The Crypt of St. Cecilia (Continued)

The Paintings

Pope Urbanus I (222-230): He live contemporary to St. Cecilia. The Pontiff baptized Valerianus the husband of St. Cecilia and his brother in law who latter were martyred. He also baptized Maximus, the person who beheaded St. Cecilia because he converted to Christianity and later became martyr. The byzantine painting of the Pope was painted toward the end of XIII century.

Christ Pantocrator was painted toward the end of XIII century, byzantine period. Probably one of the first iconography of Christ ever painted underground. The iconography of Christ was never been painted before to avoid the practice of aniconism and controversies of idolatry of that time. 

The mosaic of St. Cecilia: Probably it was from the 8th Century. It is a painting of St. Cecilia in a garment of a noble personality ever painted here in the crypt to give the importance of the site and to the martyr herself. (Cf. the book on the "Passione di St. Cecilia").

On the upper part of the wall, we see the painting of St. Sebastian Martyr (sabastianvs-a Roman soldier), St. Quirinus (cvrinvs) from Hungary-Eastern Europe and St. Polycamus (policamvs) from Northern Africa.

St.Sebastian was martyred c. 228 AD. He was a commander of imperial guard during the time of emperor Diocletian (244–312). He converted to Christianity and was martyred. St. Ambrose of Milan mentioned about the martyrdom of St. Sebastian in 4th century in his sermon. He is venerated as saint both by the Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church. His relics are now conserved and venerated in nearby catacomb dedicated to the saint. There is also a papal basilica dedicated to him.

St.Quirinus was the bishop of Sizia in Pannonia (Hungary). His body was translated "in catacumbas" in the 5th century. According to the legend he was martyred by decapitation and was buried in the catacomb of Prætextatus on Apian way.

We can also see the Latin Cross painted above the painting of the three saints between two lambs. The fresco was painted in the 5th century. The Latin Cross was officially venerated as the symbol of Christianity in the 4th century onward, during the reign of Emperor Constantine (306 AD – 22 May 337 AD).

Pope Damasus transformed this tomb into an underground shrine in the 4th century because of the presence of many pilgrims.