St Stephen of the Abyssinians, Romanesque church in Vatican City, Italy
St Stephen of the Abyssinians is a small church within Vatican City featuring a single nave supported by ancient columns and a preserved Romanesque doorway from the 12th century. Inside, a 15th-century fresco depicts the Madonna holding the Christ Child.
Founded in 801, the church is one of the few structures that survived the demolition of the old St Peter's Basilica during Vatican's transformation. Its endurance through centuries of change makes it an important witness to the site's religious continuity.
The church serves as a spiritual center where the Ethiopian community gathers to worship according to their ancient Christian traditions and practices. Visitors can witness how this faith continues to be expressed and passed down in this intimate space.
The church is located on Via del Governatorato within Vatican City and is relatively easy to find on foot. Remember that this is an active place of worship, so visitors should dress respectfully and maintain quiet behavior inside.
In the 1530s, the church served as a gathering place for free African communities living in Europe, as documented by historian Leo Africanus. This role reveals how this small building became a refuge for people who faced exclusion elsewhere.
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