Can anyone tell me the name of this Chapel in Rome?

Question

Hi we have recently returned from a visit to the historic City of Rome where we saw many interesting things. I am trying to find out the name of a particular chapel so I can do some more research on it.

One particular day we were taken on a tour of San Giovanni in Latera. When we came out, the guide marched us across the road and into ANOTHER place of worship. This chapel contained a staircase with, I think, 28 steps. Some very religious old ladies were crawling to the top on their knees, saying a prayer at every step which will take about 30 minutes.

What amused us was a bunch of american "tourists", complete with baggy shorts, funny beards and rucksacks. They, too wanted to get inside this chapel, but quickly- persumably to take photos. They were going up the staircase on their knees too, but in an undignified hurry, trying to overtake the old ladies.

Please can anyone enlighten me as to the nalme of this church? I'm guessing the stairway was the "Holy Staircase"

Answer 1

yes, it was the holy staircase.  there were stautes of Christ in the agony in the garden, judas kissing Christ and Chrst with pilate.  it's the Shrine of the Holy Staircase (Scala Santa) and the Venerated Image )Acheropita) of Jesus.

:The holy staircase according to an ancient tradition, would be the staircase in pontius pilates pretorium which Jesus ascended after being beaten and sscourged."

the striacase is to be climbed on one's knees: "as a sign of adoration of our crucified God where He is represented with Mary at the top of the stairs."  

look also at Genesis 3:5

it;s a sign of repentence

Col 1:24

we had a pretty good guide and here were some of the notes I took:

around 335 the Empress Helene went to Jerasulem to find relics of the Passion. Whle she found some of the true Cross, these stairs were also found. they are covered with drops of bloos. the stairs are covered with wood but areas where the blood is they have been made vidible. as a sign of adoration the stiarcase is ONLY climbed on one's knees.

this is where the popes in the middle ages reollected themselves. some popes were also cannonized there. many have ascended these stairs including St Paul of the Cross who founded the Passionites - they care for the shrine to this day.  

i'm sad the tourists thought it was a race, a test of time.  it's only a test in regards to ones faith.  i did them with my parents.  all three of us have bad knees - my fathers were the worst and it was not done in haste - it was done in reverence and prayer.  i'm sure the women were used to people not understanding or knowing.

if you ever make it to Poland in Czenstowa there is the shrine of the Black Madonna. people there kneel & pray the entire length around - it was quite something to see - especially the older people - you knew they must have a strong faith to do something like that as ften as they did.

i'm very glad you got to see the shrine. most people don't even know it's there!  in fact some of the people on the trip (who'd been there before) had no clue.

Answer 2

The Vatican

Answer 3

Its sounds like St John the Lateran.

Answer 4

It seems you're right, it's the Holy Stairs.

See here

    http://www.italyheaven.co.uk/rome/scalas...  

and here

http://www.medjugorjeusa.org/holystairs....

Answer 5

The Chapel at the top of the stairs is called "Sancta Sanctorum" and the stairs are called "La Scala Santa" ("The Holy Staircase". Allegedly Jesus walked up these stairs to meet the Roman authorities that were in charge of judging his case, thus traditionally you climb up them on your knees.

For Summer: "La Cappella degli Scrovegni" is in Padua, not Rome.

Answer 6

It's name is Cappella degli Scrovegni!

Bye! :-)