Rome - Santi Cosma e Damiano

This church, dedicated to the two Oriental doctor saints Cosmas and Damian, was converted in the sixth century from a Roman building in Vespasian's Forum of Peace, hence its aisleless ground plan. In the 17th century the interior was decorated in Baroque style. The church has a fine wooden ceiling of 1632 and a medieval Easter candle with Cosmatesque decoration. It is, however, notable for the mosaics on the triumphal arch and in the apse, which date from the reign of Pope Felix IV (526-530). On the triumphal arch are scenes from the Book of Revelation. In the apse the "transmission of the Divine Law", in which Christ is depicted handing the scroll of the Law to Peter and Paul, flanked by SS Cosmas and Damian, St Theodore and Pope Felix IV. The Christmas crib (Nativity scene) in the vestibule is one of the largest in Rome and of considerable artistic quality.