The church rises in the so-called Quarto di Sant'Elena ("Quarter of St. Helen"), mentioned into documents dating back to the last years of the 14th century.

An act by notary A. Scambi dated 10 May 1379 refers to an eight-rubbi (14,7 hectares) vineyard placed "in quartum qui dicitur sancta Erina".

The prior of the cloister of Santa Maria Nova, on 15 October 1382, sold the fruits from the "terre da sancta Helena" ("lands of St. Helen") through an administrative deed by the Roman notary Venettini.

On 25 November 1424 the cloister of Santa Maria Nova sold to the Lateran Chapter a plot of 25 rubbi (46,2 hectares) through a deed by the Roman notary Nardo Venettini (Arch.

On the railway protective wall, close to the crossing between Via del Mandrione and via Casilina, a travertine cross commemorates the vicar Raffaele Melis, killed on 13 August 1943 by the second bombing of Rome – that struck the train of the former Rome–Fiuggi railway, full of people repatriating from Africa – while giving aid to wounded people.