The church is the most sacred point of the monastic complex. It was commissioned by King D. Afonso Henriques, in 1147 shortly after the Siege of Lisbon, precisely where one of the crusaders’ military encampments was located. The temple was dedicated to Saint Vincent, who is also the patron saint of the city of Lisbon.

Politically affirming a new dynasty, D. Felipe I of Portugal (II of Spain) ordered the imposing reconstruction of this monument, making it one of the first examples of the Mannerism style in Portugal.

In the earthquake of 1755, the vault of the church, its magnificent dome, the apse and the transept were completely destroyed. The temple was then restored and in it was established the Patriarchal (1772/3-1792), for which two admirable works were carried out: the monumental canopy (designed by Joaquim Machado de Castro) and the historical pipe organ, completely decorated with gilded woodwork.

In 1910 the church was declared a National Monument.