Church of San Basilio agli Orti Sallustiani

On Via San Basilio, running from the US Embassy to Piazza Barberini, there is a small church that gave the street its name. Agli Orti Sallustiani literally means Salustiani in the vegetable gardens. Its construction began in 1660 and was completed in 1684, the church was consecrated in honor of the founder of the order, the ancient Greek bishop from Caesarea Cappadocia (now Kayseri), who lived in 329-379 and canonized as St. Basil the Great, Father and Teacher of the Church.

I lived in a guest house next to the church and walked in front of it every day, however, I found it open only after a week of my stay in Rome. Once inside, I found that the Baroque facade was austere and unassuming, with Byzantine splendor hidden behind it, and a wrought-iron gate separating the nave from the narthex.

On the ceiling is the coat of arms of Appolinare Agresta, Abbot General of the Basilian Order, on whose initiative the church was built.

The altar is dominated by a lectern decorated with beautiful paintings, in front of the altar there is a wooden iconostasis with the so-called Royal Gate, as is customary in Byzantine churches. In the altar, on the iconostasis and on the walls of the nave, you can see icons of Greek and Slavic masters.

Today the church belongs to the Basilian Order of His Holiness the Saviour of Mount Lebanon. Behind the church is a college with a small courtyard, where, by the way, the windows of my room looked out.

The monks celebrate the divine Byzantine Catholic Liturgy in Arabic, Greek and Italian every Sunday at 10: 30, and after the liturgy you can go to the courtyard, where there are historical signs and memorial plaques. During Lent, the Akathist to the Mother of God is performed every Friday at 18:30, and during Holy Week, the rites of Great and Holy Thursday and Great and Good Friday are always performed.