Santa Balbina - Tuesday, Second Week of Lent
- Rick Bessey
- Mar 3
- 2 min read
The church of Santa Balbina is a quiet, but relatively central section of Rome. Located within view of the Baths of Caracalla this church is relatively secluded, and surrounded by the unadorned brick ruins of ancient Rome.
Simple in design and ornamentation, the story of Santa Balbina is a fascinating story and touches on a church we have visited previously in this Lenten church journey. Pope Alexander I, who held the papacy from 107-115, was imprisoned under Hadrian. The Roman guard entrusted with guarding him had a daughter, Balbina, who suffered under an illness. Asking the pope for his blessing and hopeful healing, the pope said that his daughter should find the chains of St. Peter. Because of his position, the Roman officer knew where Peter had been held, and took his daughter there. Upon finding the chains, she kissed them and was healed. The family was converted and Pope Alexander I was freed. He built a church to hold the chains : St. Peter in Chains.
The current church was dedicated to Saint Balbina around the year 600. The relationship to any location related to her is tenuous. Her relics are said to be in the church, and a reliquary bearing her likeness which was said to have at one time held her remains is on display in the Metropolitian Museum of Art in New York.
The church and its settings are relaxing and well-worth the time if you happen to be visiting the Baths of Caracalla. Even if you aren't visiting the baths, it is only a 7 minute walk from the Circus Maximus - less than 1/2 mile. It may be worth the trip if you want a break from the busy-ness of the city!
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![A wide-angle view of the grand peristyle courtyard (quadriporticus) leading to the basilica entrance. In the center, a monumental stone statue of Saint Paul stands as an artistic anchor, holding a sword to symbolize his martyrdom [cite: 2026-02-23]. The upper level of the church facade is adorned with a brilliant golden mosaic that reflects the sunlight, depicting Christ and the Apostles against a shimmering background. The expansive courtyard and set-back position from the street highlight its unique location on the outskirts of the ancient city walls.](https://static.wixstatic.com/media/e9808f_756a753a5baf468fa93d6facc042baa0~mv2.jpg/v1/fill/w_799,h_533,al_c,q_85,enc_avif,quality_auto/e9808f_756a753a5baf468fa93d6facc042baa0~mv2.jpg)
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