Giovanni
Baglione (1566-1643)
The Virgin Mary Gives the Confession of Faith to Gregory Thaumaturgus
Fresco
Apse
of the Borghese chapel, basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore, Rome
Gregory of Neocaesarea, known as Thaumaturgus or "wonderworker," lived
in the 3rd century and wrote one of the earliest statements of
Trinitarian doctrine, the "Confession
of Faith (cached)."
According to his biographer Gregory of Nyssa, the saint received the
"Confession" from Mary in answer to a prayer.
Behind the third from the left of the three sculpted angels is a fresco angel with a tablet inscribed FORMULAM FIDEI GREGORIO THAUMATURGO CONTRA
HAERETICOS TRADIT, "She gives the confession of faith
against heretics to Gregory Thaumaturgus."
More of the Virgin Mary
Photographed at the
site by Richard Stracke