This is the entrance of San Cecilia m Trastevere which we were able to visit yesterday. The Benedictine Sisters from various parts of the world care for this wonderful place.
Did you know that St. Cecilia was not the first partron of music? It was John the Baptist...when his father's mouth was opened at his birth he sang the Canticle and therefore he is the first Patron Saint of Music.
This is Sister Margaret a friend of Fr. Albain's who was so gracious to allow us into their beautiful home. Sr. Margaret took us around the Basilica, crypt, and scavi of St. Cecilia with Sr. Cecilia who explained everything. They were so hospitable that a mere "thank you" seems extremely inadequate. I would say we had a 5 star tour.
The church today looks as it did in the eighteenth century with the cloistered convent to the right.
This is the main altar of the church which was built by Pope Paschal and houses the martyr's remains.
The beautiful art work is hard to portray in just a small photo on this blog...
The tops of the four post have sculptures of Cecilia, Cecilia's husband Valerian whom she converted, her brother in law and Paschal
This is the beautiful mosaic apse that was done around 820. It shows, Christ blessing, crowned by the hand of God, and at his sides: St. Paul, St. Cecilia and the Pope who paid for the church, carrying a model of it, and Sts Peter, Valerian and Agatha. Below are the twelve lambs, surrounding the Lamb of God leaving the cities of Jerusalem and Bethlehem.
On the sides of this blog are pictures of the crypt, the first baptismal area, and the bath where they tried to kill St. Cecilia.
I hope you enjoy the pictures and have a great day.
aMazing mossiac
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