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Icon nb 108
Size : 42 x 18 cm.
Linden board
Gilded halo. Egg tempera.
Early Christian martyr, Saint Viviana (also known as Bibiana) and her sister Saint Demetria were both martyred for their faith. In 363, her family was made to suffer as a result of the persecutions ordered by Emperor Julian.
The Roman Governor, Apronianus, ordered that the sisters be brought before him. Demetria confessed her faith in front of him and fell dead at his feet. Viviana was placed in the home of a pagan woman named Rufina. Despite her many attempts, Rufina was unable to make Viviana renounce Christ. Viviana was beaten, then tiled to a pillar and whipped with scourges laden with lead plummets.
After repeatedly refusing to renounce her Faith, her body was left in the open air to be eaten by wild dogs, but they would not touch it. After having lain exposed for two days, her body was secretly taken by a priest and buried in the night near the palace of Licinius in the Pretestato Catacombs (Rome).
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