Carmelite stational chuch

Today's Lenten stational church is San Martino ai Monti, a Roman parish in the care of the Carmelites on Monte Oppio. It was founded as a house church (the titulus Equitii) probably at the end of the 3rd century, and so is one of the first parish churches in Rome. A local synod is recorded as meeting here in 324 in preparation for the Council of Nicaea. Much rebuilt, the present structure dates from the mid-9th century, incorporating some parts from the early 6th-century church of Pope Symmachus, and there was extensive renovation work in the 16th century (by St Charles Borromeo, the titular cardinal) and again in the mid-17th century. The Carmelites have been there since 1299, and San Martino is presently the headquarters and studentate for the Italian province. A description with photos is here.

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