Ðền Thánh Phaolô Ngoại Thành

POSTED IN: DU LỊCH ROMA - ITALY

The temple of St. Paul is called "Suburban" because it is located outside the wall built by Emperor Aureliano in 271 to protect Rome against attacks by barbarian forces. The majestic cathedral we see today is actually completely reconstructed after the fierce fire on the night of 15 dawn on July 16, 1823 destroyed the entire glorious temple built 15 centuries ago.

When traveling to this temple on the outskirts of Rome, pilgrims remembered the vicissitudes of the great apostle of the Gentiles (born 35 AD after Christ), his missionary journeys throughout the Mediterranean, the

the passionate letter he addressed to the newly formed Christian communities, in particular the letter to the Roman congregation written between 57-58, which highlighted the themes of redemption, predestination and justification. Our whole Christian life permeates the most important moral synthesis of the Saint: our life in Christ, directed to the father with the Holy Spirit of Jesus, the son of God incarnate as Man, The Risen Lord and our Savior.

In addition, it was not possible to separate the two St. Peter and Paul, since Rome was established on these two pillars. Both are martyred here. And the most ancient documents mentioned the pilgrimage of

the faithful went to Rome to pay homage to the tombs of the two saints. The history of the suburban St. Paul's Temple, although not as complicated as the history of St. Peter's temple, but no less than ups and downs, as in the 8th century, the temple was looted, then it was the turn of the 9th century Sarrasins Muslims plundered, but the temple was restored immediately.

1. St. Paul to Rome

Paul belonged to a Jewish family, settled in Tarso Island, and had Roman citizenship. After his missionary journeys, he brought the money raised in the congregations to Jerusalem to help Rome there. The saint was persecuted by the Jews, so he was arrested and sent to Cesarea, before the governor of Felice. He imprisoned St. Paul for 2 years. He appealed to Emperor Cesar for being a citizen of Rome.

It was not until 60 that Paul reached Rome, after the shipwreck off the island of Malta. From 61 to 63 he was free, and could preach, writing many letters (letters to the faithful of Colos, Ephesus and Philomene). From 63 to 66, he preached in the East or in Spain, with no certainty. What is certain is that in 66 he was again imprisoned in Rome and executed in the place called Aquas Salvias, on the way from Rome to Ostia in 67. The saint was not crucified like Jesus or Peter because beheading was a “priority” punishment for the citizens of Rome.

 Paul's arrival in Rome was prompted by the Holy Spirit Of God, as the Apostle acts notes: “after these events, Paul was prompted by the Holy Spirit Of God, passing through Macedonia and Acaia, and going to Jerusalem. He said, “I have to go to Rome." (CV 19: 21) 

St Luke in this book also records the relics of St Paul from the island of Malta to Rome:

"Three months later, we sailed on a ship that had passed the winter on the island; this ship of Alexandria and carried the coat of arms of the two gods Dioscuri. We went to Syracura and stayed there for three days. From there we followed the sea and went to Regio. The next day south winds surfaced, and after two days we arrived at the Port of Pozzuoli. Here we meet our brothers, they invite us to stay with them for seven days. We went to Rome like that. The brothers in Rome heard that we were coming to the Appio market and the three bars welcomed us. Seeing them, Paul thanked God and added courage. When we entered Rome, Paul was allowed to stay at his home with his guards.

Three days later, Paul invited the Jewish daughters. When they had arrived, he said to them, " brethren, I am here, though I have done nothing against my people, or the customs of my ancestors, I have been captured in Jerusalem and delivered into the hands of the Romans. After the investigation, they wanted to release me, because I was not guilty of anything worthy of death. But because the Jews were opposed, I was forced to appeal to Emperor Cesar; however, it was not that I wanted to denounce my people. That's why

let me meet and speak to you, because it is the hope of Israel that I should carry this chain.

They said to him, " on our side, we received no letter from Judea about you, nor did any of you come here to report or say anything bad about you. We want to hear your thoughts, because we know that your mission is to meet with opposition."

They made an appointment with him, and that day, came to him at the larger Inn. He presented to them and solemnly testified of the Kingdom of God; from morning till evening he relied on the law of Moses and the prophets to speak of Jesus, to

try to convince them. He said, " You are convinced, you are not convinced." When they dispersed, they still disagreed with each other; Paul added only one word: “the Holy Spirit spoke very rightly by the prophet Isaiah, saying to your fathers, 'they came to this people and said,' You have not heard, you have not understood, you have not seen, because the heart of this people is dull, they have weighed their ears, and their eyes are closed, lest their eyes see, their ears hear, and their hearts understand, and then I will heal them well.

Therefore know that this salvation of God has been sent to the Gentiles; they will hear it. He said, " the Jews come out and argue with each other.”

"For two years, Paul stayed at the house he hired and welcomed all who came to him. He preached the Kingdom of God and taught about Jesus Christ very boldly, unhindered” (Acts 29: 11-20).

On the occasion of tyrant Nero Burning Rome in 64 and blaming Christians, Paul was also accused of leading a collective movement that harmed the state. He was again arrested and imprisoned in prison, then sentenced to execution.

According to Eusebio's testimony, St. Paul was martyred between July 67 and June 68. Tradition says that the head of the Saint jumped up 3 stairs on the hillside and gave rise to 3 streams, that is the current bamboo Fontane. Legends

this was accepted by St. Gregorio (604).

2. History of St. Paul's Temple

The body of St. Paul was placed in the tomb next to Ostiense Street, as well as many other sinners sentenced to death. But soon the Holy Sepulchre became a place of pilgrimage and reverence for Christians. On his grave, a small memorial house (Cella memoriae) was established.

According to the Liber Pontificalis, it was Emperor Costantino who began the construction of a cathedral on the Tomb of Saint Paul and was consecrated on 18 November 324 under Pope Silvestro I (314-335). The size of this original cathedral is relatively small. The larger Cathedral was built there in 386, that is, half a century after the death of Emperor Costantino. Emperors Valentiniano II, Teodosio and Arcadio

write to the Roman Mayor Sallustio for the approval of the Senate and the people of Rome for the project to build a large Temple, replacing the church dedicated to St. Paul, in the face of the growing number of pilgrims. 

Construction began in 390 and was completed under Emperor Onorio in 395. The cathedral has 5 spaces, 4 rows of columns separated, including 80 marble columns. It was the largest cathedral of Christianity before the Temple of St. Peter was built. Throughout the 15th century, the Basilica has not stopped careful care. For example, in the middle of the 5th century, Pope Leo initiated a series of temple renovations and makeup.

During the Renaissance, St. Paul's temple remained intact. But on July 15 and 16, 1823, due to the carelessness of a craftsman, the Temple was completely burned down by fire. The architects Bosio and Belli advised to rebuild the temple completely, rendering the model of the old Temple. The cultural and political circles supported Leo XII for his rebuilding, and on January 25, 1825, he sent a letter “Ad plurimas easque gravissimas” inviting bishops to open a donation among the faithful for the reconstruction. The appeal was met and many sent money to Rome. The Viceroy of Egypt donated white stone columns and Tsar Nicola I donated stone blocks as two altars on either side.

The new cathedral was inaugurated in 1854, but in practice the reconstruction lasted 100 years, and only in 1928, with the construction of 4 100-column Gates, the architect led by Guglielmo Calderini, the Temple was completed

as we see now.

The campus outside the church has 150 columns, all of which are a single block. The bronze gate of the Temple is a masterpiece of Bizantine art set by Giovanni VII in Constantinople.

The temple is 136 meters long, 65 meters wide, and 29.7 meters high. The cathedral has 5 spaces, divided by 24 columns, with portraits of 264 popes, from Peter to John Paul II, reminding the continuity of the papal magisterium. The mosaic in the harem of the temple was made by Venetian artists in the 13th century, depicting Christ sitting on a throne, between Peter and Andrew on the right, and Paul and Luke on the left.

At his feet we see a small figure of Pope Onorio III on his knees, along with his predecessor Innocenzo III and his successor Gregorio IX, who made the mosaic. Pope Pius IX solemnly inaugurated the Suburban Temple of St. Paul in 1854, in the presence of 185 bishops, to Rome for the proclamation of the creed of Our Lady of Immaculate Conception.

Under the current main altar of 1.37 metres, there is a marble slab every 2.12×1.27 metres, with the inscription: “Paolo Apostolo Mart” (dedicated to the Apostle Paul martyr). According to some, this beer dates back to the First Century, others claim to be from the second half of the fourth century. But this stele consists of several composite pieces. This is the Tomb of Paul the Apostle.

Above the main altar is a canopy (ciborio) made by the artist Arnolfo di Cambio in Rome in 1282. This canopy was only damaged in the fire of 1823 and was restored later. At the 4 corners of the canopy there are 4 small statues that show me the Saints Peter, Paul, Luke and the Sea of Germany. 

In short, when visiting the reconstructed temple of St. Paul, we understand more than the splendor of the ancient Roman liturgy. At the end of the harem, there was the bishop of Rome sitting around, all the clergy, bishops and priests

Item, Deacon.

For a long time, there were 4 rows of columns surrounded, directing our gaze to the altar, the people of God, after the Liturgy of the word with hymns, going to the procession before the pope and giving him with associates bread and wine

during the ceremony. The sacrifice, according to ancient habits, was used to feed the clergy and the poor. Then the people of the Lord went again to the temple to receive the body, the blood of Christ, before the altar built on the Tomb of St. Paul: a Lord, a faith, a baptism, a God the father.

 

Phúc Nhạc

 

(Trích dẫn từ Nguyệt San Trái Tim Ðức Mẹ số 270, tháng 6 năm
2000)