Santo Stefano degli Abissini

St Stephen of the Abyssinians
*Santo Stefano degli Abissini*
St Stephen of the Abyssinians ; Santo Stefano degli Abissini
Religion
Affiliation	Coptic Catholic
Rite	Alexandrian Rite (Coptic)
Ecclesiastical or organizational status	National Church in Rome of Ethiopia
Location
Location	Vatican City
	Location on a map of Vatican City
Geographic coordinates	41°54′06.47″N 012°27′06.74″E / 41.9017972°N 12.4518722°ECoordinates: 41°54′06.47″N 012°27′06.74″E / 41.9017972°N 12.4518722°E
Architecture
Type	Church
Groundbreaking	5th century or 8th century
Completed	9th century
Specifications
Length	35 metres (115 ft)
Width	20 metres (66 ft)
Width (nave)	10 metres (33 ft)

St Stephen of the Abyssinians (Italian: Santo Stefano degli Abissini) is an Ethiopian Catholic church located in Vatican City. The church dedicated to Stephen the Protomartyr is the national church of Ethiopia. The liturgy is celebrated according to the Alexandrian rite of the Ethiopian Catholic Church. It is one of the only standing structures in the Vatican to survive the destruction of Old St. Peter's Basilica, and thus it is the oldest surviving church (in terms of architectural history) in Vatican City.^[1]

History[]

The church was, by tradition, built by Pope Leo I (ca. 400–461), and named Santo Stefano Maggiore.^[2]

In 1479, Pope Sixtus IV restored the church and assigned it to the Coptic monks in the city. It was at this time that the name was changed to reflect that it was served by Ethiopians (Abyssinian). It was altered under Pope Gregory XI (1700–1721), and again in 1928.

Exterior[]

The façade is in the style of the early 18th century. The 12th century doorway, decorated with the Lamb and the Cross, has been preserved.

Interior[]

The church has a single nave with ancient columns along the sides. The most important work of art is a fresco of the Madonna with Child in the Roman style from the 15th century.

Liturgy[]

The Feast of St. Stephen is celebrated on 26 December.

Notes[]

^ Jump up to: ^a ^b Metropolitan Museum of Art 1983, p. 151
^ Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Rome" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

References[]

Touring Club Italiano (1999), Roma, S.L.: Touring Club Italiano, ISBN 88-365-1324-7
Metropolitan Museum of Art (1983), The Vatican:spirit and art of Christian Rome, Malibu: The Metropolitan Museum of Art, p. 151, ISBN 0-87099-348-8, It is the oldest surviving church in the Vatican, for it dates back to Pope Leo the Great (440-461)
Webb, Matilda (2001), The Churches and Catacombs of Early Christian Rome, Brighton: Sussex Academic Press, p. 36, ISBN 1-902210-57-3

[MMA-1] Jump up to: ^a ^b Metropolitan Museum of Art 1983, p. 151

[2] Herbermann, Charles, ed. (1913). "Rome" . Catholic Encyclopedia. New York: Robert Appleton Company.

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