 Introduction
Chiesa del Domine Quo Vadis is a small church southeast of Rome. It is located on the spot where tradition says Saint Peter had a vision of the risen Christ while fleeing persecution in Rome.
 History
Domine Quo Vadis Church takes its name from the legend that the Apostle Peter, fleeing from Rome to escape martyrdom, met Christ here and, not recognising him, asked, Domine, quo vadis? (Lord, where are you going?) Jesus answered Eo Romam iterum crucifigi (I am going to Rome to be crucified anew). Then Peter realizing who it was, was stricken with shame and returned to Rome. On the basis of this legend the little church of Santa Maria in Palmis was built in the ninth century, very little is known about this church, palmis stands for the soles of Jesus. It later became known as the Domine Quo Vadis church; the current church is from 1637 and the current facade was added in the 17th century.
It has been supposed that the sanctuary might have been even more ancient, perhaps a Christian version of some already existing temple: the church is in fact located just in front of the sacred Campus dedicated to Rediculum, the God of the return this campus hosted a sanctuary for the cult of the god, that received devotion by travellers before their departure, specially by those who were going to face long and dangerous journeys, towards far places like Egypt, Greece or the East (and the travellers who returned, always stopped to thank the god of the happy outcome of the journey).
There was an inscription above the front door on the facade, saying: Stop your walking, traveller, and enter this sacred temple in which you will find the footprint of our Lord Jesus Christ when He met with St. Peter who escaped from the prison. An elemosina for the wax and the oil is recommended in order to free some spirits from Purgatory. Pope Gregory XVI found it so inappropriate (effectively being a sort of advertising) that he ordered its removal in 1845.
In 1983 Pope John Paul II defined the church a place that has a special importance in the history of Rome and in the history of the Church.
 Location
It is located about 800 m from St. Sebastian Gate (Porta San Sebastiano), where the Via Ardeatina branches off the Appian Way.
Address:Via Appia Antica 51, I-00186 Rome, Italy.
Transit: Bus: 118, 218.
 What's to see
There are two footprints on a marble slab at the center of the church (copy of a relief conserved in the near basilica of San Sebastiano) would be the miraculous sign left by Jesus: it is actually a draft of an ex voto paid for the good outcome of a travel.
 Useful information
Telephone: 06 5120441.
 Links
Coming soon.
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