Just steps from the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore stands the Basilica of Santa Prassede, home to a powerful relic directly tied to the Passion of Christ: the Column of the Flagellation.
Don't miss this hidden treasure if you're planning a pilgrimage to Rome during the Jubilee Year.
On Christmas Eve, December 24, 2024, Pope Francis opened the Holy Door of Saint Peter’s Basilica, officially beginning the Jubilee of Hope 2025. This extraordinary year of grace will conclude on January 6, 2026, the Solemnity of the Epiphany.
As part of this Holy Year, tour guide Riccardo Andriola highlighted on his Instagram account a must-visit basilica in Rome that houses a relic of immense spiritual significance:
The Basilica of Santa Prassede
Originally built around 400 A.D. and later rebuilt in the ninth century by Pope Paschal I, the basilica was dedicated to Saint Prassede, the daughter of Roman senator Pudentius (a disciple of Saint Paul) and sister of Saint Pudentiana.
"The apse is a true Byzantine gem, adorned with golden mosaics created between 817 and 824. These are among the oldest and most valuable examples of mosaic art in Rome, portraying heavenly scenes and saints in adoration."
The basilica houses one of Rome's best-preserved crypts, where the relics of Saint Prassede rest.
However, the most emblematic part of the church is undoubtedly the Chapel of Saint Zeno, where the Column of the Flagellation is kept.
"This place is considered one of the most valuable examples of Byzantine art in Rome, entirely decorated with mosaics on a gold background. And it is here, in a niche of the chapel, that the Column of the Flagellation is kept, traditionally considered the column to which Jesus was tied and later scourged.
The column measures 63 cm high and 20 cm in diameter. It is made of gabbro diorite, a type of granite from the Egyptian desert. It was brought to Rome from Jerusalem in 1223 by Cardinal Giovanni Colonna and is now displayed inside a gilded reliquary designed by artist Duilio Cambellotti in 1898."
How to get to the Basilica of Santa Prassede
Andriola also shared clear directions to the basilica:
“To find this incredible place, start with the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore behind you. At the first pedestrian crossing, turn right, cross the street, and continue to the end of the road. Turn left and go straight. At the first intersection, turn right. Then just keep walking straight for about 15 seconds—you’ll arrive at the stunning Basilica of Saint Prassede.”
Other Columns Associated with the Flagellation of Christ
Besides the column preserved in Rome, there are other relics traditionally linked to the flagellation of Jesus.
Vatican News reports:
“A second is found in Jerusalem, in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre, recorded by an anonymous pilgrim from Bordeaux in a writing dated 333, while Saint Cyril of Jerusalem recalls it in a catechesis of 348. Some studies attempt to reconcile both traditions by referring to two distinct flagellations of Christ: the first in the Praetorium with Pilate, the second in the palace of Caiaphas. Two other columns are believed to be those of the flagellation: in Istanbul and in the Basilica of the Holy Sepulchre in Bologna.”