An ancient Roman ecclesiastical dignity
What is a basilica?
Within the Holy Apostolic See of Rome-Ruthenia, the title of basilica follows the ancient Roman understanding of a place accorded particular public and ecclesiastical dignity. In Christian usage, the basilica became a church distinguished by its Apostolic associations, patriarchal importance, historical inheritance, or place within the public life of the Church. This heritage is preserved within Rome-Ruthenia as an Eastern Roman Church with Latin heritage.
The six Major Patriarchal Basilicas possess equal dignity within the Roman-Ruthenian Church. Five serve as titular seats of the Roman-Ruthenian Pope within their respective historical and ecclesiastical spheres. Saint Peter’s occupies a distinctive commemorative place: it is honored as the memorial of the Apostle’s martyrdom and burial and as the place associated with the historic throne of Saint Peter.
One dignity across six sacred places
The six Major Basilicas
Each basilica gives visible expression to a distinct part of the Apostolic, patriarchal, and historical patrimony gathered within Rome-Ruthenia.
Santa Maria Antiqua
An ancient Roman sanctuary whose Eastern Roman frescoes preserve the meeting of Greek and Latin Christian Rome.
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Santo Stefano al Ponte
The Florentine basilica of St. Stephen, expressing the Etrurian, dynastic, and Italian patrimony of the Holy Apostolic See.
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Santa Maria Assunta
The basilica of the Apostolic See of St. Mark at the historic meeting place of the Latin, Byzantine, and Slavic worlds.
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St. Vasili the Blessed
A sacred monument of Muscovite Russia and the Russian Christian patrimony preserved within Rome-Ruthenia.
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Santa Sofia
The ancient metropolitan church of Kyiv and a principal monument of the baptismal, dynastic, and ecclesiastical inheritance of Rus’.
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St. Peter the Apostle
The universal memorial of Peter’s martyrdom and burial, honored as the source and continuing witness of the Petrine inheritance.
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Minor Basilicas
The Church also preserves the traditional category of Minor Basilica for churches accorded particular historical, liturgical, pastoral, or ecclesiastical distinction.