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Show WORLD'S OLDEST WOOD DOOR Said to Have Been Built for Church at Rome 1,500 Years Ago Made by Peter the lllyrian. Rome. The Dominican Order possesses pos-sesses in Rome two churches of great interest, Santa Maria Sopra Minerva in the heart of the city, and Santa Sabina on the Aventine. The latter during the closing years of St. Dominick's life was his home and headquarters. But the church was already very ancient when he took up his abode there. According to the Rosary It was built A. D. 425, during the pontificate of St. Celestine. Its founder is commemorated still in the original mosaic inscription dating dat-ing from 431, on the western wall of the church inside the entrance. The mosaic even now is a splendid relic of a very far distant age. Remains of the second church are to be seen in the western corridor, or cloister, where are a number of early inscriptions; on one side the original twisted columns of pavonazzetto. still support the roof, on the other they have been replaced by granite. It was from a window in this cloister that women were allowed to look out upon St. Dominick's orange tree. The entrance door of the church is so ancient that it is said to be the oldest wooden door in the world; as it dates partly from the fifth century. It may he supposed to have been the original door of the church built by-Peter by-Peter the lllyrian. |
