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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center

Santa Maria in Cosmedin, Melkite Greek Catholic Church in Italy - Italian

Santa Maria in Cosmedin / Saint Mary in Cosmedin
Sante Marie en Cosmedin / Santa Maria en Cosmedin
Santa Maria in Cosmedian / Saint Mary in Cosmedian
Sante Marie en Cosmedian / Santa Maria en Cosmedian
Santa Maria in Schola Graeca /Our Lady for the Greek Community
Schola Graeca
Sunday Divine Liturgy: 10:30
Mon. - Sat. liturgical services: None
Open: daily 9a.m. to 6p.m
Pizza della Bocca dell Verita, 18
Roma / Rome 00186
Italia / Italy
Tel.: 6781419, Internationally including the United States 011.39.06.6781419, local from outside Rome: 06.6781419

Buses - 44, 95 Piazza Venezia

Mosaic Icon which is entitled Epiphany

The Epiphany mosaic icon is a fragment of an eighth-century mosaic icon. This icon is one of the very rare remaining bits of the medieval Basilica of St. Peter, which was demolished in the late 16th century. This mosaic, in its wooden frame, is high on a wall inside the sacristy.

Name

The name "in Cosmedin" or "in Cosmedian" derives from the Greek word "kosmein", which means "to embellish" or "cosmetics". The word "cosmetics" can mean "beautiful". The name of this Church has been translated as "Our Lady 'in Beauty'". This phrase refers to the church's decorative scheme, much of which was executed by mosaic artists. In 1223, the floor was made by the Cosmati family. Their revolutionary use of broken Roman artifacts to make a beautiful floor became a popular style.

History

This church was built by and for Greek Catholics. The church was built on a building that had a long history.

About 495 BC, the Ara Massima (temple with an altar) of Hercules was on this site.
In the 3rd century BC, a temple was erected to Ceres, who was the goddess of agriculture.
About 69-81 BC, a columned hall for inspectors for the nearby grain-fruit-vegetable market (Forum Boarium) was built.
About 200 AD, a tiny underground chapel (now the crypt) was built for Christians, who risked death worshiping.
In the 6 century, a small church was erected by and for Rome's Greek Catholic population. This population mainly settled in the ancient city of Rome area.
In 782, Pope Hadrian I transformed / greatly enhanced the building. At that time, there were many Greek Catholic refugees fleeing from the Iconoclastic heresy.
In 1223, the building was restored again. The floor was made by the Cosmati family. Their revolutionary use of broken roman artifacts to make a beautiful floor became popular.

Bocca della Verita / Mouth of Truth

The Bocca della Verita / Mouth of Truth sits in the courtyard in front of the Church. The Bocca della Verita / Mouth of Truth is a giant marble disk sculpted into a human face. It was probably made about 100 BC. According to tradition, if you put your hand into the mouth and tell a lie, the face will bite off your hand.

Rector / Pastor

2006 - Rt. Rev. Archimandrite Mtanios Haddad, BS,
2004 - Abouna / Padre Atanasio Nasr
2000 - Archimandrite Elias Jarawan has been the Rector of Santa Maria in Cosmedin and the Representative of the Melkite Patriarch in Rome for about 35 years.

More Information including pictures

Churches of Rome and Santa Maria in Cosmedin and Bocca della Verita ("Mouth of Truth") in Portico Stuard T Clarke

S. Maria in Cosmedin Bill Thayer, University of Kansas

S. Maria in Cosmedin and S. Maria in Cosmedin Nave Maecenas: Images of Ancient Greece and Rome, Photos by Leo C. Curran

Santa Maria in Cosmedin Our Lady "in Beauty" Best The Churches of Rome, Chris Nyborg, Catholic Church in Norway.

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Melkite Greek Catholic Church Information Center is dedicated to my cousins: Bucky (Richard C. Liles), Shirley (Shirley Jean Liles Buck), and Donna (Donna Bertha Liles Campbell). Bucky fell asleep in the Lord on Dec. 12, 2000, Shirley fell asleep in the Lord on Nov. 8, 2001, and Donna fell asleep in the Lord on March 9, 2020.
O God of all spirits and of all flesh, who have destroyed death, overcome the devil, and given life to the world: grant, O Lord, to the souls of your servants Bucky and Shirley, who has departed from this life, that it may rest in a place of light, in a place of happiness, in a place of peace, where there is no pain, no grief, no sighing. And since You are a gracious God and the Lover of Mankind, forgive him/her every sin he/she has committed by thought, or word, or deed, for there is not a man who lives and does not sin : You alone are without sin, your righteousness is everlasting, and your word is true. You are the Resurrection and the Life, and the repose of your departed servants Bucky and Shirley. O Christ our God, and we send up glory to You, together with your eternal Father and your all-holy, good and life-giving Spirit, now and always and for ages upon ages. Amen.

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Last Updated: Wednesday, June 03, 2020, 16:36:12, CDT
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