Santa Clemente

The upper church:

Because of the early-Christian themes and symbols in the mosaic of the arch of the apses many people think that it is a reproduction or a reconstruction in a smaller form of the apsis mosaic in the underchurch. On the apsis is the crucifix in the centre as a new tree of life with twelve doves (apostles). The crucifix stands on the top of the hill of the paradise that Christ has regained.

There is also a vine, which is also called the tree of life, from which wine flows. In the paradise rises a river which paradise irrigates. Below the crucifix stand Maria and Johannes, a deer (symbol of the faithful) and a phoenix

(symbol of the resurrection). Above is the hand of God, the father, which symbolises the glory of the Lord. At the top of the mosaic we see the Christ monogram in a round shield ( symbol of the victory of the death by the crucifixion of Christ). Under the large mosaic lambs from Jerusalem and lambs from Bethlehem travel to the divine lamb. In the large mosaic between the human figures four clergymen in simple white and black clothes stand: Augustine, Hiëronymus, Ambrosius, Gregorius.

The mosaic on the triumph arch dates from the twelfth and thirteenth centuries.

In these mosaics we see the triumphal Jesus, with a book in one hand, between the symbols of the Evangelisation. On the right Peter, the prophet Jeremias and the pictures of Jerusalem and Clemens, who because the connection with an anchor drown (he was thrown into the water). The anchor was one of the symbols of the Evangelic. On the left Paul, Laurentius with a grate and the prophet Isaias with the picture of Bethlehem. On this mosaic is also a Christmonogram and the characters alpha and omega, which indicate the words of Christ: I’m the beginning and the end. The prophets and martyrs make a vow of the glory of God who sits on the throne.

The Under church:

On the sepulchre of Cyrillus, the brother of Methodius, mosaics were placed by Slaves in the nineteenth centuries.

Motto: Duritia carbis festri saxa trahere meruistis : Through the obduracy of your heart have you deserved to drag rocks.

This Santa Clemens called to the blind soldiers when they were recommended by Sisinnius to arrest Clemens and in stead of Clemens took a pillar.