Santa Sabina all'Aventino
St Sabina at the Aventine
1 Piazza Pietro d'IlliriaChurch dedicated to St Sabina, 2nd century martyr.
History
The church was built in the 5th century, presumably at the site of the original Titulus Sabinae, a church in the home of Sabina who had been martyred c. 114. The tituli were the first parish churches in Rome. The exact date of the foundation is believed to be 422-423, and it is known that it was founded by an Illyrian priest named Peter.
It was restored in the 8th and 9th centuries.
In 1218, the church was given to the Dominicans by Pope Honorius III, who had approved the foundation of the order. They still serve the church, although since 1370 Santa Maria sopra Minerva has been their main church in Rome. The Pope was of the Savelli family, whose palace was next to the church.
St Dominic lived in the adjacent monastery for a period soon before his death in 1221. Among other residents of the monastery is St Thomas Aquinas.
During the Renaissance and Baroque periods, some additions were made. In the 20th century, most of these were removed to restore the church back to its original state. The restorations took place 1914-1919 and 1936-1938, and were led by A. Muzo and P. Berthier.
The current titular of the church is H.E. Jozef Cardinal Tomko.
Santa Sabina is the station church on Ash Wednesday. Since the time of Pope John XXIII, it is custom for the Holy Father to assist in person in the afternoon Mass on that day, when ashes are distributed.
It is possible to see the rooms of Pope St Pius V and St Dominic at the monastery. Men can visit the Romanesque cloister and the chapter house where St Celsus and St Hyacinth, apostles of Hungary and Bohemia, gave their vows as Dominicans. To visit these places, apply at the monastery.