Lateran Baptistery:
Mosaics

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Map

Chapel of St Venantius

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The Chapel of St Venantius (Cappella di San Venanzio), in the Lateran Baptistery, was commissioned by Pope John IV (r. 640-42) in honour of St Venantius of Salona and other Dalmatian martyrs. Pope John IV was a Dalmatian himself and seeing that the Slavs were overrunning his country, he had the relics of the more important Dalmatian saints transported to Rome. The chapel was completed by his successor, Pope Theodore I (r. 642-49). 

In the centre of the apse is the bust of Christ flanked by angels. Below him is the Virgin Mary, arms raised in the orans position. She is accompanied by (left to right) St Venantius (holding a model of the chapel), St John the Evangelist, St Paul, St John the Baptist, St Domnius and Pope Theodore I.

On the apsidal wall are depictions of the martyrs whose relics Pope John IV brought from Dalmatia. At a higher level are views of Bethlehem and Jerusalem and symbols of the four evangelists.  

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Gallery