The Early Christians in RomeSpence-Jones, H. D. M. (Henry Donald Maurice)
History
The Early Christians in Rome
Spence-Jones, H. D. M. (Henry Donald Maurice)
Church history -- Primitive and early church, ca. 30-600; Rome (Italy) -- Church history
(1) After enumerating various notable shrines, such as that of
S. Cecilia, we read: “There we come upon a countless multitude
of martyrs” (Ibi innumerabilis multitudo martyrum).
(2) Further on, mention is made of “80 nameless martyrs who rest
here.”--_Salzburg Itinerary._
(1) In another “Itinerary” describing the cemeteries of the
Appian Way we read of “800 martyrs who are stated to rest in the
great Callistus group of Catacombs.”
(2) And here again the expression is used, “with many
martyrs.”--_De Locis SS. Martyrum._
THE VIA LATINA (_leads out of the ancient Porta Capena
to the left of the Appian Way_).
The “Itinerary” here referred to speaks of some three groups of
cemeteries, in two of which, it states, after particularising
some famous shrines, that “many martyrs rest there.”--_De Locis
SS. Martyrum._
THE VIA LABICANA (_leads out of the ancient Esquiline Gate_).
The “Pilgrim Guide” here referred to mentions that, in the group
of cemeteries situate on this road, “many martyrs rest.” In
another place it alludes to “many other martyrs”; in another,
“30 martyrs.”--_Itinerary of Salzburg._
Another “Pilgrim Guide” tells us of “a countless multitude of
martyrs” buried in this group of Catacombs.--_De Locis SS.
Martyrum._
Another “Itinerary,” after specifying some famous names,
mentions that here were “other martyrs unnumbered.”--_Itinerary
of Einsiedeln._
THE VIA TIBURTINA. (_The road which through the
Tiburtina Gate, now the Porta S. Lorenzo, leads to Tivoli._)
The “Guide” speaks of the Church of S. Laurence and the two
basilicas in the cemetery adjacent. It says: “Many martyrs
rest there”; and again, in the cemetery hard by, mentions “a
multitude of saints” buried there.--_Itinerary of Salzburg._
Another “Itinerary,” describing these cemeteries, records
that “with S. Cyriaca and S. Symphorosa are buried many
martyrs.”--_De Locis SS. Martyrum._
THE VIA NOMENTANA (_leads out of the old Porta Collina
to the town of Nomentum (Mentana). The modern Porta Pia is close
to the old gate_).
After describing the group of cemeteries lying round the
Basilica of S. Agnes, and mentioning some of the better-known
saints, the “Itinerary” says: “Many others sleep there.”--_De
Locis SS. Martyrum._
THE VIA SALARIA NOVA (_leads in a northerly direction out of the
old Porta Collina (Porta Pia now). The great Cemetery (Catacomb)
of Priscilla is a little way out of the city on this road_).
The “Itinerary” is speaking of the old Basilica of S. Sylvester;
its ruins are in the Priscilla Catacomb. There, it says, “a
multitude of saints rest”; and further on, still speaking
of the same Basilica of S. Sylvester, says that “under the
altar with certain famous confessors there are a multitude of
saints.”--_Itinerary of Salzburg._
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account