Santa Maria degli Angeli e dei Martiri, usually known only as Santa Maria degli Angeli, is an ancient Roman bath converted into a church in the 16th century. It is a minor basilica as well as being parochial, titular and formerly monastic.
The dedication is to the Blessed Virgin Mary, as Queen of the angels and the Christian slaves who died building the Baths of Diocletian.
Baths of Diocletian History:
298 AD. Emperor Maximian, on his return from Africa, began constructing a vast bathing establishment, acting on behalf of his co-Emperor Diocletian, who was reigning in Asia Minor.
300-305. Diocletian is considered responsible for the forced labor of 10,000 Christians in the back-bending task of construction. At about the time of completion, 305 AD, both emperors were forced to abdicate.
538. The Goths cut off Rome's water by demolishing the aqueducts, rendering Rome's 900 Baths useless.
1561. Pope Pius IV Medici commissioned the 86-year old Michelangelo to design a church honoring the angels and the Christian martyrs who died in the Baths' construction.
1749. Luigi Vanvitelli reconstructed the Church of Santa Maria degli Angeli.
1889. Museo Nazionale Romano was installed in a small part of the original Bath to house works of art from ancient Rome.
We can see the outdoor altar near the Via Cernaia entrance to the basilica.
The painting above the altar shows the first seven martyrs with a laurel wreath floating above their heads with the Virgin Mary and the angels greeting them.
The inscription under the painting above the altar reads: "In onore dei sette martiri primi tra la moltitudine de schiavi cristian costruttori delle terme."
Translation: "In honor of the seven first martyrs among the multitude of Christian slaves who built the baths."
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