San Teodoro, Rome

The church is located at the northwest foot of the Palatine Hill along the ancient road between Rome's main forum and the Forum Boarium. It may have been erected over the ruins of the granaries of Agrippa[2] or repurposed a former temple of Juno Sospita in the area.[3] The latter is suggested by its unusual round shape, which resembles the well-preserved nymphaeum once identified as the Temple of Minerva Medica. An ancient pagan altar was located in the atrium before the church.

The cult of St Theodore was prominent and widespread by the end of the 4th century and a mosaic including Theodore was erected at SS Cosmas and Damian c. 530. San Teodoro may have been built as early as the 6th century as well.[4] Its apsis mosaic dates to the 6th century and shows Christ in a black robe with gold lati clavi,[2] which on Roman garments indicated high rank, seated on an orb representing the heavens and flanked by Peter and Paul and by the two martyrs Theodore (a later addition, from Nicholas V's restoration) and Cleonicus.

Close up view

The church is also traditionally one of the seven original deaconries in Rome, being assigned to a deacon by Pope Agatho (c. 678), though the first titular deacon known by name was Roberto, who lived around 1073 and died before 1099.

There is no definitive evidence of the church's existence before the 9th century. As the dedication to an eastern saint suggests, this places it in a period of strong Byzantine influence in Rome. It was rebuilt under Pope Nicholas V, had its long-held titular church status suppressed by Pope Sixtus V, was renovated by Francesco Barberini in 1643,[4] and rebuilt by architect Carlo Fontana in 1703–1705 for Pope Clement XI who gave it to the Society of the Sacred Heart of Jesus.

Its titulus was reestablished on 2 December 1959 by Pope John XXIII, with William Theodore Heard (1959–1970, pro hac vice presbyterial titular 1970–1973). The last titular of the church was Vincenzo Fagiolo, who died on 22 September 2000.

Pope John Paul II announced in November 2000 that he was granting the Ecumenical Patriarchate of Constantinople and the Greek Orthodox community in Rome use of the church, with the official inauguration taking place on 1 July 2004, presided over by Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I of Constantinople.[2]