Welcome back to Crux Stationalis, the Roman Station Church Network. Today, we embark on a journey to explore the Roman Station Church for Monday of the first week of Lent – the Minor Basilica of San Clemente al Laterano. Don’t forget to subscribe to our YouTube channel, like this video, and share it with your family and friends when you’re done watching.

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The Basilica of Saint Clement is dedicated to Pope Saint Clement I, situated between Saint John Lateran, Rome’s Cathedral and Station Church for the first Sunday of Lent, and the Colosseum. Archaeologically, it is a three-tiered complex of buildings, with ongoing discoveries in this Roman neighborhood predating the great fire of Rome in 64 A.D. during Emperor Nero’s reign.

Built just before 1100, the present Basilica sits atop a 4th-century structure converted from a Roman nobleman’s home, part of which briefly served as an early church in the first century. Below lies a set of Roman buildings from the post-Nero era, discovered in 1857 during an archaeological dig.

The Basilica’s history intertwines with the practice of the Cult of Mithras, a Pagan Cult of Roman soldiers. A stark contrast exists between Mithraic gathering places and early Christian basilicas. The Cult of Mithrais emphasized small, exclusive gatherings of soldiers in dark rooms. Christians adopted the Roman Basilica style which became places of worship with ample light, symbolizing the virtues of Christ within his mystical body.

The basilica’s interior, comprised of a nave and two side aisles with ancient marble columns, features cosmatesque decoration on the pavement.

The highlight is the 12th-century apse mosaic, a rare installation in Roman churches at that time. It combines familiar motifs from early Christian mosaics with medieval elements, portraying a vast vine representing the Church. The Triumphal Arch showcases Bethlehem and Jerusalem, linking historical events with Christian significance.

The apse mosaic centers on a crucifixion scene, depicting the Risen Christ above, with Mary and Saint John at the foot and the hand of God the Father offering a wreath of Victory. The vine, identified as the Church, grows from the tree at the base of the cross, connecting to the four rivers of Eden.

Additional representations in the mosaic include Bethlehem and Jerusalem, each conveying historical events with a Christian context. Signs throughout the Basilica remind visitors of the martyrdom of Saint Clement, emphasizing his banishment and miraculous act of providing water in a stone quarry.

As we visit this Roman Station Church on the Monday of the second week of Lent, we find inspiration in the scenes depicted in the mosaic. Beginning the Litany of the Saints in procession from the lower Basilica’s altar, pilgrims ascend into the Cloister in front of the church, reentering through the main doors adorned with laurel leaves. Their first vision as they step into the church is the mosaic: The Tree of Life, the Cross of Christ, and daily life motifs encourage us to pick up our cross and follow Him, even if we may feel weary from our Lenten pilgrimage.