Guest Article: The Church of Saints Dominic and Sixtus and the Angelicum in Rome

Guest Article by Ishmael Obinna Adibuah

The Dominican Order has had a presence in Rome since it was first invited there by Pope Honorius III in 1219. Founded by Saint Dominic just three years prior, the order, with its charism of study, initially established a school (studium conventuale) at Rome’s Santa Sabina, the mother church of the order. The school would go through various organizational changes throughout the centuries, evolving to a university in 1426 and later being restructured in 1577 as an institution dedicated to the teachings of Saint Thomas Aquinas. Its location would also change, with long periods at Santa Sabina and Santa Maria sopra Minerva. It would finally establish its permanent location on Rome’s Quirinal Hill, becoming the Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas (the Angelicum) in 1963.

The Angelicum is based at the Church and cloister of Saints Dominic and Sixtus (Santi Domenico e Sisto), atop the Quirinal Hill. In the mid-16th century, the cloister served originally as a convent for Dominican nuns, after a malaria outbreak forced them to relocate there from Saint Sixtus on the Appian Way (San Sisto Vecchio). In 1569, Pope Saint Pius V, himself a Dominican, purchased the convent for these nuns. The accompanying church was constructed later and, in 1646, became the first church in Rome dedicated to Saint Dominic. After being seized by the Italian Government in 1870, the Dominican friars regained possession of the site in 1927. The remaining nuns were relocated to Monte Mario, and the Dominican friars established their Athenaeum on the site, which would eventually become the Angelicum.

The Cloister at the Angelicum

The Church of Saints Dominic and Sixtus is characteristic of Rome’s Baroque period. Visitors enter the church by ascending an elegant elliptical stairway by Orazio Torriani, consisting of a central flight extending into two semicircular flights with ornate balustrades. Perhaps the most distinctive feature of this church is its travertine facade, divided by a Latin inscription that translates, "Dedicated to the Blessed Father Dominic, Founder of the Order of Preachers and father of the nuns." It also contains statues of Saints Sixtus and Dominic at the top, and Saints Thomas Aquinas and Peter of Verona at the bottom. In the center is a bust of the Virgin Mary with her hands crossed, a pose typically seen in paintings of the Annunciation. These statues were contributed by Marcantonio Caninio and Stefano Maderno. Another feature of the facade is the series of eight stone candelabra and a vase holding a cross.

The interior of the church is also typical of Roman Baroque architecture. It has a single nave filled with vibrant colors, from the ceiling to the side altars. It was inspired by the architectural style of Giacomo Barozzi da Vignola, who designed the cloister and other masterpieces like the Church of the Gesù. The interior also features a barrel-vaulted ceiling with six windows, providing ample light to complement its richly ornamented space. The ornamentation includes its polychrome marble walls, gilded Corinthian capitals, stucco ornaments, painted wood, and sculpted cherubs. There are three side altars on either side of the nave, all of which are classical except for the first on the right. On the ceiling is a splendid fresco, The Glory of Saint Dominic, painted by Domenico Canuti.

"The Glory of Saint Dominic" by Domenico Canuti.

A Baroque triumphal arch separates the vaults of the nave from those of the sanctuary. They are also divided by a marble balustrade rail, which dates back to 1636. On each side of the sanctuary are frescoes depicting the life of Saint Dominic. The left fresco shows Saint Dominic’s trial by fire with a heretic, while the right depicts Saint Dominic at a battle during the Albigensian Crusades. The high altar, designed by Bernini, features the 12th-century Byzantine icon of the Madonna of San Luca supported by two angels. Two frescoes depicting the life of the Virgin adorn each side of the altar. The left frescoes show the Nativity of the Virgin and her Presentation in the Temple, while those on the right depict the Annunciation and the Nativity of Jesus.

The convent, which currently houses the Angelicum, was designed by Giacomo della Porta and completed in the late 16th century. The facade of the convent is rather plain compared to the Church, reflecting its simplicity. The cloister inside is rectangular, running on all four sides with a single story above. It also reflects a classical design, with lower cross-vaulted ceilings, pilasters, and simple lintels. The cloister’s garden and central fountain are popular amongst students, with the fountain drawing water from Rome’s Fountain of Moses.

The convent seen to the right of the church

The convent also features several aule where classes are held, including the Aula Magna, renamed after Angelicum alumnus Pope Saint John Paul II. These, as well as the cloister, are currently undergoing restoration.

The cloister undergoing renovations/restorations

The Angelicum, with its church and classes, is a university dedicated to the Dominican charism of study, equipping its students with the Catholic intellectual tradition. Its presence complements the Dominican Order’s service in Rome and to the universal Church, with its Baroque architecture a tribute to the city’s architectural traditions. While historic sites like the Roman Forum may be of more interest to the average tourist, the Angelicum’s position atop the Quirinal Hill is an invitation for all to consider the Christian tradition that is immersed in these sites. Visitors to its church and buildings will find the Catholic understanding of truth as a synthesis of the good, the true, and the beautiful expressed at its artistic and scholarly best.

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