Church Of Santa Sabina
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The Basilica of Saint Sabina ( la, Basilica Sanctae Sabinae, it, Basilica di Santa Sabina all'Aventino) is a historic church on the
Aventine Hill The Aventine Hill (; la, Collis Aventinus; it, Aventino ) is one of the Seven Hills on which ancient Rome was built. It belongs to Ripa, the modern twelfth ''rione'', or ward, of Rome. Location and boundaries The Aventine Hill is the sou ...
in
Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...
, Italy. It is a
titular Titular may refer to: Arts, entertainment, and media * Title character in a narrative work, the character referred to in its title Religion * Titular (Catholicism), a cardinal who holds a titulus, one of the main churches of Rome ** Titular bisho ...
minor basilica In the Catholic Church, a basilica is a designation given by the Pope to a church building. Basilicas are distinguished for ceremonial purposes from other churches. The building need not be a basilica in the architectural sense (a rectangular ...
and mother church of the
Roman Catholic Roman or Romans most often refers to: *Rome, the capital city of Italy *Ancient Rome, Roman civilization from 8th century BC to 5th century AD *Roman people, the people of ancient Rome *'' Epistle to the Romans'', shortened to ''Romans'', a lette ...
Order of Preachers The Order of Preachers ( la, Ordo Praedicatorum) abbreviated OP, also known as the Dominicans, is a Catholic mendicant order of Pontifical Right for men founded in Toulouse, France, by the Spanish priest, saint and mystic Dominic of Cal ...
, better known as the Dominicans. Santa Sabina is the oldest extant ecclesiastical basilica in Rome that preserves its original colonnaded rectangular plan with apse and architectural style. Its decorations have been restored to their original restrained design. Other basilicas, such as
Santa Maria Maggiore The Basilica of Saint Mary Major ( it, Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, ; la, Basilica Sanctae Mariae Maioris), or church of Santa Maria Maggiore, is a Major papal basilica as well as one of the Seven Pilgrim Churches of Rome and the larges ...
, have been ornately decorated in later centuries. Because of its simplicity, the Santa Sabina represents the adaptation of the architecture of the roofed Roman forum or basilica to the basilica churches of
Christendom Christendom historically refers to the Christian states, Christian-majority countries and the countries in which Christianity dominates, prevails,SeMerriam-Webster.com : dictionary, "Christendom"/ref> or is culturally or historically intertwine ...
. It is especially well-known for its cypress wood doors carved in AD 430-432 with Biblical scenes, the most famous being the first known publicly displayed depiction of the
crucifixion Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross or beam and left to hang until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation. It was used as a punishment by the Persians, Carthagin ...
of
Jesus Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...
and the two thieves. Santa Sabina is perched high above the
Tiber The Tiber ( ; it, Tevere ; la, Tiberis) is the third-longest river in Italy and the longest in Central Italy, rising in the Apennine Mountains in Emilia-Romagna and flowing through Tuscany, Umbria, and Lazio, where it is joined by the Riv ...
to the north and the Circus Maximus to the east. It is next to the small public park of ''Giardino degli Aranci'' ("Garden of Oranges"), which has a scenic terrace overlooking Rome. It is a short distance from the headquarters of the
Knights of Malta The Sovereign Military Order of Malta (SMOM), officially the Sovereign Military Hospitaller Order of Saint John of Jerusalem, of Rhodes and of Malta ( it, Sovrano Militare Ordine Ospedaliero di San Giovanni di Gerusalemme, di Rodi e di Malta; ...
. Its last cardinal priest was Jozef Tomko until his death on 8 August 2022. It is the
stational church Station days were days of fasting in the early Christian Church, associated with a procession to certain prescribed churches in Rome, where the Mass and Vespers would be celebrated to mark important days of the liturgical year. Although other cit ...
for
Ash Wednesday Ash Wednesday is a holy day of prayer and fasting in many Western Christian denominations. It is preceded by Shrove Tuesday and falls on the first day of Lent (the six weeks of penitence before Easter). It is observed by Catholics in the Rom ...
.


History

The church was built on the site of early Imperial houses, one of which is said to be of Sabina, a Roman matron originally from
Avezzano Avezzano ( or ; nap, Avezzàne, label=Neapolitan language, Marsicano ) is a city and ''comune'' with a population of 40,819 inhabitants, situated in the Abruzzo region, province of L'Aquila, Italy. It is the second most populous municipality in th ...
in the
Abruzzo Abruzzo (, , ; nap, label=Neapolitan language, Abruzzese Neapolitan, Abbrùzze , ''Abbrìzze'' or ''Abbrèzze'' ; nap, label=Sabino dialect, Aquilano, Abbrùzzu; #History, historically Abruzzi) is a Regions of Italy, region of Southern Italy wi ...
region of Italy. Sabina was beheaded in AD 126 under Emperor
Hadrian Hadrian (; la, Caesar Trâiānus Hadriānus ; 24 January 76 – 10 July 138) was Roman emperor from 117 to 138. He was born in Italica (close to modern Santiponce in Spain), a Roman ''municipium'' founded by Italic settlers in Hispania B ...
, because she had been converted to Christianity by her servant Serapia, who also had been beheaded in AD 119. Sabina and Serapia were later declared Catholic saints. Santa Sabina was built by Peter of
Illyria In classical antiquity, Illyria (; grc, Ἰλλυρία, ''Illyría'' or , ''Illyrís''; la, Illyria, ''Illyricum'') was a region in the western part of the Balkan Peninsula inhabited by numerous tribes of people collectively known as the Illyr ...
, a Dalmatian priest, between 422 and 432 near a temple of Juno on the
Aventine Hill The Aventine Hill (; la, Collis Aventinus; it, Aventino ) is one of the Seven Hills on which ancient Rome was built. It belongs to Ripa, the modern twelfth ''rione'', or ward, of Rome. Location and boundaries The Aventine Hill is the sou ...
in
Rome , established_title = Founded , established_date = 753 BC , founder = King Romulus (legendary) , image_map = Map of comune of Rome (metropolitan city of Capital Rome, region Lazio, Italy).svg , map_caption ...
. Pope Celestine I established the cardinal title of Santa Sabina with its seat here in 423. In the 9th century, it was enclosed in a fortification area. in 1216
Pope Honorius III Pope Honorius III (c. 1150 – 18 March 1227), born Cencio Savelli, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 18 July 1216 to his death. A canon at the Basilica di Santa Maria Maggiore, he came to hold a number of importa ...
approved the
Order of Preachers The Order of Preachers ( la, Ordo Praedicatorum) abbreviated OP, also known as the Dominicans, is a Catholic mendicant order of Pontifical Right for men founded in Toulouse, France, by the Spanish priest, saint and mystic Dominic of Cal ...
, now commonly known as the Dominicans, which was "the first order instituted by the Church with an academic mission".Pirerre Mandonnet, "Order of Preachers" Catholic Encyclopedia, 1913; Honorius III invited
Saint Dominic Saint Dominic ( es, Santo Domingo; 8 August 1170 – 6 August 1221), also known as Dominic de Guzmán (), was a Castilian Catholic priest, mystic, the founder of the Dominican Order and is the patron saint of astronomers and natural scientis ...
, the founder of the
Order of Preachers The Order of Preachers ( la, Ordo Praedicatorum) abbreviated OP, also known as the Dominicans, is a Catholic mendicant order of Pontifical Right for men founded in Toulouse, France, by the Spanish priest, saint and mystic Dominic of Cal ...
, to take up residence at the church of Santa Sabina in 1220. The official foundation of the Dominican convent at Santa Sabina with its ''studium conventuale'', the first Dominican ''studium'' in Rome, occurred with the legal transfer of property from Honorius III to the
Order of Preachers The Order of Preachers ( la, Ordo Praedicatorum) abbreviated OP, also known as the Dominicans, is a Catholic mendicant order of Pontifical Right for men founded in Toulouse, France, by the Spanish priest, saint and mystic Dominic of Cal ...
on June 5, 1222 though the brethren had taken up residence there already in 1220. The church was the seat of a
papal conclave A papal conclave is a gathering of the College of Cardinals convened to elect a Bishops in the Catholic Church, bishop of Rome, also known as the pope. Catholics consider the pope to be the Apostolic succession, apostolic successor of Saint ...
in 1287, although the prelates left the church after an
epidemic An epidemic (from Ancient Greek, Greek ἐπί ''epi'' "upon or above" and δῆμος ''demos'' "people") is the rapid spread of disease to a large number of patients among a given population within an area in a short period of time. Epidemics ...
killed six of them. They later returned to the church, and elected Nicholas IV as pope on February 22, 1288. Its interior was renovated by
Domenico Fontana Domenico Fontana (154328 June 1607) was an Italian architect of the late Renaissance, born in today's Ticino. He worked primarily in Italy, at Rome and Naples. Biography He was born at Melide, a village on the Lake Lugano, at that time joint p ...
in 1587 (after being commissioned by
Pope Sixtus V Pope Sixtus V ( it, Sisto V; 13 December 1521 – 27 August 1590), born Felice Piergentile, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 24 April 1585 to his death in August 1590. As a youth, he joined the Franciscan order ...
in 1586) and
Francesco Borromini Francesco Borromini (, ), byname of Francesco Castelli (; 25 September 1599 – 2 August 1667), was an Italian architect born in the modern Swiss canton of Ticino
in 1643. The Kingdom of Italy conquered Rome in 1870; expelled the Dominicans; and converted the church into a lazaretto (quarantine station for maritime travelers). Italian architect and art historian Antonio Muñoz (1884-1960) restored the original simplistic medieval appearance of the church in 1914-1919. French architect P. Berthier completed its restoration in 1936-1938. Among those who have lived in its adjacent convent were
Saint Dominic Saint Dominic ( es, Santo Domingo; 8 August 1170 – 6 August 1221), also known as Dominic de Guzmán (), was a Castilian Catholic priest, mystic, the founder of the Dominican Order and is the patron saint of astronomers and natural scientis ...
(1220-1221), St Thomas Aquinas (1265-1268), Blessed Ceslaus, Saint Hyacinth, and
Pope Pius V Pope Pius V ( it, Pio V; 17 January 1504 – 1 May 1572), born Antonio Ghislieri (from 1518 called Michele Ghislieri, O.P.), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 January 1566 to his death in May 1572. He is v ...
.


Architecture


Exterior

The Minor Basilica of Santa Sabina is built in the manner of an Ancient Roman secular basilica, or covered forum. The characteristics are a long central nave with a lower aisle on each side. Above the aisles, the walls of the nave are pierced by a row of large clerestory windows. The brick walls are mostly unrendered, and the windows are made of
selenite Selenite may refer to: Substances containing selenium *A selenium-containing anion or ionic compound with the SeO32− anion: **Selenite (ion), anion is a selenium oxoanion with the chemical formula SeO32− ***Selenous acid, the conjugate acid, w ...
, not
glass Glass is a non-crystalline, often transparent, amorphous solid that has widespread practical, technological, and decorative use in, for example, window panes, tableware, and optics. Glass is most often formed by rapid cooling (quenching) of ...
, making the building look much as it did when it was built in the 5th century. The building has a colonnaded porch opening onto a cloister, and at the other end, a semi-circular apse. The
campanile A bell tower is a tower that contains one or more bells, or that is designed to hold bells even if it has none. Such a tower commonly serves as part of a Christian church, and will contain church bells, but there are also many secular bell tower ...
(bell tower) was originally built in the 10th century; but was rebuilt in the 17th century in the Baroque style. The wooden door of the basilica is generally agreed to be the original door from 430 to 432, although it was apparently not constructed for this doorway. Eighteen of its wooden panels survive — all but one depicting scenes from the
Bible The Bible (from Koine Greek , , 'the books') is a collection of religious texts or scriptures that are held to be sacred in Christianity, Judaism, Samaritanism, and many other religions. The Bible is an anthologya compilation of texts of a ...
. Most famous among these is one of the earliest certain depictions of the
crucifixion Crucifixion is a method of capital punishment in which the victim is tied or nailed to a large wooden cross or beam and left to hang until eventual death from exhaustion and asphyxiation. It was used as a punishment by the Persians, Carthagin ...
of
Jesus Christ Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...
and the 2 thieves. Other panels have also been the subjects of extensive analysis because of their importance to the study of Christian
iconography Iconography, as a branch of art history, studies the identification, description and interpretation of the content of images: the subjects depicted, the particular compositions and details used to do so, and other elements that are distinct fro ...
. Above the doorway, the interior preserves an original dedication in
Latin Latin (, or , ) is a classical language belonging to the Italic branch of the Indo-European languages. Latin was originally a dialect spoken in the lower Tiber area (then known as Latium) around present-day Rome, but through the power of the ...
hexameters.


Interior

The interior has basilical form, with a central nave divided from the side aisle by two rows of columns,on which rests an arcade. Above the arcade is a row of large clerestory windows. The twenty four columns of Proconnesian marble with perfectly matched Corinthian capitals and bases, were
reused Reuse is the action or practice of using an item, whether for its original purpose (conventional reuse) or to fulfill a different function (creative reuse or repurposing). It should be distinguished from recycling, which is the breaking down of us ...
from the Temple of Juno. A framed hole in the floor exposes a Roman era temple column that pre-dates Santa Sabina. This appears to be the remnant of the Temple of Juno erected on the hilltop site during Roman times, which was likely razed to allow construction of the basilica. There is an apse at the eastern end. The original fifth-century apse mosaic was replaced in 1559 by a fresco by
Taddeo Zuccari Taddeo Zuccaro (or Zuccari) (1 September 15292 September 1566) was an Italian painter, one of the most popular members of the Roman mannerist school. Biography Zuccaro was born in Sant'Angelo in Vado, near Urbino, the son of Ottaviano Zuccaro, ...
. The composition probably remained unchanged: Christ is flanked by a
good thief The Penitent Thief, also known as the Good Thief, Wise Thief, Grateful Thief, or Thief on the Cross, is one of two unnamed thieves in Luke's account of the crucifixion of Jesus in the New Testament. The Gospel of Luke describes him asking Jesus ...
and a bad thief, seated on a hill while lambs drink from a stream at its base. The iconography of the mosaic was very similar to another 5th-century mosaic, destroyed in the 17th century, in
Sant'Andrea in Catabarbara Sant'Andrea is the Italian language, Italian name for List of saints named Andrew, St. Andrew, most commonly Andrew the Apostle. It may refer to: Communes in Italy *Castronuovo di Sant'Andrea, Basilicata *Cazzano Sant'Andrea, Lombardy *Mazzarrà ...
.


Convent

The interior cells of the Dominican convent are little changed since the earliest days of the Order of Preachers. The cell of St. Dominic is still identified, though it has since been enlarged and converted to a
chapel A chapel is a Christian place of prayer and worship that is usually relatively small. The term has several meanings. Firstly, smaller spaces inside a church that have their own altar are often called chapels; the Lady chapel is a common ty ...
. Also, the original dining room still remains, in which St.
Thomas Aquinas Thomas Aquinas, OP (; it, Tommaso d'Aquino, lit=Thomas of Aquino; 1225 – 7 March 1274) was an Italian Dominican friar and priest who was an influential philosopher, theologian and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism; he is known wi ...
would dine when he lived in Rome.


Doors

The doors on the exterior of Santa Sabina are made of cypress wood, and originally had a layout of twenty-eight panels. Out of these panels, ten of the original have been lost, and are left without ornamentation. Seventeen out of the original remaining eighteen panels depict a scene from the
Old Testament The Old Testament (often abbreviated OT) is the first division of the Christian biblical canon, which is based primarily upon the 24 books of the Hebrew Bible or Tanakh, a collection of ancient religious Hebrew writings by the Israelites. The ...
or the
New Testament The New Testament grc, Ἡ Καινὴ Διαθήκη, transl. ; la, Novum Testamentum. (NT) is the second division of the Christian biblical canon. It discusses the teachings and person of Jesus, as well as events in first-century Christ ...
, leaving one panel that does not directly correlate to a Biblical story. This panel, found near the bottom of the door, depicts an homage to a man wearing a
chlamys The chlamys (Ancient Greek: χλαμύς : chlamýs, genitive: χλαμύδος : chlamydos) was a type of an ancient Greek cloak.
, and is thought to depict a historical event relating to a powerful ruler, though the exact story depicted is unknown. One of the smaller top panels depicts the crucifixion of
Jesus Jesus, likely from he, יֵשׁוּעַ, translit=Yēšūaʿ, label=Hebrew/Aramaic ( AD 30 or 33), also referred to as Jesus Christ or Jesus of Nazareth (among other names and titles), was a first-century Jewish preacher and religious ...
and two other figures in front of a building that alludes to the architecture of a Roman
mausoleum A mausoleum is an external free-standing building constructed as a monument enclosing the interment space or burial chamber of a deceased person or people. A mausoleum without the person's remains is called a cenotaph. A mausoleum may be consid ...
. This panel is the first known publicly displayed image of the
crucifixion of Christ The crucifixion and death of Jesus occurred in 1st-century Judea, most likely in AD 30 or AD 33. It is described in the four canonical gospels, referred to in the New Testament epistles, attested to by other ancient sources, and considere ...
. The panels are carved in two distinct styles, one including more detail and adherence to the style of classical art, and one adopting a simpler style, indicating that several artists may have worked on the doors. The abstract vegetal designs on the panels' frames are consistent with a
Mesopotamia Mesopotamia ''Mesopotamíā''; ar, بِلَاد ٱلرَّافِدَيْن or ; syc, ܐܪܡ ܢܗܪ̈ܝܢ, or , ) is a historical region of Western Asia situated within the Tigris–Euphrates river system, in the northern part of the F ...
n style, suggesting the origin of at least one of the artists was from this region. Due to the cramped composition of the panels and the thin outer frame, it is likely that the door was originally bigger, then cut down to fit into the frame of Santa Sabina. This makes it unclear as to whether the door was initially intended to be used for this specific structure. It may have been designed for a different Roman building with larger doorway dimensions, but then been transferred to Santa Sabina for unknown reasons. However, the door was most likely constructed near the same time as the erection of the Church of Santa Sabina in 432, as the powerful figure in the chlamys scene carving shares stylistic similarities with depictions of Theodosius II, the emperor at the time of the consecration of Santa Sabina. Dendrochronologic and
radiocarbon dating Radiocarbon dating (also referred to as carbon dating or carbon-14 dating) is a method for determining the age of an object containing organic material by using the properties of radiocarbon, a radioactive isotope of carbon. The method was dev ...
confirmed that the wood used for the door panels is from the beginning of the 5th century, therefore the carvings could date from the reigns of
Celestine I Pope Celestine I ( la, Caelestinus I) (c. 376 – 1 August 432) was the bishop of Rome from 10 September 422 to his death on 1 August 432. Celestine's tenure was largely spent combatting various ideologies deemed heretical. He supported the missi ...
(421–431) or Sixtus III (431–440).


Convent and ''Studium'' of the Dominican Order

In 1216 the
Order of Preachers The Order of Preachers ( la, Ordo Praedicatorum) abbreviated OP, also known as the Dominicans, is a Catholic mendicant order of Pontifical Right for men founded in Toulouse, France, by the Spanish priest, saint and mystic Dominic of Cal ...
, now commonly known as the Dominicans, was approved by Pope Honorius as "the first order instituted by the Church with an academic mission". Honorius III invited
Saint Dominic Saint Dominic ( es, Santo Domingo; 8 August 1170 – 6 August 1221), also known as Dominic de Guzmán (), was a Castilian Catholic priest, mystic, the founder of the Dominican Order and is the patron saint of astronomers and natural scientis ...
, the founder of the
Order of Preachers The Order of Preachers ( la, Ordo Praedicatorum) abbreviated OP, also known as the Dominicans, is a Catholic mendicant order of Pontifical Right for men founded in Toulouse, France, by the Spanish priest, saint and mystic Dominic of Cal ...
, to take up residence at the church of Santa Sabina in 1220. The official foundation of the Dominican convent at Santa Sabina with its ''studium conventuale'', the first Dominican ''studium'' in Rome, occurred with the legal transfer of property from Honorius III to the
Order of Preachers The Order of Preachers ( la, Ordo Praedicatorum) abbreviated OP, also known as the Dominicans, is a Catholic mendicant order of Pontifical Right for men founded in Toulouse, France, by the Spanish priest, saint and mystic Dominic of Cal ...
on June 5, 1222 though the brethren had taken up residence there already in 1220. Some scholars have written that Honorius III was a member of the Savelli family and that the church and associated buildings formed part of the holdings of the Savelli, thereby explaining why Honorius III donated Santa Sabina to the Dominicans. In fact, Honorius III was not a Savelli. These scholars may have confused later
Pope Honorius IV Pope Honorius IV (c. 1210 – 3 April 1287), born Giacomo Savelli, was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 2 April 1285 to his death in 1287. During his pontificate he largely continued to pursue the pro-French politi ...
, who was a Savelli, and Honorius III. In any case, the church was given over to the Dominicans and it has since then served as their headquarters in Rome. In 1265 in accordance with the injunction of the Chapter of the Roman province of the Order of Preachers at
Anagni Anagni () is an ancient town and ''comune'' in the province of Frosinone, Lazio, Latium, central Italy, in the hills east-southeast of Rome. It is a historical and artistic center of the Latin Valley. Geography Overview Anagni still maintains the ...
,
Thomas Aquinas Thomas Aquinas, OP (; it, Tommaso d'Aquino, lit=Thomas of Aquino; 1225 – 7 March 1274) was an Italian Dominican friar and priest who was an influential philosopher, theologian and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism; he is known wi ...
was assigned as regent master at the ''studium conventuale'' at Santa Sabina: “Fr. Thome de Aquino iniungimus in remissionem peccatorum quod teneat studium Rome, et volumus quod fratribus qui stant secum ad studendum provideatur in necessariis vestimentis a conventibus de quorum predicatione traxerunt originem. Si autem illi studentes inventi fuerint negligentes in studio, damus potestatem fr. Thome quod ad conventus suos possit eos remittere”. At this time the existing ''studium conventuale'' at Santa Sabina was transformed into the Order's first ''studium provinciale'', an intermediate school between the ''studium conventuale'' and the ''studium generale''. "Prior to this time the Roman Province had offered no specialized education of any sort, no arts, no philosophy; only simple convent schools, with their basic courses in theology for resident friars, were functioning in Tuscany and the meridionale during the first several decades of the order's life. But the new ''studium'' at Santa Sabina was to be a school for the province," a ''studium provinciale''.
Tolomeo da Lucca Bartholomew of Lucca, born Bartolomeo Fiadoni, and also known as Tolomeo da Lucca or Ptolemy da Lucca (c. 1236 – c. 1327), was a medieval Italian historian. Biography Born in Lucca, probably in 1236, at an early age Bartholomew entered the ...
, an associate and early biographer of Aquinas, tells us that at the Santa Sabina ''studium''
Aquinas Thomas Aquinas, OP (; it, Tommaso d'Aquino, lit=Thomas of Aquino; 1225 – 7 March 1274) was an Italian Dominican friar and priest who was an influential philosopher, theologian and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism; he is known wit ...
taught the full range of philosophical subjects, both moral and natural. With the departure of
Aquinas Thomas Aquinas, OP (; it, Tommaso d'Aquino, lit=Thomas of Aquino; 1225 – 7 March 1274) was an Italian Dominican friar and priest who was an influential philosopher, theologian and jurist in the tradition of scholasticism; he is known wit ...
for Paris in 1268 and the passage of time the pedagogical activities of the ''studium provinciale'' at Santa Sabina were divided between two campuses. A new
convent A convent is a community of monks, nuns, religious brothers or, sisters or priests. Alternatively, ''convent'' means the building used by the community. The word is particularly used in the Catholic Church, Lutheran churches, and the Anglican ...
of the Order at the Church of Santa Maria sopra Minerva had a modest beginning in 1255 as a community for women converts, but grew rapidly in size and importance after being given to the Dominicans in 1275. In 1288 the theology component of the provincial curriculum was relocated from the Santa Sabina ''studium provinciale'' to the ''studium conventuale'' at Santa Maria sopra Minerva which was redesignated as a ''studium particularis theologiae''. Thus, the ''studium'' at Santa Sabina was the forerunner of the '' studium generale'' at Santa Maria sopra Minerva. Following the curriculum of studies laid out in the capitular acts of 1291 the Santa Sabina ''studium'' was redesignated as one of three ''studia nove logice'' intended to offer courses of advanced logic covering the ''
logica nova In the history of logic, the term ''logica nova'' (Latin, meaning "new logic") refers to a subdivision of the logical tradition of Western Europe, as it existed around the middle of the twelfth century. The ''Logica vetus'' ("old logic") referred ...
'', the Aristotelian texts recovered in the West only in the second half of the 12th century, the ''
Topics Topic, topics, TOPIC, topical, or topicality may refer to: Topic / Topics * Topić, a Slavic surname * ''Topics'' (Aristotle), a work by Aristotle * Topic (chocolate bar), a brand of confectionery bar * Topic (DJ), German musician * Topic (g ...
'', ''
Sophistical Refutations ''Sophistical Refutations'' ( el, Σοφιστικοὶ Ἔλεγχοι, Sophistikoi Elenchoi; la, De Sophisticis Elenchis) is a text in Aristotle's ''Organon'' in which he identified thirteen fallacies.Sometimes listed as twelve. According to A ...
'', and the ''
Prior Prior (or prioress) is an ecclesiastical title for a superior in some religious orders. The word is derived from the Latin for "earlier" or "first". Its earlier generic usage referred to any monastic superior. In abbeys, a prior would be l ...
and Second Analytics'' of Aristotle. This was an advance over the ''logica antiqua'', which treated the '' Isagoge'' of Porphyry, ''Divisions'' and ''Topics'' of
Boethius Anicius Manlius Severinus Boethius, commonly known as Boethius (; Latin: ''Boetius''; 480 – 524 AD), was a Roman senator, consul, ''magister officiorum'', historian, and philosopher of the Early Middle Ages. He was a central figure in the tr ...
, the ''
Categories Category, plural categories, may refer to: Philosophy and general uses *Categorization, categories in cognitive science, information science and generally *Category of being *Categories (Aristotle), ''Categories'' (Aristotle) *Category (Kant) ...
'' and '' On Interpretation'' of Aristotle, and the ''Summule logicales'' of Peter of Spain. Milone da Velletri was the lector at the Santa Sabina ''studium'' in 1293. In 1310 the Florentine Giovanni dei Tornaquinci was the lector at Santa Sabina. In 1331 at the Santa Sabina ''studium'' Nerius de Tertia was the lector, and Giovanni Zocco da Spoleto was a student of logic.


List of cardinal priests

* Peter the Illyrian (425 – ?) * Valens (494 – ?) * Basil (523 – ?) * Felix (590 – before 612) * Marinus (612 – ?) * Marinus (fl. 721)
Giovanni Domenico Mansi Gian (Giovanni) Domenico Mansi (16 February 1692 – 27 September 1769) was an Italian prelate, theologian, scholar and historian, known for his massive works on the Church councils. Biography He was born at Lucca, of a patrician family, and di ...

''Sacrorum Conciliorum nova et amplissima collectio''
vol. XII, Florence 1766, col. 265.
* Tordonus (741 – before 745) * Theophilus (745 – 757) * Theophilus (757 – 761) * Peter William (761 – ?) * Eugenio Savelli (816 – May 824 elected
pope The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
) * Gioviniano (853 – ?) * Stefano (964 – ?) * Martino (1033 – before 1058) * Bruno (1058 – before 1088) * Alberico (1088 – circa 1092) * Bruno (1092 – circa 1099) * Alberto (1099 – 1100) * Vitale (1105 – before 1112) * Uberto (1112 – circa 1117) * Roberto (1120 – 1122) * Gregorio (1126 – circa 1137, deceased) * Stanzio (1137 – 1143, deceased) * Manfredo (17 December 1143 – circa 1158, deceased) * Galdino Valvassi della Sala (15 December 1165 – 18 April 1176, deceased) * Pietro (December 1176 – 1178, deceased) *
Guillaume aux Blanches Mains William of the White Hands (french: Guillaume aux Blanches Mains; 1135–1202), also called William White Hands, was a French cardinal. William was born in Brosse, Île-de-France, France. He was a son of Theobald the Great, Count of Blois ...
(March 1179 – 7 September 1202, deceased) *
Thomas of Capua Thomas of Capua ( it, Tommaso da Capua, la, Thomas Capuanus), also called Tommaso di Eboli (before 1185 – August 1239), was an Italian prelate and diplomat. He served as the archbishop-elect of Naples from 1215 until 1216 and then as a cardina ...
(13 June 1216 – 22 August 1243, deceased) *
Hughes de Saint-Cher Hughes may refer to: People * Hughes (surname) * Hughes (given name) Places Antarctica * Hughes Range (Antarctica), Ross Dependency * Mount Hughes, Oates Land * Hughes Basin, Oates Land * Hughes Bay, Graham Land * Hughes Bluff, Victoria Lan ...
(28 May 1244 – 24 December 1261, named cardinal bishop of
Ostia and Velletri The Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Ostia is an ecclesiastical territory located within the Metropolitan City of Rome in Italy. It is one of the seven suburbicarian dioceses. The incumbent Bishop is cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. Since ...
) * Bertrand de Saint–Martin (1273 – 29 March 1277, deceased) *
Hughes Seguin de Billom Hughes may refer to: People * Hughes (surname) * Hughes (given name) Places Antarctica * Hughes Range (Antarctica), Ross Dependency * Mount Hughes, Oates Land * Hughes Basin, Oates Land * Hughes Bay, Graham Land * Hughes Bluff, Victoria Lan ...
(16 May 1288 – August 1294), ''
in commendam In canon law, commendam (or ''in commendam'') was a form of transferring an ecclesiastical benefice ''in trust'' to the ''custody'' of a patron. The phrase ''in commendam'' was originally applied to the provisional occupation of an ecclesiastical ...
'' (August 1294 – 30 December 1298, deceased) * Niccolò Boccassini (4 December 1298 – 2 March 1300, named cardinal bishop of
Ostia and Velletri The Roman Catholic Suburbicarian Diocese of Ostia is an ecclesiastical territory located within the Metropolitan City of Rome in Italy. It is one of the seven suburbicarian dioceses. The incumbent Bishop is cardinal Giovanni Battista Re. Since ...
) *
William Marsfeld William is a masculine given name of Norman French origin.Hanks, Hardcastle and Hodges, ''Oxford Dictionary of First Names'', Oxford University Press, 2nd edition, , p. 276. It became very popular in the English language after the Norman conques ...
(1303 – 1304, deceased) *
Walter Winterbourne Walter of Winterburn (13th century – 26 August 1305) was an English Dominican, cardinal, orator, poet, philosopher, and theologian. He entered the Dominican Order when a youth, and became renowned for learning, prudence, and sanctity of life ...
(19 February 1304 – 24 September 1305, deceased) *
Thomas Jorz Thomas of JorzOften but erroneously called Joyce and frequently referred to as Angllus or Anglicus. (died at Grenoble, 13 December 1310) was an English Dominican theologian and cardinal. Life He entered the Order of Preachers in England, and ...
(15 December 1305 – 13 December 1310, deceased) * Nicolas Caignet de Fréauville (1310 – 15 January 1323, deceased) * Gérard Domar (20 September 1342 – 27 September 1343, deceased) * Jean de la Molineyrie (17 December 1350 – 23 February 1353, deceased) * Francesco Tebaldeschi (22 September 1368 – 20 August 1378 ?, deceased) * Giovanni da Amelia (18 September 1378 – December 1385, deceased) ** Tommaso di Casasco (30 May 1382 – 17 June 1390, deceased),
pseudocardinal Pseudocardinals, quasi-cardinals or anticardinals were the uncanonical Cardinals created by six of the Antipopes, in or rival to Rome, including two of Avignon Papacy and one of Pisa, as princes of their schismatic government of the Catholic Ch ...
of Antipope Clement VII *
Bálint Alsáni Bálint Alsáni (french: Valentin d'Alsan; c. 1330 – 19 November 1408) was a Hungarian Cardinal, who served as the Bishop of Pécs in the Kingdom of Hungary from 1374 to his death in 1408. Life He was a member of the kindred (''gens'') of Sze ...
(9 February 1385 – 1386, named cardinal priest of Santi Quattro Coronati) *
Giuliano Cesarini Julian Cesarini the Elder ( It.: ''Giuliano Cesarini, seniore'') (1398 in Rome – 10 November 1444 in Varna, Ottoman Empire) was one of the group of brilliant cardinals created by Pope Martin V on the conclusion of the Western Schism. His ...
(circa 1440 – 7 March 1444, named cardinal bishop of Frascati) *
Giovanni de Primis Giovanni de Primis, O.S.B. (Latin: ''Joannes de Primo'') (1570–1623) was a Catholic cardinal. Biography De Primis was born in Catania, Italy. (His surname may be rendered as de' Primi; De Prima; De Primo; De Primi; or De Prim; and he was ofte ...
(16 December 1446 – 21 January 1449, deceased) * Guillaume-Hugues d'Estaing (12 January 1450 – 28 October 1455, deceased) * Enea Silvio Piccolomini (18 December 1456 – 19 August 1458 elected
pope The pope ( la, papa, from el, πάππας, translit=pappas, 'father'), also known as supreme pontiff ( or ), Roman pontiff () or sovereign pontiff, is the bishop of Rome (or historically the patriarch of Rome), head of the worldwide Cathol ...
) * Berardo Eroli (19 March 1460 – 23 May 1474, named cardinal bishop of Sabina) * Ausias Despuig (12 December 1477 – 2 September 1483, deceased) * Giovanni d'Aragona, ''in commendam'' (10 September 1483 – 17 October 1485, deceased) * Vacante (1485 – 1493) *
Jean Bilhères de Lagraulas Jean Bilhères de Lagraulas or Jean Villier de la Grolaie, or Groslaye etc., also called the Cardinal of Saint-Denis (died 1499), was a French Roman Catholic abbot, bishop and from 1493 cardinal. He died as French ambassador in Rome, and is re ...
(23 September 1493 – 6 August 1499, deceased) *
Diego Hurtado de Mendoza y Quiñones Diego Hurtado de Mendoza y Quiñones (b. Guadalajara, Castile-La Mancha, Guadalajara, Spain, 1444 – d. Madrid, October 14, 1502) was a Spanish noble from the House of Mendoza and the Archbishop of Sevilla. Biography He was the son of Íñigo ...
(5 October 1500 – 14 October 1502, deceased) *
Francisco Lloris y de Borja Francisco is the Spanish and Portuguese form of the masculine given name ''Franciscus''. Nicknames In Spanish, people with the name Francisco are sometimes nicknamed "Paco". San Francisco de Asís was known as ''Pater Comunitatis'' (father of ...
, diacon ''pro illa vice'' (12 June 1503 – 17 December 1505, named cardinal deacon of Santa Maria Nuova) *
Fazio Giovanni Santori Fazio Giovanni Santori (1447 – 22 March 1510) (called the Cardinal of Cesena) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. Biography Fazio Giovanni Santori was born in Viterbo in 1447. He was educated at the University of Perugia. Ear ...
(17 December 1505 – 22 March 1510, deceased) *
René de Prie René de Prie (1451–1519) was a French people, French Catholic Church, Roman Catholic Bishop (Catholic Church), bishop and Cardinal (Catholicism), cardinal. Biography René de Prie was born in Touraine in 1451, the son of Antoine de Prie, baron ...
(17 March 1511 – 24 October 1511 deposto) *
Bandinello Sauli Bandinello Sauli (c. 1481 – 28 March 1518) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. Biography Bandinello Sauli was born in Genoa, ca. 1481, the son of nobles Pasquale Sauli and Mariola Giustiniani Longhi. .Hyde, Cardinal Bendinello ...
(24 October 1511 – 18 July 1516, named cardinal priest of
Santa Maria in Trastevere The Basilica of Santa Maria in Trastevere ( it, Basilica di Santa Maria in Trastevere); en, Our Lady in Trastevere) is a titular minor basilica in the Trastevere district of Rome, and one of the oldest churches of Rome. The basic floor plan and ...
) *
Giovanni Piccolomini Giovanni Piccolomini (1475–1537) was an Italian papal legate and cardinal. He was a nephew of Pope Pius III. He was made Archbishop of Siena in 1503, Bishop of Sitten in 1522, Bishop of Aquila in 1523, Bishop of Albano in 1524, Bishop o ...
(6 July 1517 – 11 June 1521, named cardinal priest of Santa Balbina) * Vacante (1521 – 1533) *
Louis II de Bourbon-Vendôme Louis may refer to: * Louis (coin) * Louis (given name), origin and several individuals with this name * Louis (surname) * Louis (singer), Serbian singer * HMS ''Louis'', two ships of the Royal Navy See also Derived or associated terms * Lewis ( ...
(3 March 1533 – 24 February 1550, named cardinal bishop of Palestrina) * Ottone di Waldburg (28 February 1550 – 14 April 1561, named cardinal priest of Santa Maria in Trastevere) *
Michele Ghislieri Pope Pius V ( it, Pio V; 17 January 1504 – 1 May 1572), born Antonio Ghislieri (from 1518 called Michele Ghislieri, O.P.), was head of the Catholic Church and ruler of the Papal States from 8 January 1566 to his death in May 1572. He is v ...
(14 April 1561 – 15 May 1565, named cardinal priest of Santa Maria sopra Minerva) *
Simone Pasqua Simone Pasqua (1492–1565) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. He was first appointed Bishop of Luni e Sarzana in Italy in 1561 and then Cardinal-Priest of Santa Sabina in 1565. He became Cardinal-Priest of San Pancrazio in 1565. ...
(15 May 1565 – 4 September 1565, named cardinal priest of
San Pancrazio The basilica of San Pancrazio ( en, St Pancras; la, S. Pancratii) is a Roman Catholic ancient basilica and titular church founded by Pope Symmachus in the 6th century in Rome, Italy. It stands in via S. Pancrazio, westward beyond the Porta S ...
) *
Stanislaw Hosius Stanislaus Hosius ( pl, Stanisław Hozjusz; 5 May 1504 – 5 August 1579) was a Polish Roman Catholic cardinal. From 1551 he was the Prince-Bishop of the Bishopric of Warmia in Royal Prussia and from 1558 he served as the papal legate to the H ...
(4 September 1565 – 7 September 1565, named cardinal priest ''pro hac vice'' of San Teodoro) *
Benedetto Lomellini Benedetto Lomellini (1517 – 24 July 1579) was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal and bishop. Biography Benedetto Lomellini was born in Genoa in 1517, the son of a rich noble family. He received a doctorate in law. He practiced as a lawyer a ...
(7 September 1565 – 24 July 1579, deceased) * Vincenzo Giustiniani (3 August 1579 – 28 October 1582, deceased) *
Filippo Spinola Filippo Spinola (1 December 1535 – 20 August 1593) was an Italian Roman Catholic bishop and cardinal. Biography A member of the Spinola family, Filippo Spinola was born in Genoa on 1 December 1535, the son of Agostino Spinola, count of Tassa ...
(20 February 1584 – 20 August 1593, deceased) *
Ottavio Bandini Ottavio Bandini (1558–1629) was a Roman Catholic cardinal. Biography On 25 June 1595 he was consecrated bishop by Alessandro Ottaviano de' Medici, Archbishop of Florence, with Ludovico de Torres, Archbishop of Monreale, and Gian Francesco ...
(21 June 1596 – 16 September 1615, named cardinal priest of
San Lorenzo in Lucina The Minor Basilica of St. Lawrence in Lucina ( it, Basilica Minore di San Lorenzo in Lucina or simply it, San Lorenzo in Lucina; la, S. Laurentii in Lucina) is a Roman Catholic parish, titular church, and minor basilica in central Rome, Italy. ...
) *
Giulio Savelli Giulio Savelli (27 September 1941 – 12 May 2020) was an Italian politician and publisher. Biography Born in Rome, Italy, on 27 September 1941, Savelli co-founded the publishing house alongside Giuseppe Paolo Samonà in 1963. Samonà left the b ...
(11 January 1616 – 10 November 1636, named cardinal priest of Santa Maria in Trastevere) *
Alessandro Bichi Alessandro Bichi (30 September 1596 – 25 May 1657) was an Italian Catholic Cardinal and papal nuncio to France. Biography Bichi was born in Siena in 1596, the son of Vincenzo Bichi and nephew of Cardinal Metello Bichi. At an early age he ...
(7 December 1637 – 25 May 1657, deceased) *
Scipione Pannocchieschi d'Elci Scipione Pannocchieschi d’Elci (28 June 1598 – 12 April 1670) was a Catholic cardinal who served as Apostolic Nuncio to the Republic of Venice and as Archbishop of Pisa. __Biography_ Scipione_Pannocchieschi_d’Elci_was_born_on_28_June_1598 ...
(6 May 1658 – 12 April 1670, deceased) *
Luis Manuel Fernández de Portocarrero Luis Manuel Fernández de Portocarrero y de Guzmán, (8 January 1635, Palma del Río – 14 September 1709, Toledo, Spain) was a Spanish prelate, who was cardinal archbishop of Toledo. Uncle of Luis Antonio Tomás de Portocarrero y Moscoso, 5th ...
(19 May 1670 – 27 January 1698, named cardinal bishop of Palestrina) * Francesco del Giudice (30 March 1700 – 12 February 1717, named cardinal bishop of Palestrina) * Mihály Frigyes (Michele Federico) Althan (16 September 1720 – 20 June 1734, deceased) * Vacante (1734 – 1738) *
Raniero d'Elci Rainiero d'Elci (7 March 1670 – 22 June 1761) was an Italian Cardinal. Biography He was born in Florence and was ordained in 1699. He entered papal service in the following year and held several offices both in Roman Curia and in the papal terr ...
(23 July 1738 – 10 April 1747); ''in commendam'' (10 April 1747 – 22 June 1761, deceased) * Vacante (1761 – 1775) *
Leonardo Antonelli Leonardo Antonelli (6 November 1730 – 23 January 1811) was an Italian Cardinal in the Roman Catholic Church. Biography A native of Senigallia, Antonelli was the nephew of Cardinal Nicolò Maria Antonelli. During the early part of his long dipl ...
(29 May 1775 – 21 February 1794, named cardinal bishop of Palestrina) *
Giulio Maria della Somaglia Giulio Maria della Somaglia (29 July 1744 – 2 April 1830) was an Italian cardinal. He was, in his later life — a staunch '' zelante'' cardinal who, as Secretary of State under Pope Leo XII, helped enforce an authoritarian regime in the ...
(22 September 1795 – 20 July 1801, named cardinal priest of Santa Maria sopra Minerva) * Vacante (1801 – 1818) * Kasimir Johann Baptist von Häffelin (25 May 1818 – 19 April 1822, named cardinal priest of
Sant'Anastasia Sant'Anastasia ( nap, Santa Nastàsë) is a ''comune'' (municipality) in the Metropolitan City of Naples in the Italian region Campania, located about northeast of Naples. Sant'Anastasia borders the following municipalities: Casalnuovo di Napoli ...
) *
Luigi Pandolfi is a fictional character featured in video games and related media released by Nintendo. Created by Japanese video game designer Shigeru Miyamoto, Luigi is portrayed as the younger fraternal twin brother and sidekick of Mario, Nintendo's masc ...
(16 May 1823 – 2 February 1824, deceased) * Vacante (1824 – 1829) * Gustave-Maximilien-Juste de Croÿ–Solre (21 May 1829 – 1º January 1844, deceased) *
Sisto Riario Sforza Sisto Riario Sforza (5 December 1810 – 29 September 1877) was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal who served as the Archbishop of Naples from 1845 until his death. Sforza's rapid rise through the Church ranks began with various appointments ...
(16 April 1846 – 29 September 1877, deceased) *
Vincenzo Moretti Vincenzo Moretti (14 November 1815 – 6 October 1881) was an Italian Roman Catholic cardinal and the Archbishop of Ravenna from 1871 until his resignation in 1879. He was elevated to the cardinalate in late 1877. He served first as the Bishop ...
(31 December 1877 – 6 October 1881, deceased) * Edward MacCabe (30 March 1882 – 11 February 1885, deceased) *
Serafino Vannutelli Serafino Vannutelli (26 November 1834 – 19 August 1915) was an Italian prelate of the Catholic Church, a cardinal and official of the Roman Curia where he held several of the highest administrative posts. Made a cardinal in 1887, he was named ...
(26 May 1887 – 11 February 1889, named cardinal priest of San Girolamo of Croati) *
Agostino Bausa Agostino may refer to: * Agostino (name) * ''Agostino'' (film), an Italian film directed by Mauro Bolognini * ''Agostino'' (novel), a short novel by Alberto Moravia *, an Italian coaster See also * Agostini (disambiguation) * D'Agostino (disambig ...
(14 February 1889 – 15 April 1899, deceased) * François–Désiré Mathieu (22 June 1899 – 26 October 1908, deceased) *
Léon-Adolphe Amette Leon Adolphe Amette (6 September 1850 Douville-sur-Andelle, Eure – 29 August 1920 Antony, Hauts-de-Seine) was a French Catholic Cardinal (Catholic Church), cardinal who was archbishop of Paris from 1908 to 1920. He was made a cardinal in 1911 ...
(30 November 1911 – 29 August 1920, deceased) * Francisco de Asís Vidal y Barraquer (16 June 1921 – 13 September 1943, deceased) * Vacante (1942 – 1946) *
Ernesto Ruffini Ernesto Ruffini (19 January 1888 – 11 June 1967) was an Italian cardinal of the Catholic Church who served as Archbishop of Palermo from 1945 until his death, and was elevated to the cardinalate in 1946 by Pope Pius XII. Biography Ruffini was ...
(22 February 1946 – 11 June 1967, deceased) *
Gabriel-Marie Garrone Gabriel-Marie Garrone (12 October 1901 in Aix-les-Bains, Savoie, France – 15 January 1994 in Rome, Italy) was a cardinal of the Roman Catholic Church and a Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education. Gabriel-Marie Garrone was bo ...
(29 June 1967 – 15 January 1994, deceased) * Jozef Tomko (29 January 1996 – 8 August 2022, deceased)


Notes and references


Sources

* * Richard Delbrueck. "Notes on the Wooden Doors of Santa Sabina",'' The Art Bulletin'', Vol. 34, No. 2. (Jun., 1952), pp. 139–145. * Ernst H. Kantorowicz, "The 'King's Advent': And The Enigmatic Panels in the Doors of Santa Sabina",'' The Art Bulletin'', Vol. 26, No. 4. (Dec., 1944), pp. 207–231. * Alexander Coburn Soper. "The Italo-Gallic School of Early Christian Art",'' The Art Bulletin'', Vol. 20, No. 2 (Jun., 1938), pp. 145–192. * Richard Delbrueck. "The Acclamation Scene on the Doors of Santa Sabina" (in Notes), ''The Art Bulletin'', Vol. 31, No. 3 (Sep., 1949), pp. 215–217. * Allyson E. Sheckler and Mary Joan Winn Leith, “The Crucifixion Conundrum and the Santa Sabina Doors,” Harvard Theological Review 103 (January 2010), pp. 67–88. * Weitzmann, Kurt, ed.,
Age of spirituality: late antique and early Christian art, third to seventh century
', nos. 247, 438 & 586, 1979,
Metropolitan Museum of Art The Metropolitan Museum of Art of New York City, colloquially "the Met", is the largest art museum in the Americas. Its permanent collection contains over two million works, divided among 17 curatorial departments. The main building at 1000 ...
, New York, ; full text available online from The Metropolitan Museum of Art Libraries


External links


Thayer's Gazetteer
with Mario Armellini's


Door Panels of Santa Sabina
analyzed. {{Authority control Sabina Sabina Dominican churches 5th-century churches Sabina