Martyr
Martyr Sabina of Rome
† ок. 125
Martyr Sabina of Rome — a noble widow converted to Christ by her own slave Serapia and executed under Emperor Hadrian; the Basilica of Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill was built where her relics were enshrined.
IMPORTANT NOTE: the stub contained no date and did not specify which Sabina was intended. Our database already has a fully-researched entry for Hieromartyr Pionius of Smyrna (martyr_pionius), whose Life names a companion "Sabina" — however, thorough checking showed this Sabina has no independent commemoration, being marked only jointly with Pionius (March 11/24) and having no iconographic tradition of her own. A significantly better-known and independently venerated saint was therefore chosen for this standalone "Sabina" entry — Sabina of Rome.
Saint Sabina was a noble Roman woman, widow of the senator Valentinus, daughter of Herod Metallarius. Her own slave Serapia, a secret Christian, converted her mistress to Christ by her example; when Serapia was seized and beheaded for her faith, Sabina herself retrieved her remains and placed them in the family tomb.
Denounced as a Christian by the governor Elpidius, Sabina was seized and executed at Vindena (Umbria) around 125 under Emperor Hadrian. In 430 her relics were translated to the Aventine Hill in Rome, where the Basilica of Santa Sabina was built, dedicated jointly to her and Serapia; the saint is venerated as patroness of housewives.
Her feast is kept on August 29/September 11.