Sant'Adriano al Foro was church in Rome, formerly in the Curia Julia in the Forum Romanum and a cardinal-deaconry (a titular church for a Cardinal-deacon).
The Church of Sant'Adriano al Foro (Italian for St. (H)Adrian at the Roman Forum) was a conversion of the Curia Julia, which had housed the Senate of Ancient Rome, by Pope Honorius I in 630.
The end of the sixth and the beginning of the seventh century mark for Rome a period of profound decay. The curia had been abandoned until Honorius decided to erect the church.
Its name refers to the martyr Adrian of Nicomedia. Paintings are still visible in a side chapel which depict scenes from the life of St. Adrian; there are also some Byzantine paintings. It was designated by Pope Sergius I (687-701) as the starting point for the litanies during certain the procession liturgical feasts of the Virgin Mary, Presentation in the Temple, Annunciation, Assumption and Nativity. Pope Gregory IX made substantial changes to the building in 1228. In the 17th century its large bronze doors were moved by order of Pope Alexander VII to adorn the main portal of the Basilica of St. John Lateran.
Reconstruction as Curia Julia
Its structure was modified multiple times before it was deconsecrated in the 1930s to recover the ancient structure of the building. On either side of the entrance are niches corresponding to medieval burials. The painting of the Holy Family of the school of Raphael was moved to the Church of Santa Maria and Mercede, and the name Sant Adriano added.
Cardinal deaconry
It was established in 734 as Cardinal Deaconry of S. Adriano al Foro
On 25 January 1946, the title was suppressed to establish the Cardinal Deaconry of S. Paolo alla Regola.
Cardinal deacons
The following Cardinals have been Cardinal deacons of the Deaconry, except in special circumstances, which are noted by italics.
Agostino Trivulzio (1517.07.06 – 1537.08.17); in commendam 1537.08.17 – 1537.09.06 while transferred as Cardinal-Deacon of S. Eustachio (1537.08.17 – 1537.09.06), finally again Cardinal-Deacon of S. Adriano al Foro (1537.09.06 – 1548.03.30)
Jean du Bellay (1548.04.09 – 1549.02.25, Cardinal priest pro hac vice
Odet de Coligny de Châtillon (1549.02.25 – 1563.03.31), became a Protestant, and gave up the Cardinalate and his Deaconry.
Innico d’Avalos d’ Aragona, Military Order of Saint James the Sword (O.S.), (1563.07.30 – 1565.01.19); promoted Cardinal priest pro hac vice (1480.01.14 – 1483.09.10)
