Saints Martin and Sebastian of the Swiss
| Saints Martin and Sebastian of the Swiss Santi Martino e Sebastiano degli Svizzeri |
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View of the façade of the church from St Peter's square.
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 Location on a map of Vatican City
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| Basic information | |
| Location | Vatican City |
| Geographic coordinates | 41°54′12.19″N 012°27′24.2″E / 41.9033861°N 12.456722°ECoordinates: 41°54′12.19″N 012°27′24.2″E / 41.9033861°N 12.456722°E |
| Affiliation | Roman Catholic |
| Ecclesiastical or organizational status | Oratory, National church of Switzerland |
| Leadership | Alain de Raemy |
| Website | www |
| Architectural description | |
| Architect(s) | Nanni di Baccio Bigio |
| Architectural type | Church |
| Architectural style | Renaissance |
| Completed | 1568 |
| Specifications | |
| Length | 12 metres (39 ft) |
| Width | 9 metres (30 ft) |
The Church of Saints Martin and Sebastian of the Swiss (Italian: Santi Martino e Sebastiano degli Svizzeri) is a Roman Catholic oratory in Vatican City. The church was built by Pope Pius V in 1568 to serve as private chapel for the Pontifical Swiss Guards, whose barracks are located next to Porta San Pellegrino, close to the Apostolic Palace. It is considered the national church of Switzerland in Rome.
The chapel is conveniently located on the path taken everyday by the Guards from their barracks to Portone di Bronzo. It is accessible for the guards, day and night. Baptisms and marriages of members of the Guard can also be celebrated with the permission of the priest of the parish of Saint Anne in Vatican.
The Swiss Guards arrived at the service of the Pope in Rome in 1506. Pope Pius V ordered the construction of a chapel strictly reserved for the Guards behind the bastion of Nicholas V. The construction of the building dates back to 1568 under the direction of architect Nanni di Baccio Bigio. The church was dedicated to Saint Martin of Tours and Saint Sebastian, both soldiers. (The patron saint of Switzerland, however, is Nicholas of Flüe, who was canonized in 1947 by Pope Pius XII.) Saint Martin was an officer in the Roman army who withdrew to the ascetic and monastic life after his conversion. Saint Sebastian was appointed as a captain of the Praetorian Guard of Roman emperors Diocletian and Maximian and was martyred.
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