Sant'Atanasio

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

Church of Saint Athanasius
Sant’Atanasio (in Italian)
S. Athanasii (in Latin)
Facade of Sant'Atanasio.
Religion
AffiliationCatholic
ProvinceLazio
RiteByzantine Rite
Ecclesiastical or organizational statusTitular church
LeadershipLucian Mureșan
Location
Location
  1. 150 Via del Babuino, Rome, Italy
Geographic coordinates41°54′28″N 12°28′46″E
Architecture
Architect(s)Martino Longhi the Elder
TypeChurch
StyleBaroque, Neo-Byzantine
Groundbreaking1580
Completed1583
Website
Official website

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 promulgated and serve the interests forming a Congregation of the Greeks.

In 1872 the church was entrusted to the Congregation for the Oriental Churches. On the 22 February 1962 Pope John XXIII granted it a titular church as a seat for Cardinals.[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. 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.
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