St Viviana

Early Christian martyr. Viviana (also known as Bibiana) and her sister Demetria were both martyred for their faith, in a purge of Christians conducted in 363 by the brutal prefect of Rome, Apronianus.

The prefect had gone on the rampage after he lost an eye in an accident and became convinced that Christians were to blame. He killed large numbers of people, including the girls' parents Flavian and Dafrosa.

St Viviana and her sister were kept under house arrest for five months and virtually starved. When they were summoned to court, Demetria stood up and declared her faith once more before she fainted and died. Viviana continued to refuse to renounce her faith and was taken from the court and flogged to death.

An ancient church in Rome is dedicated to her.