- First built in the 5th century after the Council of Ephesus (AD 431) affirmed Mary as Theotokos (“God-bearer”)
- Known for its ancient mosaics, some of the oldest Christian mosaics still preserved in Rome
- It is the largest church in Rome dedicated to Mary, which is why it is called “Mary Major”
https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Santa_Maria_Maggiore_Front.jpg