Eighth Aedicula of the Pantheon Basilica in Rome:
“Virgin Mary and Saint Nicholas of Bari” “Madonna della Cintola”

Virgin Mary and St Nicholas, Madonna della Cintola, Eight Aedicula of the Pantheon in Rome, Italy

Madonna della Cintola This beautiful painting shows the Virgin Mary presenting her belt to Nicholas of Bari, Saint Nicholas.

Nicholas of Myre, who became Nicholas of Bari or Saint Nicholas, was born in southern Anatolia, Asia Minor, around 270.

His uncle was the bishop of Myra, and he was appointed bishop in his place upon his death.

He was pious and generous, rich; he distributed his wealth to the poor.

He was arrested and tortured during the persecutions of Christians by Diocletian in 310, then released when Constantine became emperor.

He died in 350 and was buried in the church of Saint Nicholas of Myra in the city of Demre in Turkey.

Madonna della Cintola Many pilgrims then went to his tomb because it was said that miraculous, fragrant water or oil oozed from his bones.

But the Turks captured Anatolia in 1071 after winning the Battle of Manzikert.

Nicholas of Myra's fame for holiness had become such that Christians could not leave his body in the hands of infidels.

An expedition was then launched to recover the saint’s relics and was organised by the archdeacon John of Bari and the monk Nicephorus.

Sailors from Bari, therefore, went to Anatolia to steal the relics of Saint Nicholas from the Turks and succeeded there.

The saint’s relics were brought back to Bari in 1087.

The Basilica of Saint Nicholas in Bari was built between 1089 and 1197 to accommodate his remains.

“Virgin Mary and Saint Nicholas of Bari”

Painting - Oil on Canvas 1686

Madonna della Cintola

Eighth Aedicula of the Pantheon Basilica in Rome: “Virgin Mary and Saint Nicholas of Bari” “Madonna della Cintola”

“Virgin Mary and Saint Nicholas of Bari”

Eighth Aedicula of the Pantheon Basilica in Rome:
“Virgin Mary and Saint Nicholas of Bari” “Madonna della Cintola”