The Washington times. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1902-1939, 1922-03-05
HOW the Earth Opened Beneath the
Feet of a Garage LdbOrer and
Revealed the Long Lost Underground
Church Where the SaUiOur's TWO

K TOT long ago workmen were digging
N for the foundations Of big taxicab
garage on the Viale Manzoni, an ex-
ceedingly modern avenue of Rome Italy.
They had made an excavation about six
feet deep when suddenly there was loud
cracking and one Of them slid down and
out of sight through a hole which had
opened beneath his feet The others
scrambled out of the pit, returning with
lights and ropes.
1t was clear that their comrade had
fallen into one of the many ancient sub
terranean vaults which underly the Eternal
City and which, like the Catacombs, were
largely the work of the early Christians
who used them not only as places Of wor-
ship. but as hiding places during their per
secution.
But when the rescue party, lowered
cautiously through the orifce that had
opened so Strangely stood upon firm
ground they forgot for an instant, in their
wonder and awe at their surroundings. the
groaning man they had come to help. Far
overhead was the hole through which they
had come. The circles Of their electric
torches flashed upon the walls Of an enor-
nous chamber These walls were covered
with paintings upon which the destroying
hand of time had rested but lightly.
There was something about these paint.
ings that was-unusual. They were life
size. and in some curious way they seemed
to have life in them. Their eyes looked
gravely, solemnly, at these men who had
swarmed down the ropes into their hidden
sanctuary centuries after the hands that
had painted them had been dust-and as
the circles Of light fickered over the walls
the painted figures seemed to move.
The rescuers crossed themselves and tied
the injured workman to sling.
One of them, holder than the rest, crept
TO a wide doorway and shot his light
through it. Beyond was another great
chamber whose walls held other mysteri-
GUS paintings and wide entrances to still
other chambers.
The workmen were lifted up into the
street. Word of the happening was sent
to Professor Paribeni. the Superintendent
of Antiquities of Rome. After he and his
staff had arrived, had been lowered into
the place of the paintings and, hours after,
had been drawn up again, the garage
operations were abruptly and officially
ended. And forever!
For Professor Paribeni announced that
from his examination he believed that
what the unfortunate workman had fallen
into was probably the first real Christian
church in Rome.
And that among the paintings on the
walls were two which we're, apparently,
authentic portraits Of st. Peter and st.
Paul!
Those who had been digging for the
garage had been, in fact, exactly like men
who, sinking gravel pit, suddenly find
they have tapped a diamond mine. The
Roman authorities Immediately took
charge and completed the excavations.
When this was done the scientists found
an underground building Of the most as
tonishing construction. It was q mixture
, Of halls, stairs, recesses, galleries and
crypts so mixed and confused as [ battle
description. At the beginning, Il would
appear, II consisted of two funeral cham
hers, built by one Aurelius Felicissimus
for himself and other freedmen whom he
calls in the identifying inscription, Broth
ers" (Fratres). This was meant not In
the ordinary sense Of the term, OF course,
tut in that Of religious brotherhood.
The entrance to the underground maze
Of rooms, and so on beyond. was through