Sant'Atanasio

The Church of Saint Athanasius (Italian: Sant’Atanasio, Latin: S. Athanasii), also known as Sant'Atanasio dei Greci (Greek: Εκκλησία Αγίου Αθανασίου των Ελλήνων, Ekklisia Agiou Athanasiou ton Ellinon), is a Greek Catholic titular church located on Via del Babuino 149, near the Spanish steps, in the rione Campo Marzio of Rome, Italy.

For other uses, see St. Athanasius' Church (disambiguation).
Church of Saint Athanasius
S. Athanasii (in Latin)
Sant’Atanasio (in Italian)
Εκκλησία Αγίου Αθανασίου των Ελλήνων(in Greek)
Facade of Sant'Atanasio.
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41°54′28″N 12°28′46″E
Location150 Via del Babuino, Rome
CountryItaly
DenominationCatholic
TraditionByzantine rite
WebsiteOfficial website
History
StatusTitular church,
national church
DedicationAthanasius of Alexandria
Architecture
Architect(s)Martino Longhi the Elder
Architectural typeChurch
StyleBaroque, Neo-Byzantine
Groundbreaking1580
Completed1583
Administration
ProvinceDiocese of Rome
Clergy
Cardinal protectorLucian Mureșan

History

The church was built in 1577 for use of a Greek College for the formation of Catholic clergy in the Eastern Rite. Construction was patronized by the Pope Gregory XIII and the Jesuit order to promulgate and serve the interests forming a Congregation of the Greeks.

In 1872 the church was entrusted to the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. On 22 February 1962 Pope John XXIII made it a cardinalitial titular church.[1] At present the Titulus San Athanasii is held by Lucian Cardinal Mureșan.

Architecture

The main layout was designed by Giacomo della Porta, although the facade was attributed to Martino Longhi the Elder. The facade is placed between two towers covered with domes, which is divided into two horizontal bands by a marble ledge. Either side of a large window is written an inscription, one in Greek and the other in Latin in honor of Saint Athanasius of Alexandria. On the left stands a tower clock, donated by Pope Clement XIV in 1771, which faces the palace of the Pontifical Greek College.

The interior was frescoed by Francesco Tibaldi, and contained altarpieces by Cavalier d'Arpino. In the past, the library was said to hold the library of Leo Allatius.[2]

List of Cardinal priests

In the novel and film, Shoes of the Fisherman, Ukrainian Kiril Lakota, Eastern rite Metropolitan Archbishop of Livov, is appointed cardinal priest with Saint Athanasius as his titular church (before being elected Pope).

References
  1. Cardinal Title S. Atanasio GCatholic.org
  2. Accurata, E Succinta Descrizione Topografica, E Istorica Di Roma, Volume 1, by Ridolfino Venturini, published by Carlo Barbellieni, Rome (1768); page 147.

Sources
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