Today we celebrate the Feast of the Dedication of the Roman Basilica of Saint John Lateran. Celebrating the day on which a church was dedicated is a long-standing tradition usually celebrated by the particular parish, but what\u2019s so special about Saint John Lateran that the whole church celebrates it? An inscription at the entrance of the Basilica tells us why: Sacros Lateran Eccles omnium urbis et orbis ecclesiarum mater et caput. Translation: Holy Lateran Church, mother and head of all the churches of the city and the world.<\/p>\n
The basilica was built by order of the Roman Emperor Constantine in the early 4th century as a public building for the bishop of Rome to hold liturgies and to reside. Named The Church of the Divine Savior and dedicated in 324, it was later dedicated to both Saint John the Baptist and John the Evangelist. The word Lateran was attached to describe its location since it was built on land previously owned by the Lateran family.<\/p>\n