A group of seminarians, accompanied by Don Eduardo Baura, spent Sunday visiting as pilgrims some of the churches in Rome associated with St. Paul. The trip began at the church of San Paolo alle Tre Fontane, where according to tradition St Paul was beheaded. From there they went to the Basilica of St Paul Outside the Walls, one of the four papal basilicas in Rome. Their visit included passing through the Holy Door during the Jubilee, a moment of grace and reflection.
The seminarians then visited the church of St. Prisca on the Aventine Hill, a place rich in history, as it was the home of St. Priscilla and her husband Aquila, who played an important role in the early Christian community. Inside, they saw the crypt, where they found the baptismal font traditionally believed to have been used by St. Peter.
Attached to the church is a fascinating archaeological site preserving a mithraeum, the place where the ancient worship of the god Mithras was practised. The seminarians viewed the beautiful frescoes that adorn the walls, depicting scenes from Mithraic rituals. The visit provided a immersion into the Christian and pagan history of Rome.