Following is part of a series of articles by HERALD Staff Writer Angela E. Pometto on her recent visit to Italy.
When walking through the streets of Rome, many of the small and dark alleys open up to reveal ancient churches. Although the façade may look simple — a few Ionic columns, perhaps a statue or two — you never know what lies behind those doors.
Behind the doors at the Basilica di San Pietro in Vincoli — the Basilica of St. Peter in Chains — are several remarkable treasures. Located several blocks away from the Colosseum, the church is hidden away from most Roman tourists. When walking up the Via Eudossiana, the small road opens up and the church suddenly appears.
Under the main altar, the chains of St. Peter are displayed in a gold reliquary. Tradition states that these chains bound the first pope while he was in Mammertime Prison in Rome.
The basilica was inaugurated by Pope Sixtus III (432-440). When the pope received St. Peter’s chains, the two miraculously fused together to form one, according to Catholic Shrines of Western Europe by Kevin J. Wright.
Not to be missed in this out-of-the-way church, is Michelangelo’s “Moses.” In 1505, Pope Julius II commissioned Michelangelo to create a monumental tomb for him. Twenty years later, the artist still hadn’t completed the work. Instead, Michelangelo altered the original agreement and sculpted the likeness of Pope Julius into his Moses statue.
The unfortunate part of “Moses” being located in this church, is that there are few windows and even fewer lights. Even on the brightest days, the church is still dark. But for just one Euro, visitors can activate a light to illuminate the Michelangelo masterpiece.
For another three Euros, tourists can purchase the church’s printed guide, which explains that underneath the main altar and the chains of St. Peter are relics of the seven Maccabees.
During construction of a confessional in 1876, workmen discovered a Christian sarcophagus that was divided into seven compartments. The church itself was dedicated on the feast of the Maccabees. On closer study, the tomb’s inscription mentioned the seven Maccabee brothers and this tradition was later confirmed by archaeologists.

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