The Monastery was founded in 1345 as result of the initiative of a noble woman from Gaia, Lady Maria Mendes Petite, whose family was connected to the foundation of the Monastery of Grijó, another parish of Gaia. Lady Maria Mendes Petite had gifted the Monastery with rich goods and delivered them to Saint Dominic Order, Dominican Preachers, affiliating in the Monastery of Saint Dominic of Santarém, in the South of Portugal. It is devoted to the Augustus Sacrament of Eucharist. At the time it was known as Convent of the Ladies of Saint Dominic of Vila Nova. It was initially built near the river in the 14th century but, due to river floods, the current church was erected in the 17th century at a higher quota and in the 18th century changes and enlargements continued.

At the church is also placed the tumular arch of the Knight and grand captain of mounted crossbowmen Álvaro Anes de Cernache, soldier and standard-bearer of the Valentine’s Wing (Ala dos Namorados – the youngest soldiers) in Aljubarrota Battle.

Currently Corpus Christi space belongs to Vila Nova de Gaia Town-Hall, being one of the cultural equipments of the Municipality, placed in a privileged location, near Cais de Gaia (Gaia Quay) and is classified as Public Interest Monument.