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Civitavecchia Church of the Holy Japanese Martyrs 
The Church of the Holy Japanese Martyrs in Civitavecchia is a Catholic church dedicated to 26 Japanese Christians who were executed on February 5, 1597, in Nagasaki, Japan, for their faith. On June 8, 1862, they were canonised, and the church was built to honour their memory. The church also symbolises the historical connection between Civitavecchia and Japan, dating back to the early 1600s when Japanese envoys visited the city. The Church is also seen as a testament to the enduring faith and courage of those who sacrificed their lives for their beliefs. In 1863, Father Thomas of Rome, as Minister Provincial of the Friars Minor, obtained permission to build a church in the coastal area of the Via Aurelia known as the "Four Doors". Constructed in 1863 with the support of Pope Pius IX and money collected for the canonisation of the martyrs. The work lasted more than eight years and on June 13, 1872, the feast day of St. Anthony of Padua, the Church was consecrated. The building was destroyed during the bombing of Civitavecchia on August 30, 1943. The reconstruction took until 1950 and on October 4, of that year, the day of St. Francis of Assisi, the new Church of the Holy Japanese Martyrs in Civitavecchia was inaugurated. The building is in Baroque architectural style which provides a sense of grandeur with elaborate decorations and intricate details. In the square in front of the church, there is a statue of Saint Francis of Assisi, who the church is dedicated to. The front façade is symmetrical, with a central entrance flanked by double Ionic order columns and decorative elements that create a balanced and harmonious appearance. This underwent restoration in 2024. In the centre is the main entrance to the church.  Its interior contains a number of frescoes painted between 1951 to 1957 by Luca Hasegawa, a Japanese artist who converted to Catholicism. These frescoes are prominently displayed within the main chapel which depicts scenes related to the martyrdom and faith of the martyrs. The artworks represent the historical and cultural ties between Civitavecchia and Japan. The main altar is dedicated to the 26 Martyrs of Nagasaki and contains frescoes and mosaics painted by Luca Hasegawa. These depict the Madonna with the kimono on a cobalt blue background, St. Francis Xavier and St. Francis of Assisi. On the sides of the Madonna are depicted, St. Francis Xavier, the first Jesuit to introduce the Christian religion in Japan and St. Francis of Assisi, founder of the Order, while on the sides of the apse Hasegawa pays homage to St. Fermina, patron saint of Civitavecchia and to Hasekura Tsunenaga, the first Japanese to land in the city in the seventeenth century. Within the Chancel is the font and the pulpit.  At the side of the church are six side chapels containing various altars and statues dedicated to the martyrs and other saints. On entry, on the left, is the Chapel of Saint Francis of Assisi who is the patron saint of the church and contains a statue of him depicted in his Franciscan habit.  The other chapels include ones dedicated to the Virgin Mary, the mother of Jesus.  Saint Peter, one of the apostles and the first Pope of the Catholic Church with the keys of Heaven and Saint Paul, one of the most influential apostles and writers of the New Testament. This honours Saint Paul's contributions to the spread of Christianity and his role as a missionary.  The Sacred Heart of Jesus, symbolizing Jesus' love for humanity.  The other chapels are for Saint Joseph and the Child and Saint Anthony of Padua with the Child Jesus in his arms, symbolizing his role as a protector of children and the poor.   There are a number of paintings and frescoes that depict Saint Francis of Assisi, the patron saint of the church, in various scenes from his life, including moments of prayer, preaching, and interacting with nature. These artworks are found in the chapel dedicated to Saint Francis and other parts of the church. There are also a number of depictions of the Virgin Mary, both as a statue and as a painting holding the infant Jesus or in prayer.  |
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All Photographs were taken by and are copyright of Ron Gatepain
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