Day 39 - Saturday, 5th week of Lent - San Giovanni a Porta Latina

Above: Porta Latina and the Oratory of San Giovanni in Olio (St John in Oil)

Above and below:  Two renditions of St John the Evangelist receiving the Revelation of the Apocalypse by Guido Reni 

(Reni is probably best known today for his St Michael defeating Satan)

IN NOMINE PAT[RIS] ET FILII ET SPI[RITUS SANT]I 

"In the name of the Father, of the Son, and of the Holy Ghost."

A quote from the Prophet Isaiah:

 OMN[E]S SITIE[NTES VENITE AD AQUAS]

"All you who are thirsty come to the water" 

Interior - notice the re-used columns from various ancient buildings

Above: Side Aisle

Below:  Ancient Roof Tile Used as an Ambo in the Basilica of San Giovanni a Porta Latina

The basilica was built during the pontificate of Pope Gelasius I (492-496). We know this because the oldest roof tiles have the imprint of a taxation stamp for the Ostrogoth King and ruler of Italy Theodoric the Great who reigned 493-526. One of these ancient roof tiles is now used in the Basilica as a lectern.

Apse and Altar of St John at the Latin Gate

Notice that the windows in the apse are very thinly sliced agate, not glass.

Below: a close-up of the apse mosaic

Apse Fresco - San Giovanni a Porta Latina

Above:  Narthex

Periodic renovations and restorations over the years had completely transformed the church so that by the time of the renovations of the 17th and 18th centuries, the church had an almost completely Baroque appearance.  However, in 1938,  the Rosminian Fathers, were given care of the Basilica and the nearby building, and in 1940-1941 the Baroque features were removed and the Basilica was returned to its primitive simplicity, which we can see today. The Rosminians also opened the Collegio Missionario Antonio Rosmini in the adjacent building, which houses their International House of Studies.

Above:  Entrance to the adjacent Collegio Rosimini

And now for your little side trip:

Further fruit for contemplation:

When his persecutors were unsuccessful in bringing about his martyrdom by means of the hot oil, St John was exiled to the island of Patmos.

Above: Map - The Island of Patmos    

Below: Detailed Map of the Island of Patmos today   

Above: The Island of Patmos - How it would have looked to St John when he was set ashore

Below: The Island of Patmos today - the port of Skala

Below: Monastery of St John in the town of Chora

Above:  Monastery of St John in the town of Chora, overlooking the harbor 

Constructed in 1088, it has walls 50 feet high, and was built like a fortress because of the threat from pirates. It was constructed over the remains of a 4th century AD church and an earlier temple of Artemis.

Above: Entrance to the Cave of the Apocalypse Complex.

Above: Mosaic above the entrance to the Cave of the Apocalypse

Above: Orthodox Church in the Cave of the Apocalypse 

Below: the main iconostasis of the Church in the Cave of the Apocalypse

Eventually, St John did die a natural death, the last of the apostles to leave this world.  Below, you can see his tomb in Ephesus in what is now known as Turkey (Asia Minor):

Below:  Tomb of St John in Ephesus

There was no collect church for Saturday, the 5th week of Lent, however, on this day the Pope distributed alms at St Peter's in the Vatican.  All who desired to do so could join him there.

Tomorrow, my good pilgrims, will be Palm Sunday, and we will return to St John Lateran.

For still further contemplation:

The Apocalypse of John - Orthodox - Osogovo Monastery, Republic of Macedonia

St John on Patmos - Altarpiece by Hans Burgkmair the Elder