BASILICA OF SANT'APOLLINARE NUOVO, Presentation And Exterior

Hi, my name’s Rick, and I’m your personal guide. Along with MyWoWo, I’d like to welcome you to one of the Wonders of the World: the Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo.

The Basilica of Sant’Apollinare Nuovo, dating from the early decades of the sixth century, was commissioned by the Ostrogoth king Theodoric, who was faithful to the Arian cult, but around 561 it was reconsecrated to the Catholic faith.

King Theodoric built the basilica as a palatine chapel, since his royal palace stood next to it, but when his reign ended, the church was first consecrated to St. Martin and then to St. Apollinaris, who had been the first bishop of Ravenna.

In fact, you should note that there were important differences between Catholic and Arian worship that led the Catholic Church to consider Arianism a heretical religion. The main divergence was related to the figure of Jesus Christ, who for the Arians was not considered immortal, nor was he given the same importance as God.

That is why many mosaics related to Theodoric were modified to delete references to him and his beliefs....