Among the numerous wonders of the Basilica of Saint Stephan of Rome, that is located at the Caelian Hill, there is a small but nice chapel that is the last witness of the ancient beauty of this awesome basilica. If you never visited it I suggest to do that, maybe with a local tour guide... 

Imagine how originally the church had a circular map having a cross insert on it. At the end of the four arms there were four chapels, and this one is the last one that survived after the several restorations that took place here. The Basilica of St Stephan was erected at the V century a.D. and two centuries later, at the 40's of the VII century, it was embellished for the wills of pope Teodoro I. He mainly moved the mortal pieces of two martyrs, Saint Primo and Feliciano, who probably died at the 303 a.D. during the last persecutions against the Christians. According to some stories which were added after their deaths, Primo and Feliciano were two old brothers who were killed after several tortures (something that is depicted on the walls of the chapel). At the end they were beheaded, mainly because they refused to pray in front of a pagan idol. Usually the ancient Romans didn't kill the Christian believers if they accepted to pray their Gods, or if they blasphemed God. Something that Primo and Feliciano didn't do.

We can say, in some degree, that their fate is depicted on the wonderful mosaic which is embellishing the small apse of this chapel. We see the two saints, here youngs, who have a budding and precious Cross. Above it there is Jesus on a clipeus. Probably this last element was added after the whole mosaic, but probably it was made following the original clipeus that got shattered. Moreover the wonderful Cross, full of jewels, is representing not only the victory and Passion of Jesus, but even an homage to Jerusalem, that at the 637 a.D. was conquered by the Arabs. So it was a way to underline how the Holy Church is alway strong and stronger than the others, even if a city like Jerusalem was conquered. Moreover it is interesting what was the importance of the cult of the martyrs and their related relics. If a church had one or more relics inside it means that it was important, so much that it needs to a deep restoration. To own a relic means to improve the prestige, a procession that brought several churches to be restored and embellished with beautiful work of art like this mosaic...