Introduction. Rebuilding St. Paul’s Outside the Walls

The historic site of San Paolo fuori le Mura, one of Rome's most significant pilgrimage centers alongside St. Peter’s, traces its origins to the martyrdom and burial of St. Paul the Apostle between 65 and 67 CE along the via Ostiense. Initial veneration led to the construction of a modest basilica under Emperor Constantine around 313 CE, which was later replaced by a grander structure in 384–386 CE sponsored by co-emperors Theodosius I, Valentinian II, and Arcadius. This monumental church, consecrated early in the fifth century, endured for over fourteen centuries as a cornerstone of Christendom. The study reconstructs this architectural and historical evolution, highlighting its enduring significance in religious and cultural history.

(Ed.). (2024). Introduction. Rebuilding St. Paul’s Outside the Walls, 1–10. https://doi.org/10.1017/9781009414548.001