St. MARY OF SORROWS AT BUENOS AIRES SQUARE

S. MARIA ADDOLORATA A PIAZZA BUENOS AIRES

Viale Regina Margherita 81

1910/30 Giuseppe Astorri (1880/active until 1930)

It was built in neo-medieval style

The first stone was laid on July 9, 1910, the centenary of the independence of Argentina, in the presence of the wife of the Argentine President

It is the National Argentine Church governed by diocesan clergy of Argentina

It was frequented for a decade by Cardinal Jorge Mario Bergoglio before becoming Pope Francis. He used to come to this church using the public bus

FAÇADE

“Mosaic” by Giovanni Conti inspired by the early Christian symbols with animals and plants typical of South America

INTERIOR

Plastic decorations by Duilio Cambellotti (1876/1960)

CHAPEL TO THE RIGHT OF THE APSE

“Image of Our Lady of Luján” patron saint of Argentina and flags of the provinces of the Argentine Federation

APSE

Mosaic with “Our Lady of Sorrows” by Giovanni Conti

CATACOMB OF NOVATIAN

CATACOMBA DI NOVAZIANO

Viale Regina Margherita 303

Mid-third century AD

Two levels of which the upper one was destroyed in 1926 for the construnctions on the surface. The lower one was discovered in 1929

The name comes from an inscription of the second half of the fourth century discovered in 1932 in a large niche of a semicircular tomb painted in red with borders in mosaic: Novatiano beatissimo marturi Gaudentius diaconus fecit, the deacon Gaudentius did this for the blessed martyr Novatian

The cemetery was therefore attributed to Novatian, whose identification, however, is still debated among scholars

Perhaps it was the antipope Novatian, schismatic, who was martyred in 258 under Valerian (253/260)

In the same cubicle of Novatian's tomb "Four coffins engraved with biblical scenes" of Constantinian age

"An example of collective area of great extent dating to about the middle of the second century with a mixed system of tunnels laid out as 'herringbones' and as 'grills' housed the tomb of the martyr Novatian on the Via Tiburtina (...). The area is perfectly dated since its earliest development by five funerary inscriptions found 'in situ', referring to the years 266 and 270. All the tombs, except perhaps that of the martyr (originally - it is believed - a tomb as a 'table'), are of the simplest niche type" (Vincenzo Fiocchi Nicolai)

The GRAVE OF ANTISTIA EUPHANILLA was also found: through a small slit on the top, the archaeologists were able to see inside, perfectly preserved, the remains of the woman with shreds of her dress and the hairdressing with gold threads and large tufts of hair