BAZILIKA SVETE MARIJE VELIKE
ST. PAUL OUTSIDE THE WALLS The Basilica of Saint Paul Out- side the Walls is one of the four papal basilicas and the second largest after Saint Peter’s. Built on the burial site of Saint Paul himself, this impressive place of worship that’s been a famo- us pilgrimage destination since 300 AD was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1980. Here you can admire not on- ly many works of art, including a complete collection of meda- llions with portraits of the po- pes, but also the beautiful exter- nal areas, with large façade mosaics with golden reflecti- ons, colonnades, gardens and a stunning cloister. It has been en- riched with artworks and partia- lly restored over the centuries, although the original shape of
the structure has been retained. The churchyard includes a lar- ge, four-sided portico with a marble statue of Saint Paul in the middle. This part of the complex is quite recent, as it was erected entirely at the be- ginning of the 20 th century. You can admire the façade mosai- cs at the top that depict Christ, Saint Peter and Paul and the prophets. In the centre inside, under the ciborium, is the si- te of the tomb of Saint Paul. Here you will also find an illu- minated shrine containing the chains used to hold Saint Paul prisoner before his martyrdom. The side wall has a lantern with a burning flame. It is referred to as the „eternal flame“ and is always kept alight by the Bene- dictine monks, to bear witness to their living faith. ST. MARY MAJOR BASILICA This Papal Basilica has domi- nated the city of Rome for 16 centuries, as the Marian san- ctuary at the summit of the Esquiline Hill. Built between 432 and 440 AD, legend has it that Mary personally cho- se the location after appearing in a dream to Pope Liberia. An unusual storm hit Rome on 5 th August and covered the top of the Esquiline Hill with snow. When the pope realised what had happened, he personally marked the foundations for the church in the snow. Belie- ve it or not, this event is com- memorated annually on 5 th August with the throwing of white rose petals from the do- me of the basilica. The Basili- ca houses the relic of the Holy Crib, the manger in which the Baby Jesus slept. That’s why Saint Mary Major is known as the “Bethlehem of the West”. The great Bernini, an archite- ct and one of the most signifi- cant Baroque sculptors, is bu- ried in the basilica.
Ova papska bazilika dominira nad Rimom 16 vekova kao svetilište po - svećeno kultu Marije na vrhu brda Eskvilino. Sagrađena je između 432. i 440. godine, a prema legendi, Ma - rija je lično birala lokaciju nakon što se ukazala u snu papi Liberiju. Jed - nog petog avgusta neuobičajeno nevreme je pogodilo Rim i prekrilo snegom vrh brda Eskvilino. Kada je papa shvatio šta se desilo, lično je u snegu odredio mesto temelja za cr - kvu. Možete u to verovati ili ne, tek ovaj događaj se obeležava svake go - dine 5. avgusta bacanjem latica be - lih ruža sa kupole. U baziliki se na - lazi relikvija svetih jaslica u kojima je bio položen Isus kao beba, zbog čega je Sveta Marija Velika pozna - ta kao Vitlejem Zapada. Tu je sahra - njen i veliki Bernini, arhitekta i jedan od najznačajnijih baroknih vajara.
U Baziliki Svete Marije Velike nalazi se relikvija svetih jaslica The Basilica of St. Mary Major has a relic of the holy manger
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