Rome celebrates the dedication of Santa Maria Maggiore on August 5

The Catholic Church marks August 5 as the anniversary of the dedication of the Basilica of Santa Maria Maggiore in Rome. According to legend, a miraculous summer snowfall on the Esquiline Hill in 352 AD revealed the site where a wealthy childless couple, the patrician Jean and his wife, were instructed by the Virgin Mary to build a church. Pope Liberius (referred to as Pope Libère) received the same vision and, together with the couple, oversaw the construction of the basilica, originally called Santa Maria della Neve. The structure was later rebuilt by Pope Sixtus III in the fifth century and became one of the four major papal basilicas of Rome. The basilica houses important relics, including fragments of the Holy Crib and the iconic Salus Populi Romani image of the Virgin and Child. Annual liturgical celebrations recall the legend and the dedication, drawing pilgrims and worshippers to the site.

The event is commemorated in various countries, with articles published in Italy, the Czech Republic, France, and Tunisia, all describing the historical and devotional significance of the basilica and its annual feast.