San Pudenziana

This is another seldom visited church in Rome that is one of the Lenten Station Churches. The Church of San Pudenziana stands over the remains of the house of the Roman Senator Pudens, father of Saints Pudenziana and Praxedes. Pudens was a high-profile convert in ancient Rome, believed to be the one mentioned by Saint Paul in his second letter to Timothy. When Saint Peter arrived to Rome, it is believed Pudens housed him for some time. Since antiquity, this Church has been linked to the presence of Peter in the Eternal City.

There is a tradition narrating that the Saints Pudenziana and Praxedes collected the blood and bones of martyrs soaking the blood with sponges and pouring it into a well. This somewhat macabre action is depicted on one of the walls of the church.

Also inside San Pudenziana is an altar dedicated to Saint Peter. Underneath it are kept remains of the table where Saint Peter celebrated the Eucharist while a visitor at Pudens’ house.

The one thing this church is best known for however is the beautiful 4th century mosaic on its apse above the altar. The mosaic’s style is Roman having closer artistic ties to mosaics of ancient Rome than later medieval ones. Jesus sits ruling from a throne in the heavenly Jerusalem. The four evangelists are depicted above in the sky with their traditional symbols. Next to Jesus stand Peter and Paul and two women representing the Church of the Jews and the Church of the Gentiles, the two elements that formed the early Church. It’s truly a beautiful work of art. If you are lucky when you visit, there may be a guide to take you upstairs to have a closer look. This is how I was able to take this up close picture.