Dedicated to St. Sebastian and built on the site of the saint's martyrdom on the Palatine Hill. The diakonia of St. Sebastian on the Palatine Hill insists on this church.
According to tradition, the church was built on the site of Saint Sebastian's martyrdom. This occurred near the Elagabalium, the temple dedicated to Sol Invictus and later to Jupiter, which held several sacred objects, including the Palladium of Athena, brought from Troy; for this reason the church was also known as Santa Maria in Pallara.
An early building was built in the 10th century, while the present arrangement is due to the 1624 reconstruction by Pope Urban VIII; during this work the original frescoes in the apse were preserved, depicting Christ between St. Lawrence and St. Stephen, St. Sebastian and St. Zoticus as deacons, and below the Madonna and angels. It became the seat of a Bailiwick of the Sovereign Order of Malta under the patronage of the Barberini family of Urban VIII, which still exists today. The current owner is Prince (and actor) Urbano Barberini.
The church is a rectory dependent on the parish of Santa Maria in Portico in Campitelli. Since 2016 it has been officiated by the Monastic Fraternities of Jerusalem.
Information
For the timetable of the masses and visiting conditions, please consult the contacts.
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Location
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