On June 29, 2024, in the heat of the summer evening, the Holy Chains of the Apostle Saint Paul were processed through the streets surrounding the Basilica of Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls to commemorate the Solemnity of Saints Peter and Paul.

The Basilica of Saint Paul’s Outside the Walls is built over the tomb of Saul of Tarsus, a former persecutor of Christians who later converted and became the Apostle to the Gentiles, ultimately being martyred in Rome.

As a Roman citizen, Saint Paul was beheaded rather than crucified, as was the fate of Saint Peter. Tradition holds that his head bounced three times, resulting in three springs at the site now known as the Church of Tre Fontane (Three Fountains). He was buried at the site where the basilica now stands.

The Basilica of St. Paul’s Outside the Walls is one of the four major papal basilicas in Rome. Cardinal Harvey has served as the Archpriest of the basilica since 2012, and the complex also houses a Benedictine Abbey.

The tradition of processing the Holy Chains of Saint Paul dates back to the pontificate of Pope Saint Gregory the Great (590-640). The chains that once bound the Apostle are carried through the neighborhood surrounding the basilica.

After World War II, the procession was revived in 1949, beginning at the nearby church of St. Benedict and making its way down via Ostiense to the Pauline basilica. The elderly residents of the neighborhood still remember the hymn written in 1951 in honor of the saint.

The procession has returned to its former glory with a new route since 2019. It begins and ends in the basilica. The Abbot places the chains in a processional reliquary modeled after the ciborium designed by Arnolfo di Cambio, which marks the tomb of Saint Paul. The monks then carry the Holy Chains through the basilica and its courtyard.

This year, for the first time, members of various Roman confraternities and an archconfraternity carried the Holy Chains and a statue of Saint Paul through the neighboring streets.

During the procession, participants prayed litanies to Saint Paul, asking for his intercession and meditating upon his titles, such as "Apostle of the Father’s Mercy," "Preacher of Truth," and "Conquered by the Love of Christ."

The Abbot and monks were joined by representatives from the local municipality, the metropolitan police, the Carabinieri, and the Guardia di Finanza, along with numerous priests, religious sisters, confraternities, and lay faithful.

The one-hour-long procession concluded on the porch of the basilica. The marching band from Frascati played a hymn followed by the Italian National Anthem. The Abbot then took the Holy Chains from the reliquary and imparted a Solemn Blessing.

Afterward, the Abbot provided an opportunity for Cardinal Harvey, the monks, the priests, and those who carried the Holy Chains and the statue of Saint Paul to reverence the relic with a kiss before returning the chains to their reliquary.

This article was originally published on ChurchPOP