In the second century, persecution of the Christians had tempered during the reign of Trojan. This policy was followed by his successor, Hadrian, for the same reason, to avoid unnecessary civil disorder. Only when denounced were Christians martyred. Sabina’s slave, Seraphia, converted Sabina, daughter of Herod Metallarius and widow of Valentinus, to Christianity. As sometimes happened, Seraphia was commanded to do homage to the gods of Rome. She refused and was delivered to two men for their enjoyment. Because she was preserved from their advances by divine intervention causing their sudden illness, she 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 AD her remains were brought as relics to the Aventine Hill, under which is a graveyard of archeological findings that date back to the founding of Rome, where a basilica was eventually built and named in her honor.
Saint Sabina suffered martyrdom on the 29th of August in the year 125 AD under Emperor Hadrian. Her relics, together with those of the Saints Seraphia, Alexander, Evenzio and Teodulo are venerated under the High Altar of the Roman Basilica, which bears her name.
