The
present San Clemente was built around 1100. Below
it is a 4th century church, and below that a Roman
house in which it is believed Christians worshipped
until the 4th century church was built.
The oldest level is thought to be the titulus
Clementis, one of the first parish churches
in Rome, and probably belonged to the family
of Titus Flavius Clemens, consul and martyr
and a contemporary of Pope St Clement. Set right
next to a pagan temple, a Mithraeum or Temple
of Mithras, it was one of the first churches
in Rome.
A proper church was built after the Edict of
Milan was passed in 313, allowing Christians
to practise their religion openly. The first
written evidence of this church comes from the
pontificate of Pope Siricius (384-399), when
a church dedicated to St Clement is mentioned.
The older buildings were filled in, and a church
occupying about half that are was built. The
Mithraeum continued to exist until 395, when
all pagan cults were outlawed. The property
was taken over by the clergy of S Clemente,
who filled it in and built an apse to the church.
Pope John II (533-535) was a great benefactor
of the church - he had been cardinal priest
of S Clemente from c. 532 until his election
as pope in 533. His name can be seen inscribed
on several slabs in the church.
The church was severely damaged by the Normans
under Robert Guiscard in 1084. It became unsafe,
and the titular priest of the church, Cardinal
Anastasius (cardinal c. 1099 - c. 1125) filled
it in and had a new church built.
Pope Clement XI (1702-1715) had the church
restored, with Carlo Fontana as the architect.
The first excavation of the lower church was
carried out by Fr. Joseph Mulooly O.P. 1857-1870,
with the cooperation of Giovanni Battista de
Rossi. Fr. Louis Nolan O.P. carried out further
excavations 1912-1914, and since then more or
less continuous work has been going on.
