butler in The Lives of the Fathers, Martyrs, and Other Principal Saints claims that in 1564 these relics were stolen and thrown into a ditch by Calvinists. This tradition then maintains that some of these desecrated relics were recovered and subsequently placed into surrounding churches in that area. Despite this tradition the veneration of their relics in Rome has been maintained for centuries.
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
Altar of St Gregory the Great
*Located within the left transept near the entrance to the sacristy.
*Relics of St Gregory the Great rest below this altar. The mosaic above this altar recounts a Eucharistic miracle attributed to him.
Jerome, priest and doctor (September 30th), Matthias, apostle (May 14th), and Pius V, pope (April 30th)
St Jerome (d. 420, Bethlehem, Judea) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Matthias (Relics: Rome, Italy; Trier, Germany)
St Pius V (d. 1572, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Helena is said to have acquired the relics of St Matthias. These relics were then distributed to both Rome, Italy and Trier, Germany.
Basilica of St Mary Major
Piazza di Santa Maria Maggiore 42
Rome, Italy
*Some relics of St Matthias rest within the porphyry urn that makes up the base of the Papal Altar. Also in the confessio below this altar are five pieces of wood believed to be from the crib of Jesus Christ.
*Enshrined within the large chapel in the right transept is the body of St Pius V. His remains rest within an urn on the left side of this chapel.
*The remains of St Jerome were brought to this basilica in the 12th century. There is some doubt as to their exact location. They either rest under the Papal Altar within the main body of the church or within the confessio in the right transept.
John Baptist de la Salle, priest (April 7th)
St John Baptist de la Salle (d. 1719, Rouen, France) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Casa Generalizia dei Fratelli delle Scuole Cristiane
(Generalate of the Brothers of Christian Schools)
Via Aurelia 476
Rome, Italy
*Located west of the Vatican.
*The remains of St John Baptist de la Salle were transferred here in 1937. They now rest in the sanctuary of the church.
*During the early 18th century he founded a community of consecrated laymen commonly referred to as the Christian Brothers. This community pioneered many educational reforms within France.
John Chrysostom, bishop and doctor (September 13th)
St John Chrysostom (d. 407, NE Turkey) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Florence, Italy; Istanbul, Turkey; Moscow, Russia; Mount Athos, Greece)
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
Chapel of the Immaculate Conception
*Also known as the Wedding Chapel or the Chapel of the Choir
*This is the third chapel on the left side of the nave.
*Some relics of St John Chrysostom rest below the altar within this chapel. In 2004 a major part of these relics were returned to the Ecumenical Patriarch of Constantinople.
John I, pope and martyr (May 18th)
St John I (d. 526, Ravenna, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
*St John I reigned as pope for less than three years. During his brief papacy he ardently supported orthodoxy despite intense pressures exerted by the Arian ruler of Italy, King Theodoric. Eventually the king had him arrested. Due to the poor treatment that he received while imprisoned he passed away in 526 AD. His body now rests in the crypt of this basilica.
John Leonardi, priest (October 9th)
St John Leonardi (d. 1609, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Santa Maria in Campitelli
(Our Lady in Campitelli)
Piazza di Campitelli 9
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Jewish quarter.
*The body of St John Leonardi is enshrined in the second chapel on the left side of the nave.
John Paul II, pope (October 22nd)
St John Paul II (d. 2005, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
Chapel of St Sebastian
*Located on the right side of the nave just after Michelangelo’s statue of the Pieta.
*In 2011, in preparation for his beatification, the remains of St John Paul II were removed from the crypt of this basilica and placed within the altar in this chapel. Since thousands of people visit this basilica every day the tomb is roped off to provide a small area of prayer. Access is granted if one asks to pray at the tomb.
John the Baptist, martyr (June 24th, August 29th) and Sylvester I, pope (December 31st)
St John the Baptist (Relics: Rome, Italy; Florence, Italy; Siena, Italy; Amiens, France; Munich, Germany; Damascus, Syria)
St Sylvester I (d. 335) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
San Silvestro in Capite
(Saint Sylvester in Capite)
Piazza San Silvestro
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Spanish Steps.
*A relic of the skull of St John the Baptist is within the chapel to the left of the main entrance. The authenticity is uncertain since this same relic is said to be located at a number of other places throughout the world including the Cathedral of Amiens in France, the Residenz Museum in Munich, Germany, and the Umayyad Mosque in Damascus, Syria.
*The remains of St Sylvester I rest in the confessio below the main altar. They were transferred to this church in the 8th century from the Catacombs of Priscilla. On his feast day a relic of his skull is brought out for veneration.
*Depicted within the apse vault above the main altar is the popular legend of St Sylvester I baptizing Constantine.
John XXIII, pope
St John XXIII (d. 1963, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
Altar of St Jerome
*Located on the right side of the nave at the base of the first column.
*The body of St John XXIII rests under this altar. He is known in particular for announcing the opening of the Second Vatican Council.
Josaphat, bishop and martyr (November 12th)
St Josaphat (d. 1623, Vitebsk, Russia) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
Altar of St Basil
*Located within the confessional area on the back side of the first column.
*The remains of St Josaphat rest below this altar. During the early part of the 17th century he valiantly tried to bring Christians within the Polish-Lithuanian Kingdom of Eastern Europe into full communion with Church of Rome. As a result of his efforts he suffered martyrdom in 1623.
Joseph Calasanz, priest (August 25th)
St Joseph Calasanz (d. 1648, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
San Pantaleo (Saint Pantaleon)
Piazza San Pantaleo / Piazza dei Massimi 4
Rome, Italy
*This church is along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
*The relics of St Joseph Calasanz rest under the main altar of this church. His rooms can be visited in the adjacent convent.
*St Joseph Calasanz is known for setting up the first free public school in modern Europe. During his lifetime it was highly controversial to educate the poor. Some thought that it would only leave the poor more dissatisfied with their lowly tasks in society. Education was not seen as an opportunity for advancement. St Joseph Calasanz nevertheless persevered and was eventually appreciated and honored for his work.
Justin, martyr (June 1st)
St Justin (d. 165, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Sacrofano, Italy)
Santa Maria della Concezione
(Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception)
Via Veneto 27
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Piazza Barberini.
*Relics of St Justin the Martyr rest under the altar within the choir chapel. Kindly ask the sacristan for access. The remains of St Justin the Martyr were temporarily transferred in 1992 to the parish church of San Giustino a Centocelle in Rome; however, they have now been returned to this church.
*The bones of nearly 4,000 Capuchin friars are located in the crypt.
Lawrence, deacon and martyr (August 10th) and Stephen, first martyr (December 26th)
St Lawrence (d. 258, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Stephen (Relics: Rome, Italy)
San Lorenzo fuori le Mura
(Saint Lawrence Outside the Walls)
Piazzale del Verano 3
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of the Aurelian Walls.
*The remains of St Lawrence, St Stephen, and St Justin lie in the confessio below the main altar. (Note: The relics are labeled as St Justin the Presbyter. Therefore, it is likely that this is not St Justin the Martyr.)
*A marble stone slab beneath the choir floor is said to be the stone on which St Lawrence was placed after his execution. Also enshrined in this lower area is the body of Blessed Pius IX (d. 1878).
Leo the Great, pope and doctor (November 10th)
St Leo the Great (d. 461, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
Altar of St Leo the Great
*Located in the far left corner of the left transept.
*The remains of St Leo the Great rest under this altar.
*St Leo was known both for his exemplar defense of orthodox theology and for his efforts in halting the advance of the Barbarian tribes. A marble relief of his important meeting with Attila the Hun is placed above this altar.
*A marble relief above the altar depicts St Leo the Great meeting Attila the Hun.
Luke, evangelist (October 18th)
St Luke (Relics: Rome, Italy; Padua, Italy; Prague, Czech Republic; Thebes, Greece)
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
Treasury Museum
*A silver reliquary bust within this museum is said to contain the head of St Luke. This reliquary dates back to the 14th century and the relic is said to have come from Constantinople. However, this same relic is also said to be located in the Cathedral of St Vitus in Prague, Czech Republic. A recent study on the relics of St Luke was conducted at the request of Archbishop Antonio Mattiazzo of Padua in 1998. This study seems to suggest that the authentic relic of St Luke’s head is the one within the Cathedral of St Vitus.
Marcellinus and Peter, martyrs (June 2nd)
Saints Marcellinus and Peter (d. 304, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Seligenstadt, Germany)
Santi Marcellino e Pietro
(Saints Marcellinus and Peter)
Via Merulana 162
Rome, Italy
*This church is near the Basilica of St John Lateran.
*Relics of Saints Marcellinus and Peter are preserved within the main altar of this church. Typically on their feast day these relics are brought out and exposed for public veneration. A large painting depicting their martyrdom is also placed above the main altar.
Martin I, pope and martyr (April 13th)
St Martin I (d. 655, Chersonesus Taurica or ‘Cherson/Kherson’, Ukraine) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Pope Martin I was exiled to Crimea in 654 AD by Emperor Constans II. The pope ardently opposed the heresy of Monothelitism and the emperor’s attempt to halt debates over it. As a result, he suffered exile and death in Crimea.
San Martino ai Monti
(Saint Martin at the Hills)
Viale Monte Oppio 28
Rome, Italy
*This church is south of the Basilica of St Mary Major.
*The greater part of the remains of St Martin I were transferred from Crimea to this church in Rome. They now rest in the confessio below the main altar. This confessio also houses the relics of many other saints taken from the Catacombs of Priscilla.
*A tradition claims that St Sylvester I (d. 335) and many other bishops met here to prepare for the Council of Nicaea. They then reconvened at this same church after the Council to announce the newly formulated Nicene Creed. Constantine was in attendance for this. The large painting on the left side of the nave created in 1640 recalls one of these meetings. However, this tradition is often tied to the ‘Symmachian Forgeries’ thus throwing some doubt on its credibility. Nevertheless, it does seem probable that some agreement was achieved between Constantine and St Sylvester I that allowed for the success of the Council of Nicaea.
Mary Magdalene (July 22nd)
St Mary Magdalene (Relics: Rome, Italy; Plan-d’Aups-Sainte-Baume, France; Saint-Maximin-La-Sainte-Baume, France; Vézelay, France)
San Giovanni Battista dei Fiorentini
(Saint John the Baptist of the Florentines)
Via Acciaioli 2
Rome, Italy
*This church is just east of the Vatican. It is next to the Tiber River and the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
*A relic of St Mary Magdalene’s foot rests in a shrine to the left of the main sanctuary. Also the chapel in the left transept is dedicated to her.
Monica (August 27th)
St Monica (d. 387, Ostia, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Sant'Agostino
(Saint Augustine)
Piazza Sant'Agostino
Rome, Italy
*This church is near Piazza Navona.
*Relics of St Monica, the mother of St Augustine, rest within the Blessed Sacrament Chapel just to the left of the main sanctuary.
Nereus and Achilleus, martyrs (May 12th) and Philip Neri, priest (May 26th)
Sts Nereus and Achilleus (d. 4th century) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Philip Neri (d. 1595, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Chiesa Nuova (The New Church)
Via del Governo Vecchio 134
Rome, Italy
*This church is located along the Corso Vittorio Emanuele.
*The body of St Philip Neri is enshrined in the left transept of this church. His private rooms can be visited on certain days of the week. They are located in the right wall of the left transept. St Philip Neri spent the last 12 years of his life at Chiesa Nuova.
*In 1597 this church received the skulls of Saints Nereus and Achilleus. They rest within reliquaries in the sacristy and are sometimes brought out for public veneration on May 12th.
*The additional remains of Saints Nereus and Achilleus are said to rest within a porphyry urn under the main altar of this church. In 1870 they were stolen from the church of Santi Nereo e Achilleo; however, they were later recovered and are now said to rest here.
Pancras, martyr (May 12th)
St Pancras (d. 4th century) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
San Pancrazio (Saint Pancras)
Piazza San Pancrazio 5/D
Rome, Italy
*This church is west of Trastevere and was built on the site of St Pancras’ tomb.
*In 1798 a general under Napoleon Bonaparte invaded Rome and established the Roman Republic. During this time intruders entered the church of San Pancrazio and severely damaged the remains of St Pancras. His head, which was kept in the Basilica of St John Lateran from 850 to 1966, fortunately was left untouched. In 1966 Pope Paul VI returned this relic to San Pancrazio. It now rests within a reliquary bust on the right side of the nave.
*Additionally, a few relics of St Pancras and other early church martyrs are said to rest within the porphyry urn that makes up the base of the altar in the main sanctuary.
Paul, apostle (January 25th, June 29th)
(Relics: Rome, Italy; Valletta, Malta)
Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls
Via Ostiense 186
Rome, Italy
*St Paul is buried in the confessio of this church. Above his tomb are the chains that had been used to imprison him prior to his martyrdom. These chains were placed in this prominent location in 2008.
*Also the main altar in the left transept is dedicated to the Conversion of St Paul. The painting above this altar, completed by Vincenzo Camuccini, depicts this event.
Basilica of St John Lateran
Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano 4
Rome, Italy
*Positioned above the Papal Altar of this church are two busts of St Peter and St Paul. According to tradition the skulls or parts of the skulls of St Peter and St Paul are within these busts. Also located within the Papal Altar is a wooden table that St Peter and many of the earliest popes are said to have celebrated the Eucharist upon.
*Located to the left of the Papal Altar is another very ancient table. This table rests above the altar where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved. It is placed directly behind a bronze relief of the Last Supper. Tradition claims that it was upon this table that Jesus and the apostles celebrated the Last Supper.
Paul of the Cross, priest* (October 20th)
St Paul of the Cross (d. 1775, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Santi Giovanni e Paolo
(Saints John and Paul)
Piazza dei Santi Giovanni e Paolo 13
Rome, Italy
*This church is south of the Colosseum.
*St Paul of the Cross is buried under the altar in the large side chapel on the right side of the nave. Upon request one can visit the room in which he died in the monastery adjacent to the church.
*Located beneath this church is a complex of well preserved ancient Roman houses. Among these is an ancient house church. These ruins can be visited.
Peter, apostle (February 22nd, June 29th)
(Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
*Tradition holds that St Peter was crucified upside down in the middle of Nero’s Circus. The Altar of The Crucifixion located in the left transept of St Peter’s Basilica is very close to the actual site where this crucifixion took place.
*The bones of St Peter are in the confessio below the Papal Altar and his jawbone can be seen on the Scavi tour.
*Tradition holds that within the large bronze chair located above the Altar of the Chair in the apse of the church is a second smaller chair made out of wood. This second chair is said to consist of fragments from the original Episcopal chair that St Peter once sat in.
Basilica of St John Lateran
Piazza San Giovanni in Laterano 4
Rome, Italy
*As noted previously above the Papal Altar are two busts of St Peter and St Paul. According to tradition the skulls or parts of the skulls of St Peter and St Paul are within these busts.
Peter Julian Eymard, priest (August 2nd)
St Peter Julian Eymard (d. 1868, La Mure, France) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Paris, France)
Chiesa San Claudio
(Church of Saint Claudius)
Via del Pozzetto 160
*This church is near the Spanish Steps.
*A relic of St Peter Julian Eymard is placed within a statue of his likeness that rests within an urn on the right side of the nave.
*This church is managed by priests from the Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament which St Peter Julian Eymard founded in 1856.
Philip and James, apostles (May 3rd)
St James the Less – The cousin of the Lord and the son of Alphaeus. (d. 62) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Jerusalem, Israel)
St Philip – (Relics: Rome, Italy; Florence, Italy)
Santi Apostoli
(Holy Apostles)
Piazza dei Santi Apostoli 51
Rome, Italy
*This church is just east of Piazza Venezia.
*Relics of St Philip and St James the Less rest within the confessio of this church. During the 6th century they were transferred from Constantinople to Rome by Pope Pelagius I (d. 561). In 1873, as excavations commenced below the central altar, their relics were unearthed. They were then carefully examined and repositioned within the confessio where they rest today.
*Also the painting above the main altar depicts the martyrdom of St Philip and St James the Less. It was completed by Domenico Maria Muratori in the early 18th century.
Pius X, pope (August 21st)
St Pius X (d. 1914, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
Presentation Chapel
*Located on the left side of the nave between the Baptistry and the Wedding Chapel.
*The body of St Pius X rests under the altar in this chapel. He is known in particular for lowering the age of First Communion to the Age of Reason.
Polycarp, bishop and martyr (February 23rd)
St Polycarp (d. 155, Smyrna) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
Sant’Ambrogio della Massima
(Saint Ambrose)
Via San Ambrogio 3
Rome, Italy
*This church is located west of Piazza Venezia near the Fontana delle Tartarughe. It is set behind some buildings and is not easy to notice from the street. It is not open often.
*The relics of St Polycarp are set in a marble memorial stone under the main altar.
*Tradition also holds that this church rests on land that was formerly the location of a house owned by St Ambrose’s father and occupied by his older sister.
Simon and Jude, apostles (October 28th)
St Simon (Relics: Rome, Italy)
St Jude (Relics: Rome, Italy; Chicago, Illinois, USA)
St Peter’s Basilica
Rome, Italy
St Joseph’s Altar
*Located in the left transept where the Blessed Sacrament is reserved.
*Relics of the two apostles, St Simon and St Jude, rest under this altar.
San Salvatore in Lauro (Holy Savior in Lauro)
Piazza San Salvatore in Lauro 15
Rome, Italy
*This church is west of Piazza Navona.
*A small bone fragment from an arm of St Jude rests within a side chapel in this church.
Sixtus II, pope and martyr (August 7th)
St Sixtus II (d. 258, Rome, Italy) (Relics: Rome, Italy)
San Sisto Vecchio
(Old Saint Sixtus)
Piazzale Numa Pompilio 8
Rome, Italy
*This church is south of the Colosseum.
*The relics of St Sixtus II were moved from the Catacombs of San Callisto to this church. A small stone located within the wall on the left side of the nave marks their location.
*Pope Honorius III gave this church to the Dominican order with the issue of a Papal Bull dated December 3, 1218. This was the first Dominican monastery in Rome.
*The Miracle of the Bread attributed to St Dominic occurred within the refectory of this monastery. Upon request this room can be visited.
Teresa of Jesus, virgin and doctor (October 15th)
St Teresa (d. 1582, Alba de Tormes, Spain) (Relics: Rome, Italy; Avila, Spain; Alba de Tormes, Spain)
Santa Maria della Scala
(Our Lady of the Staircase)
Piazza della Scala 23
Rome, Italy
*This church is in Trastevere
*The right foot of St Teresa of Avila rests within this church in a beautiful chapel to the left of the main sanctuary. It was gifted to this church in 1617. (This chapel is not visible from the nave of the church and it is rarely open to the public. However, if one kindly asks the sacristan access may be granted. If the sacristan is not present he or she can be called at the neighboring convent door.)
Thomas, apostle (July 3rd)
St Thomas (Relics: Rome, Italy; Ortona, Italy; Mylapore, India)
Santa Croce in Gerusalemme
(Holy Cross In Jerusalem)
Piazza di Santa Croce in Gerusalemme 12
Rome, Italy
*This church is east of the Basilica of St John Lateran.
*A bone from the index finger of St Thomas the Apostle is located here. It is said that this is the same finger that he inserted into the side of the Risen Christ.
*Also found here are relics of the True Cross brought to Rome by St Helena in 325. These relics include: the Titulus Crucis (This is the sign that hung over the head of Christ and that declared him to be the King of the Jews), a Crucifixion nail, a relic of the True Cross, two thorns from the Crown of Thorns, the greater part of the sponge used to give Christ vinegar, and a piece of the cross from the good thief (St Dismas).
*This chapel can be accessed by the staircase on the left side of the sanctuary.
