Page 15 - StCecilia
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Onsite visit
A modern crypt, built in 1899–1901, is at the west end of the
excavations. Behind an iron grille in the crypt is the 9th-century
confessio containing the tombs of the martyrs Cecilia, her husband
Valerian, Tibertius, and Maximus and the popes Urban I (222–30)
and Lucius I (253–54), which were moved there in the 9th century.
Behind that is the original crypt directly beneath the choir. Unfor-
tunately none of its 9th-century decoration has survived. There is
a plaque mentioning the name of the Cardinal Protector of St
Cecilia’s church during the time the crypt was remodelled: he was
Cardinal Mariano Rampolla del Tindaro. 10
10 Since the thirteenth century it has been customary at Rome to confide to
some particular Cardinal a special solicitude in the Roman Curia for the
interests of a given religious order or institute, confraternity, church, college,
city, nation etcetera. Such a person is known as a Cardinal Protector. He was
its representative or advocate when it sought a favour or a privilege, defend-
ed it when unjustly accused, and sought the aid of the Holy See when its
rights, property or interests were violated or imperiled.
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