Together with Sts. Agnes and Cecilia, St. Bibiana is one of the virgin martyrs held in particular veneration in Rome. She was a holy virgin and native of Rome, daughter of a Roman knight, Flavian, and wife Dafrosa, both zealous Christians. After their parents were martyred, St. Bibiana and her sister Demetria were stripped of all they had and suffered much from poverty for five months. They spent this time in their own house, in fasting and prayer. When the two young women did not comply from want and hunger they were summoned to court. After having made a generous confession of faith, Demetria fell down and expired at the foot of the tribunal. St. Bibiana suffered terrible trials and was then martyred around the year 363. In 465, Pope Simplicius built a basilica in her honor on the Aventine; it is still in existence.