Have you ever wondered what lies beneath the faith you cherish? Imagine standing in Rome, yet finding yourself transported back two thousand years with every step downward. The Basilica of San Clemente is not just a church; it is a vertical testament to the perseverance of the Holy Church . In the tradition of the Apostles and the Martyrs, this book guides you beneath the modern structure to unearth secrets that have lain in darkness for centuries. Here, the very foundations of the Eternal City tell a story of spiritual warfare, where the hidden seed of Christ's teaching was sown under the shadow of pagan empire and bloody persecution. Descend with us through stone and time to the original fourth-century basilica, a place where the early Christian community, finally free from the Catacombs, raised their first great public house of worship. Witness the enduring spirit etched into the ancient frescoes, where the faces of saints speak across a thousand years, bearing witness to miracles and the simple, profound piety of the medieval soul. You will feel the weight of history-the Norman sack that necessitated its burial, the piety that demanded its perfect preservation, and the glorious Mithras-slaying triumph of the Cross woven into the very fabric of the stones. But the journey goes deeper still. We penetrate the final, forgotten layer to the first century, to the very house of the consul Titus Flavius, where the earliest believers gathered in secret. This is where the faith began, directly atop a subterranean temple dedicated to the mystery cult of Mithras. This incredible layering is not coincidence; it is providence made manifest , a powerful, visible symbol of the true God conquering the false gods. Your faith will be ignited by this palpable connection to the foundational moments of the Church. "Below Rome, A Thousand Years" is an exclusive excavation for the soul, blending rigorous history and compelling archaeology with a deep reverence for the sacred. It is an exploration that will reaffirm your belief in the Church's unbroken, apostolic continuity, providing a spiritual map to the very bedrock of Christian civilization. If you desire a robust, unflinching look at the places where our most ancient prayers first took flight, this volume is essential reading for your library. Are you ready to discover the secrets that uphold the foundation of your eternal hope