The Catacombs of Saint Callixtus - The above-ground area

THE ABOVE-GROUND AREA

This open-air area, extant before the catacombs, was occupied, along the borders of the Appian Way, by pagan sepulchres. Later on mausoleums and small basilicas were built over or beside the martyrs' tombs. Of all these monuments only two buildings have survived. They are known as "Trichorae", so called from the three small apses which make up their plan.
Always above ground, perhaps in the Western Trichora were buried very near, even though in different times, pope St. Zephyrinus and the young martyr of the Eucharist, St. Tarcisius, who was commemorated by pope St. Damasus with a poem which reminds us of his martyrdom:

"When a wicked group of fanatics flung themselves
on Tarcisius who was carrying the Eucharist,
wanting to profane the Sacrament, the boy preferred
to give up his life rather than yield up
the Body of Christ to those rabid dogs".

Both the Trichorae were restored and the Eastern one fulfills today the task of a small museum, which contains a good number of fragments of sarcophagi, representing biblical scenes, and inscriptions of the above-ground cemetery.

Il sarcofago del Bambino con scene bibliche (IV sec.)

Il Sarcofago del Bambino
© Pontificia Commissione di Archeologia Sacra

The most important one is the sarcophagus of the Child, so called because of its size. It now preserves only the entire front richly sculptured. The sarcophagus may be regarded as a concise illustrated catechism. Here are the biblical scenes: Noah in the ark with the dove above him, a prophet holding the scroll of the divine law, Daniel in the lions' den, a child praying between two saints, the miracle of Cana and the resurrection of Lazarus... Kneeling at the feet of Jesus is Mary the sister of Lazarus (Jo 12,1-8). At the centre of the lid two little genii are holding the tablet; at both ends two ornamental faces are sculptured.
The scenes in this sarcophagus describe real events and reveal a profound symbolism. The succession of the scenes is not fortuitous and the message is at once evident. A Christian is born to divine life through Baptism (Noah). This divine life is nourished by the bread (Habakkuk) and the wine (Cana) consecrated in the Mass, that is, with Holy Communion. The Eucharist is offered as a pledge of final resurrection (Lazarus).
In this way a Christian (the child) will reach and live in paradise (Orante). We find the following words of Jesus echoed here: "He who eats my flesh and drinks my blood has eternal life and I will raise him up at the last day" (Jo 6.54).