St. Demetria

Demetria of Rome (d. 362) was an early Christian virgin, martyr, and is venerated as a saint. She is mentioned in the Roman Martyrology on 21 June.

Life Demetria's parents were Flavianus and Dafrosa, and her sister was Bibiana, who all became saints; the entire family was martyred under the Roman emperor Julian, during his anti-Christian campaign after he came to power in 361. After Dafosa was killed, Demetria and Bibiana were put under house arrest; as historian Agnes Dunbar put it, "attempts were made to pervert them from the faith". They were brought before the Roman prefect Apronianus, the same ruler who had condemned their parents, and were ordered to be executed. After she confessed her faith in Christ, Demetria fell down dead before the tribunal, in the presence of the judge, apparently from shock.

Veneration Demetria's relics, along with those of her mother and sister, are preserved inside an alabaster urn beneath the high altar of the little basilica of Santa Bibiana in Rome. Her feast day is 21 June.