Saint Seraphina the Virgin Martyr, originally from Antioch, lived in Rome during the persecutions under the Emperor Hadrian. Her acquaintance with the devout Christian Sabina brought her to the knowledge of the true God. She came to know Christ and got baptized.
When the governor Beril learned of her faith, he ordered her arrest. The saint appeared before him willingly, ready to endure martyrdom. Sabina accompanied her, seeking to support and strengthen her faith. Seeing the noblewoman, the governor decided to release her. However, some time later he had her arrested again and brought to trial.
He demanded that she offer sacrifices to the pagan gods. She refused, declaring that she would serve only the one true and almighty God. He therefore handed her over to two young men who sought to humiliate her. The saint, through prayer, was miraculously delivered from their shameful intentions. By the intervention of the Lord, the earth shook, and the two men lost both their speech and their senses. When they recovered, they confessed to the governor that an angel of the Lord was protecting the saint and that he would not allow them to approach her.
Enraged, the governor ordered the tortures to continue. As he was unable to harm her, his fury grew ever greater. Every act of malice turned back upon him until he was struck with blindness.
Finally, Saint Seraphina was executed by sword. Thus she became a martyr to the word of the Gospel, while her body was buried with great honor.
The Church celebrates her memory on July 29.
