1. Aramaic (saba) "baptized"
2. Latin "from beautiful peole"
3. Arabic "small sword"

Saint Sabina, matron and martyr from Rome. The widow of Senator Valentinus (not to be confused with the Gnostic Valentinus) and daughter of Herod Metallarius. After her female slave Saint Serapia (who had converted her) was denounced as a witch and beheaded, Sabina rescued her slave's remains and had them interred in the family mausoleum where she also expected to be buried. Denounced as a criminal, Sabina was condemned for her act of charity to her slave. She was accused of being a Christian by Elpidio the Perfect. She was there upon martyred. It was the year 125 AD in the city of Vindena in the state of Umbria, Italy.
In 430 her relics were brought to the Aventine Hill, to a specially-built basilica on the site of her house, originally situated near a temple of Juno. This house may also have formed an early Christian titular house church. She was later declared a canonized Christian saint. The church was initially dedicated to both Sabina and Serapia, though the dedication was later limited to Sabina only (as it still is, as Santa Sabina). Saint Sabina's feast day is celebrated on August 29.
Comments (0)