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Bibiana Saint, Virgin, and Martyr

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Bibighaus Henry

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is said to have been the daughter of Flavianus, a Roman praefect, exiled for the faith, and of Dafrosa, also a martyr. Apronianus, governor of Rome in 363, before whom Bibiana and her sister Demetria were brought, prepared to put them to the torture, but before it could be inflicted the latter fell dead, after having made confession of the faith. Bibiana was placed in the keeping of an infamous woman named Rufina, who in vain endeavored to corrupt her virtue, and at length she was beaten to death with scourges loaded with lead. She is commemorated with her mother and sister; on Dec. 2. The Christians built a chapel over her tomb which pope Simplicius changed into a church in 465. This church was called Olympia, from the name of a pious lady who had contributed largely towards its erection. Repaired by Honorius III, it was rebuilt in 1628 by Urban VIII, who placed in it the remains of the saints Bibiana, Demetria, and Dafrosa. See Hoefer, Nouv. Biog. Generale, a.v.; Landon, Eccles. Dict. s.v.