Historic Roots of Ostia Antica

On Sunday, May 4, the third-year seminarians of Sedes Sapientiae, along with their classmates from the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, visited Ostia Antica as part of their Christian Archaeology course. The visit was led by Professor Javier Domingo, who provided expert historical and theological insights throughout the day.

Ostia Antica, once the main port city of Ancient Rome, was a centre of commerce, culture, and early Christian life. Walking through its well-preserved streets, the seminarians encountered remains of Roman houses, bath complexes, temples, marketplaces, and some of the earliest Christian sites.

Professor Domingo explained how Ostia reflects the transition from pagan Rome to the Christian era, offering glimpses into the lives of the first Christians who lived and worshipped there, often in hidden or modest settings. It deepened the seminarians’ understanding of early Christian witness amid a dominant pagan culture, enriching both their academic formation and spiritual reflection.