#Neonian Baptistry

[dramoor]

“In Holy Baptism, we are not merely ‘joining the Church,’ nor are we merely ‘washing away our sins.’ Holy Baptism is not a rite of membership. Rather, Holy Baptism is being plunged into the death of Christ (Romans 6:3) and raised into the likeness of Christ’s resurrection. Believers are given a Cross to wear as part of their Baptism – a token to remind us that our new life is nothing other than living in union with the Crucified Christ.”

~Fr. Stephen Freeman

(Photos © dramoor 2015 Neonian Baptistry 5th century, Ravenna, Italy)

[beyourselfchulanmaria]

The Arian Baptistry in Ravenna, Italy is a Christian baptismal building that was erected by the Ostrogothic King Theodoric the Great between the end of the 5th century and the beginning of the 6th century A.D., at the same time as the Basilica of Sant' Apollinare Nuovo. The Arian Baptistery stands in a small square next to the old Arian cathedral of Santo Spirito in Ravenna, Italy. It was an example of Arian Christian art, which rarely survived Late Antiquity. In the 5th century, Ravenna was ruled by Theoderic, a Goth who ascribed to the Arian form of Christianity. Declared a heresy at the Council of Nicea in 325, Arianism is the view that Christ, while divine, was created by the Father and is therefore inferior to him. The orthodox view holds that Christ is equally divine ("of the same substance") as God the Father. Theodoric built a new Arian cathedral (the Basilica Spirito Santo) with its own baptistery towards the end of the 5th century, not long after Ravenna's Orthodox Neonian Baptistery was built. It is quite similar to its orthodox predecessor, including the mosaic in the dome. The Byzantines took Ravenna in 540, bringing Arian and barbarian rule in Italy to an end. About 10 years later, Emperor Justinian gave the Arian Baptistery to the orthodox (Catholic) community of the city, who turned it into a church called Santa Maria in Cosmedin. 💕

MOSAIC ARTIST, Byzantine Ceiling decoration 490s Mosaic Arian Baptistery, Ravenna

[echiromani]

The Apostles Matthew and James, from the Neonian Baptistry in Ravenna.

[italiasoloitalia]

Days 18, 19: Ravenna

A easy drive to Ravenna (apart from another little moment of frisson when google maps had us headings back towards Bologna - what the?) and arrival to villa Santa Maria Foris is blessedly straightforward. A few mins walk and we’re onto Via Cavour, a main shopping strip though long, narrow and cobbled, caffe per favore! Purchase our tickets to view the five mosaic sites for tomorrow, a little spectacle shopping for il signore, and a Negroni stop in beautiful Palazzo della Provincia piazza (where we will return tomorrow for Dante’s tomb). Ravenna is a showcase of art, history and culture with ancient origins, from 5th to 8th centuries, the capital of the Western Roman Empire and Byzantine empire.

Passegiata steps mount (the walking we’ve done!) and we see beauty everywhere before dinner at L’Acciuga - refined seafood and our shared anchovy starter with crisp grilled toast and mounted butter is ✅). Crudo for me and turbot with stuffed fiori di zucchini ✅✅)

A perfect cappuccino con doppio caffe and we’re off to a day that provides sights to behold - the mosaics beginning with the beautifully intimate Galla Placidia Mausoleum - are spectacular. Breathtaking, emotionally charged displays of artistry and skill. No queues or hordes of people either make the viewings even more wondrous, with time to absorb, seats on which to comfortably contemplate. We break the day up with a siesta and return to see the Domus dei Tarpetti di Pietra (house of stone carpets) and the Neonian Baptistry before an aperitivo whilst people watching. Loving the elegant women cycling by, locks flowing, heels, no effort, no sweat, do-di-do-di-do, as you do.

We dine at Antica Trattoria al Gallo 1909, a Liberty styled restaurant with a gorgeous garden and Glenn’s cappelletti con tartufo is the highlight. Tomorrow we depart for an overnight in beautiful Ascoli Piceno (so looking forward to seeing it again) before we spend the weekend visiting the family left in Pescara del Tronto.

[echiromani]

Ravenna’s Neonian Baptistry.