Saint Sabina

Not to be confused with Saint Savina.

Sabina of Rome, also known as Saint Sabina or Sabina the Roman^[2] (died c. AD 119 or 126) was a Roman Christian who was martyred for her faith. She is venerated as a saint in the Eastern Orthodox Church and Roman Catholic Church, being commemorated on 29 August.

Saint Sabina of Rome
Martyr
Born	1st century AD Rome
Died	c. 119 / 126 Rome
Venerated in	Roman Catholic Church Eastern Orthodox Church
Canonized	Pre-Congregation
Major shrine	Santa Sabina on the Aventine Hill, Rome
Feast	29 August
Attributes	book, palm and crown[1]

Biography

Sabina was the daughter of Herod Metallarius ("the Metalworker") and the wealthy widow of Senator Valentinus,^[2][3] originally from Avezzano in the region of Abruzzo.

Sabina converted to Christianity due to the example of her Syrian slave Serapia.^[2] The widow then withdrew with a few devout friends to one of her country seats, where she spent her time doing good works. Serapia was denounced and beheaded in the city of Vindena in the state of Umbria. Sabina rescued her relics and had them interred in the family mausoleum where she also expected to be buried.^[2] Sabina was later denounced as well, and accused of being a Christian by Elpidio the Prefect. She was thereupon martyred in Rome c. AD 126.^[4]

Reliquary of Saint Sabina in the local parish of Santi Pietro e Paolo in Ascona, Switzerland

Relics

In 430 her relics were translated to the Aventine Hill, to the newly erected basilica Santa Sabina on the site of her house, originally situated near a temple of Juno.^[5] This house may also have formed an early Christian titular church. The church was initially dedicated to both Sabina and Serapia.^[6]

Commentary

According to Klemens Löffler, writing for the Catholic Encyclopedia, the Acts of the martyrdom have no historic value.^[6] Maya Maskarinec suggests that "'Sabina'...was most plausibly the donor who had provided the titulus with property on the Aventine."^[7] Often this was a private home to be used as a church. When someone donated property or money, the resulting foundation bore their name. The passio that developed during the sixth to eighth century becomes attached to the memory regarding a late fourth or early fifth century philanthropist. "Gradually, however, throughout Rome, many of the tituli's donors metamorphosed into their communities' patron saints."^[7]