St. Mary Major

This evening we visited the oldest church dedicated to the Blessed Mother -  St. Mary Major. There are pieces of the crib from Bethlehem in a reliquary below the main altar. Inside the altar are some relics of St. Matthew. In a side chapel they have preserved an icon of Mary reported to have been painted by St. Luke. We then celebrated Sunday Mass in a chapel near the Basilica, had dinner and can now get some shuteye.